Rackabore - [fearsome critter]

Rackabore. – [Fearsome Critter] - (latin: Sus lithotrepanicus) - Aka: "Rockaboar" 'Side-Hill Gouger (*etc.)'

• About this critter: A type of mountain boar with uneven mix-matched legs, cloven hooves and curly horns, it transversed the rocky cliff-sides & mountains of North America (Ranging from Colorado USA to Ontario Canada) they're said to be closely related to the Javelina (aka Peccary or Mexican Boars.) which migrated far north and adapted to living in the Rockies. - Rackabore have a particular talent for boring into the side of the rock faces using its long nose, they sniff out gold and silver deposits (perhaps they like the rich taste?) & where blamed for many caves spontaneously appearing in the mountainsides. It has been said that young Rackabores where kept as pets by pioneers in Colorodo, using them to sniff out gold & silver in mining. - They are very stubborn creatures; when two meet they fight until the other either starves to death or falls off the hill. It "racks" back and forth because of its tall, uneven legs, heavy portly body & hooves.

• History & Early Appearances: its yet another relative to the side-hill gouger, this one seems to originate from stories told by guides in the rockies in the early 1900's as a way of teasing tourists and hazing those that may not be familiar with the area. 

The earliest newspaper mention of 'Rackabore' as critter which i could find was from papers in 1903, it was reported 'South of Missouri' (so in the Ozarks of Arkansas? i suppose.) Along with some other classic critters such as the "Oogly Boo" & "The One-Eyed Screaming Aemus" (both critters described are parallels to certain name only critters better known today as the "Wunk" and the "Suqidicumsquee" respectively, that is to say they 'ate themselves and vanished') - here The Rackabore is presented with the standard side-hill gouger yarn:

[1903]

[from 1938 papers.]

[from 1941's Journal of American Folklore]

in the 70's Professor Walker D Wyman also wrote about the "Rockabore of the rocky mountains" in his "Mythical creatures of North america" [1969] adding the rumor that colorado miners made pets of the young and that they'd sniff out gold like truffles, of course I am reminded of Circes pigs, Gullinbursti and other golden swine from older mythology, but if you look for earlier evidence of rockabore or rackabore, you likely wont find it. – Wymans excuse for there being no earlier record of the rockabore? Well, it was that many of the miners where uneducated and could not write of course.

[Helen B Wymans sketch, 1979]

Despite that: Perhaps One final example of the Rackabore which is still being used is 'Zeph' of the Haliburon Highlands museum in Ontario Canada they label their taxidermied-winged pig as a type of 'Side-hill Gouger' (specifically mixed with a jackalope.) - According to the museums curators the wings where not used for flight, but where instead used for swimming!! - unfortunately i cant find any record for how far back the taxidermy goes other than that its been their possession and on display for "a very long time!"  (if you're so brave as to visit zeph, please let ask them and let me know! their email doesnt seem to work!)

[zeph from Haliburon Highlands museum]

-- Anyway i'm unsure how many more "side hill gouger" variants i can stomach drawing/deep diving (they're all insanely similar) as i've said before, to attempt to illustrate them all would no doubt lead one quickly to insanity, where they more popular i might attempt more. (Expect 2 or 3 more past this one at least!)

[Art by SamKalensky part of my fearsome critters collection of stickers, check my shop and follow for many more!]