CreatingMarks.com
7751 Wilkinson Ave.
North Hollywood, California 91605
Contact: Lisa Marks
Lisa@creatingmarks.com, phone: 818.759.0402

December 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RARE JACKALOPE SIGHTING
IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA

North Hollywood, California, December 2004 - Lisa Marks, of Creating Marks - Website Design, adopted a pet bunny in August 2004. Just recently, the now rabbit, started sprouting antlers. Ms. Marks researched this anomaly and discovered that she did not have a rabbit, but instead, a rare Jackalope.

Marks states; "I work out of my home office and one day in August the baby animal appeared in my back yard. I've only lived in this area since April 2004 and was unaware of this species running wild in these parts. Though the animal adores the company of my two geriatric black cats, the creature is very aggressive and makes it a habit of chasing stray cats out of the yard. The weird thing is that with most animals it is the male that has antlers and this is a female (but you will see in my research, that the Jackalope milks). I named her Madeline (Minky is her nick name), but she comes to 'Where's my bunny?'" More...

The Jackalope... (more images)

The Jackalope (Lepus-temperamentalus) is an antlered species of rabbit, and is one of the rarest animals in the world. Unfortunately rumored to be extinct, though occasional sightings of this rare creature continue to occur, suggesting that pockets of jackalope populations continue to persist in its native home, the American West.

A cross between a now extinct pygmy-deer and a species of killer-rabbit, they are extremely shy unless approached. As an aggressive species, it uses its antlers to fight. Thus, it is also sometimes called the "warrior rabbit." Known by the ancients as "deerbunnies", it wasn't until the early 1960's that the modern more fearsome name of "Jackalope" was adopted because it looked like a jack rabbit and an antelope.

Jackalopes possess an uncanny ability to mimic human sounds (as well a pig's grunt and cat's purr). In the old West, when cowboys would gather by their campfires to sing at night, jackalopes would frequently be heard singing back, mimicking the voices of the cowboys. Jackalopes become especially vocal before thunderstorms, perhaps because they mate only when lightning flashes (or so it is theorized).

When chased, the jackalope will use its vocal abilities to elude capture. For instance, when chased by people it will call out phrases such as, "There he goes, over there," in order to throw pursuers off its track. The best way to catch a jackalope is to lure it with a whiskey (or an vodka or Gin martini with olives), as they have a particular fondness for this drink. Once intoxicated, the animal becomes slower, more laid back, and easier to hunt.

Jackalope milk is particularly sought after because it is believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac (for which reason, the jackalope is also sometimes referred to as the 'horny rabbit'). However, it can be incredibly dangerous to milk a jackalope, and any attempt to do so is not advised. A peculiar feature of the milk is that it comes from the animal already homogenized on account of the creature's powerful leaps.

Douglas, Wyoming has declared itself to be the Jackalope capital of America because, according to legend, the first jackalope was spotted there around 1829. A large statue of a jackalope stands in the town center, and every year the town plays host to Jackalope Day, usually held in June. Jackalope hunting licenses can be obtained from the Douglas Chamber of Commerce, though hunting of jackalopes is restricted to the hours of midnight to 2 a.m. on June 31.

Douglas Herrick, a long-time resident of Douglas, Wyoming, is often credited with popularizing knowledge of the Jackalope. In the 1930s Douglas and his brother Ralph began selling mounted Jackalope heads to the public, and these became wildly popular. Examples of their work can be found in many bars and homes throughout the United States. Jackalope postcards also became a popular Western souvenir. Douglas Herrick died on January 6, 2003 at the age of 82. One can see photographs or purchase these mounted (taxidermy) jackalope heads by typing in "Jackalope" in an eBay.com search.

The jackalope is now most commonly sighted in the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and just recently in North Hollywood, California. However, the jackalope does appear to have a European cousin, which in Germany is known as the wolperdinger. In Sweden, a related species is called the skvader. (References... )

Creating Marks is located in North Hollywood, California and was founded in 2001. The one one woman creative company designs, builds and updates websites and web advertisements, as well as consults on marketing and driving traffic to the sites. To learn more call 818.759.0402 or visit www.creatingmarks.com.

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References:
* Roger L. Welsch. Tall-Tale Postcards: A Pictorial History. A.S. Barnes and Company. 1976. Pg. 78-79.
• Dance, Peter. Animal Fakes & Frauds. Sampson Low. Berkshire. 1976. Pg. 114-115.

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