 | September, 1924 – a partial carcass found near Orpha is rumored to be that of a jackalope. [Bib #4] Fear and widespread panic grips the plains states, whose residents are terrified the long-forgotten creatures may have reacquired a taste for human blood. |
| September, 1924 – Frenzied citizens attempt to trap the jackalopes themselves. Reports say a jackalope is killed near Morton Ranch, raising concern from animal researchers that the practice of baiting the creatures with whiskey is out of control. Instead of trapping jackalopes, the animals are simply becoming intoxicated and get into brawls with other woodland animals. [Bib #4] |
| October, 1924 – The Douglas Chamber of Commerce appeals to authorities, Federal Agencies and a local research foundation to regain control over the frightened people and protect the jackalopes. [Bib #4] |
| April, 1925 – Government officials insist they’ve found no proof of live jackalopes and promptly return to Washington. People are relieved, but rumor surfaces of "specimens" found by government agents and taken back to D.C. for study. |
| Late 1920’s – Young Douglas Herrick’s grandfather sees a mounted jackalope in a store in Buffalo, Wyoming. He tells Douglas and his brother Ralph of the jackalope folklore. [Bib #5] |
| 1933-37 – Scientific research identifies Shope Papillomavirus as the cause of cranial tumors in some rabbit species, including the jackrabbit. These cranial tumors take a variety of shapes, but usually protrude from the head in the shape of horns or antlers. Further studies note that the disease, found commonly in the Midwest and Great Plains, can be transmitted by rabbit ticks (Haemaphysalis leporis-palustris), mosquitoes and reduviid bugs. [Bib #7] |
| 1939 – Groups trying to maintain calm among the public publish a report citing the scientific work with papillomavirus. The report attempts to dismiss the existence of jackalopes, but is wholly rejected as propaganda. "Diseases don’t explain rabbits singin’ cowboy songs, running with ungodly speed or maulin’ peoples dead!", declares Simon Struthers, of Casper, Wyoming, at a country meeting. |
| 1939 – Amid the debate over the jackalope’s existence, taxidermist Douglas Herrick creates magic. After his brother, Ralph, returns from a hunting trip with a giant jackrabbit, Douglas cuts the small end horns off deer buck antlers in the garage. Screwing the horns into the dead rabbit’s head, Douglas tries to recreate the mounted creature his grandfather spoke of. [Bib #4, #5] |
| 1941 - Ray Ball, manager of the La Bonte Hotel, in Douglas, Wyoming buys the jackalope from the Herrick brothers for ten dollars. Ray puts the decoration on display in the hotel, attracting the attention of locals and, soon, the world. [Bib #4, #5] |
| Late 1940’s – A well-known columnist for a Douglas weekly newspaper becomes secretary-manager of the Douglas Area Chamber of Commerce. The man, J.S. "Jack" Ward, heavily promotes the jackalope as a tourist attraction. Local hotels begin the practice of issuing jackalope hunting licenses, which cost only $1, but include a clause levying a one thousand dollar fine if a hunter kills a two-tailed jackalope under any circumstance. [Bib #4, #5] |
| Late 1950’s – Jack Ward writes the first recorded history of the creatures. [Bib #4] In his honor, the modern name of "Jackalope" is bestowed upon Lepus Townsendii Antilodiabolus. [Bib #3] |
| April 5, 1960 – the State of Wyoming issues a trademark for the phrase, "Home of the Jackalope" to the Douglas Area Chamber of Commerce. [Bib #4] In addition, the City of Douglas mints and issues "Jackalope Buck $.50" pieces. |
| 1965 – To celebrate "Jackalope Day", the Douglas Area Chamber of Commerce commissions an 8ft. high jackalope statue for their town center from artist Leonard Lore. [Bib #4] |
| 1970 – Jackalope sightings have dropped significantly, leading to two trains of speculation. 1. Jackalopes are fleeing into Canada to avoid the Wyoming Draft Board or 2. Richard Nixon has authorized the CIA to drop jackalopes into the jungles of Cambodia in a desperate attempt to flush out the Vietcong. Special Forces veterans, years after the war, relate horrific stories of the failed "Lepus Offensive", which they insist is the real reason the United States lost the Vietnam War. |
| Late 1980 – Intelligence reports indicate Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has successfully captured and bred a small number jackalopes in a secret military facility. |
| 1981 – Fearing inaction from The United States, Israel launches an air strike on the Iraqi facility and destroys the jackalopes. Publicly, all the parties involved claim the facility was a "nuclear reactor", knowing it would be less alarming to the public than weaponized jackalopes. |
| May 19, 1984 – Falling victim to a terrible Jackalope Day accident, Leonard Lore’s jackalope monument is destroyed. The Douglas Area Chamber of Commerce immediately requests another, larger statue from Leonard. [Bib #4] |
| May 15, 1985 – Ed Herschler, Governor of the State of Wyoming, proclaims Douglas, Wyoming to be the official "Home of the Jackalope". [Bib #4] |
| May 18, 1985 – In time for Jackalope Day, Leonard Lore’s new statue is unveiled. It continues to greet visitors to Douglas to this day. [Bib #4] |
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Mid-1980's - As automobile speeds increase (and surpass sustained jackalope speeds) and the nation's highways become more expansive, the National Transportation Safety Board receives increased reports of pedestrian jackalopes being killed. While not officially recognizing the existence of the creatures, the agency sanctions the posting of roadsigns to warn of "possible" jackalope traffic. |
| 1990’s – Roger Weiler takes his Jackalope Junction, selling jackalope merchandise, to the newly booming Internet. Jackalopes are sold all around the country and around the world. Cans of Jackalope Milk find themselves on store shelves, but are of questionable authenticity, since everyone knows how dangerous it is to milk a jackalope. |
| 2000 – With the turn of the millennium, reports of jackalope attacks and fatalities in the Great Plains increase ten fold. Many speculate that humans have begun to encroach on the jackalopes’ territories. Some fear the attacks will only worsen, as people start to build closer and closer to the never-seen, but much-dreaded jackalope nests. |
| 2001 – Filmmakers Christopher Flynn and Stanley Grabowski, aware of the recent warnings out of Wyoming, begin work on the film, Lair of the Jackalope in the hopes that they may convince people to avoid the jackalopes and allow them to live in peace. |
Copyright © 2001 Keyframe Entertainment, Inc.. All rights reserved.