Wolpertingers and Skvaders

Not to be outdone by America's Jackalope, both Germany and Sweden have their own rabbit concoctions: the Wolpertinger and the Skvader.  In fact, both creatures have much longer histories.  Sweden's Skvader originated in Hakan Dahlmark's tall hunting tale over what was probably a very boozy dinner.  Dahlmark claimed that he had shot an animal in 1874 which had the legs of a hare and the back, wings, and tail of a female wood grouse.  The story must have become legendary as Dahlmark's housekeeper gave him a painting of his beast for his birthday several years later.  Dahlmark later donated the painting to his local museum in Norra Berget in Sundsvall.  The painting inspired the curator to ask a taxidermist named Rudolf Granberg to construct the beast, which has been on display since 1918.

The Wolpertinger is commonly sighted in the alpine forests of Bavaria in Germany, and stuffed Wolpertingers are frequently sold as souvenirs to tourists.  With both horns and wings, the Wolpertinger combines the best of jackalopes and skvaders.