Elkhare - [fearsome critter]

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Elkhare - [fearsome critter]

• About this critter: an odd hooved Jackalope but with heavier antlers similar to that of an elks & every bit as graceful, though it moves clumsily when moving over flat land because of its hoofed (rather than of padded) feet. As such in past it has been mistakenly labelled as a type of "Side Hill Gouger." - it is a rarity to behold even in its native habitat in the valleys along Parsnip River, Mount Vreeland, BC, Canada.

Female Elkhare are said to be herbivores and have a diet consisting mainly of parsnips [ the river gets its name for an abundance of cow-parsnips which grow along the riversides valley] it eats them raw. - [Notably; the rhubarb plants are toxic to humans unless their skin is removed.] Males of the species are far more aggressive, carnivorous and are known to ensnare packrats & other rodents on their antlers for later consumption. Extremely territorial, they fight about as well as any Jackalope might, but their upper half is believed to be much more powerful than their rear legs.

A 'Jackalope expert' once confirmed the one in the photograph (below) was an "Elkhare" and pondered that perhaps the Wyoming species at one point migrated to the Merritt area near Kamloops. - Jackalopes where said to be extinct in the region back in 1983.

[Map of the area via google maps.]

• History: the elkhare is Briefly mentioned in Professor Micheal Tafts "Tall Tales of British Columbia." [1983] – a photograph of an alleged "Elkhare" is featured as the books cover image, it’s a fairly standard white brown jackalope. - The information I've listed thus far derives from the inside front covers notes (along with independent research.) - The exact species was apparently up to lively debate in the 80s with some saying that it was a male "Side Hill Gouger." [a folkloric critter famous in the Rocky Mountains & Vancouver area.] The taxidermy In the books photo is apparently part of a 'private collection' and I'm unsure where it might be located today. - (Seeing as the book is part of the sound heritage series and thus part of the Victoria BC government archives, Perhaps they might have a better idea of its were-abouts?) - Like the other creatures included in the book, Not much more information was written about the critter in particular, so perhaps an investigation to the area might be in order at some point... The book mentions that Jackalope aren't very common in BC (the areas critter of choice is the Side hill Gouger) but stories about jackalope and giant grasshoppers are plentiful in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

interestingly a particular variant of gouger called the side hill winder is said to be very rabbit-like (see willamalone)

[An "Angry Male Elkhare protecting its young." as seen on the cover of "Tall tales of British Columbia." [Taft, 1983] photographed near Merritt BC in 1982.]

[Many articles advertising stories for the book can be found a year before the books publishing on newspapers.com especially during the summer of 1982. (I've reached out to the museum about the cassette tape in question, it’s apparently in cold storage and thus sadly out of my reach...)]

"A folklorist, Dr. Taft taught at the University of Saskatchewan for the 1978-1979 academic year, and returned to campus in 1983-1984 to research and write an anecdotal history of the University.Dr. Taft was Head of the Archive of Folk Culture at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. from 2002 to 2012." 1 Though I've attempted to find out where he might be today, sadly I haven't had much luck.

[Another article about Micheal Taft [1995.]

• see also: icegedunk, tall tales of bc.

Art Sticker by @Samkalensky, part of my fearsome critters collection of stickers! check my shop and follow for many more!

Back to "Tall tales of British Columbia" - [1983]

Elkhare - [fearsome critter]

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