THE viral “Frankenstein bunnies” are eerily similar to an American West phenomenon.
Rabbits with horn-like growths on their body have taken the internet by storm in recent weeks, as some have compared them to a mythical creature known in popular Western folklore.
The virus has taken the internet by storm in recent weeks after a Colorado town has seen an influx in cases[/caption]
The mythical creature began in a Wyoming town in the 1930s[/caption]
Residents of Fort Collins, Colorado have been told to stay away from the bunnies, which suffer from Shope Papilloma Virus.
The illness causes wart-like tumors on the little animals, and is spread by biting insects.
But some have pointed out that the sick animals look a lot like jackalopes – a rabbit with horns that has become an urban legend.
The Frankenstein-esque creature is simply a jackrabbit body adorned with antelope antlers.
History of the Jackalope
The combination was started by taxidermists in Douglas, Wyoming, during the 1930s.
Douglas Herrick, alongside his brother, Ralph, came back from hunting one day and threw a jackrabbit body on the ground next to deer horns.
The brothers put the two things together and there, a jackalope was born.
Comparable to other fables like Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and the Jersey Devil, people have debated on whether the animal truly existed in the wild.
Tales of the creatures have varied, from calling the bunnies “killer” rabbits to saying that they can perfectly mimic a human’s voice, “often demonstrated by their mimicking the singing of cowboys around the campfire.”
They also have a “fondness for whiskey,” according to the Douglas, Wyoming, website.
The town, where the infamous animal originated, has since taken the jackalope and turned it into a cultural phenomenon.
Figures of the beasts cover Douglas: statues are up in its visitor center; a “thirteen foot cutout” sits on a hillside near the city’s entrance; and the animal is featured on the town’s logo.
“These antlered creatures are otherwise similar in appearance to a jackrabbit, yet capable of speeds up to 90 miles per hour,” says the town’s website.
“Their rarity is ensured by the fact that they only breed during lightning flashes.”
What Is Shope Papilloma Virus?
- A viral disease causing wart-like tumors on rabbits, mainly on their heads, ears, and eyelids.
- Spread by biting insects like mosquitoes and ticks.
- Tumors can be benign or turn malignant (cancerous).
- Commonly affects wild and pet rabbits, especially during summer and fall.
- Treatment usually involves surgical removal of growths.
- Prevention focuses on protecting rabbits from insect bites
Visitors can buy a hunting license for the mythical beings, and street signs tell drivers to watch out for wild jackalope roaming the roads.
Surprisingly, you can even buy “jackalope milk.”
“Their milk, which is naturally homogenized due to their powerful leaps, is known to have amazing aphrodisiac qualities as well as a wide range of medicinal powers,” says the town.
“However, the females can only be milked when lulled into sleeping belly up, generally as a result of a whiskey induced stupor.”
Douglas, Wyoming, has mentioned the bunny sickness that has taken the internet by storm in recent weeks may be confused with the creature’s origin, but says those who believe it’s the virus have an “inferior imagination.”
“While the traveler is unlikely to have the opportunity to have an actual sighting of the rare and ferocious jackalope, they will witness its strong impact on the community,” it wrote.
“We embrace the wild and independent nature of the jackalope, and welcome visitors to share in the fun.”
Douglas, Wyoming, now uses the jackalope as their town logo[/caption]
The virus spreads via insect bites[/caption]
