Natural History Wanderings

With spring in the air, visitors have the chance of glimpsing this elusive critter loping across the desert. While few remain, small populations can be found through the American West.

Jackalopes are typically mottled brown in color, weighing between three and five pounds. In addition to their distinctive antelope-like antlers, they’ve also been reported to mimic human sounds when trying to elude capture. They’ll take interest in groups of campers, and will even mimic the voices of people singing around a campfire.

This species is the fastest land animal in North America, reaching up to 90 miles per hour over flat ground. This fiery speed helps them avoid predators, but they will also use their horns for self-defense if necessary.

Unlike other lagomorphs (rabbits and hares), this species breeds exclusively at night during lightning storms. As the intensity of the storm increases, more jackalopes gather to mate.

If during your time in our monument you happen to spot one of these animals, you can fill out a wildlife report card at the Kris Eggle Visitor Center. While they are not overly aggressive, please respect wildlife and keep your distance if you encounter one.

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NPS Photo

ID: Night motion-triggered photo of a jackalope, a jackrabbit looking animal with pronghorn-like antlers