A Major Landmark in Douglas – the world capital of jackalopes (13 photos + 1 video)

If there are no special attractions in a city or other populated area, then you can invent them.





As the residents of Douglas, Wyoming, did, deeply enchanted by one mythical creature.



Jackalopes - They Are

Douglas is a country that loves the mythical jackalope. This legendary creature has zoomorphic characteristics of a hare and an antelope. As the unofficial birthplace of this horned creature of North American folklore, Douglas is the self-proclaimed "Jackalope Capital of the World." It is home to several monuments dedicated to this fearsome animal, including the world's largest and former largest statue.





Jackalopes first became taxidermy objects in the 1930s, when taxidermists the Herrick brothers attached antelope horns to rabbit carcasses and sold their creations to local hotels. Somehow, the trend caught on, and jackalopes began appearing as wall hangings in Wyoming, South Dakota, and other states.



A festival dedicated to the weirdos is held in Douglas itself, and there is a hotel in the appropriate style, where you can buy a variety of souvenirs on the theme.



The world's largest jackalope statue was erected in 1965 and once stood on a traffic island, but in the 1990s, alas, it was demolished by a car. A similar concrete beast, 2.5 meters high, was installed in the square. It remained the largest until a 13-foot-tall figure appeared on a hill overlooking the city. However, the beast's glory was short-lived: it was just a featureless black silhouette, and locals wanted something more substantial - three-dimensional, bright and realistic.



In 2007, two years after the jackalope became the official mythical creature of Wyoming, city officials bought a larger sculpture from a local. This one, almost twice the size of its closest relative, sits in front of the Douglas Railroad Center.



Similar "trophies" are found throughout Wyoming

Funnily enough, the Douglas Chamber of Commerce offers jackalope hunting licenses, but the hunting season only lasts two hours a year. And while the new, taller statue has eclipsed its predecessor, the former champion still sits atop her concrete pedestal, overlooking the town where she first appeared.



They look creepy



Hares and rabbits can become infected with the papilloma virus, which causes growths - carcinomas on the head, which really resemble horns