Wolpertinger

Lore & Background

According to German folklore, the Wolpertinger inhabits the alpine forests of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in Southern Germany. The most widespread description portrays it as having the head of a rabbit, the body of a squirrel, the antlers of a deer, and the wings and occasionally the legs of a pheasant. No two Wolpertingers look alike because they are supposedly the result of crossbreeding between animals in the area such as foxes, roebucks, hares, ducks, and pheasants.

Folklore states that Wolpertingers only show themselves to beautiful maidens on a full moon if they are taken into secluded parts of the Bavarian forests by the right man. Images of creatures that may be Wolpertingers have been found in woodcuts and engravings dating back to the 17th century, though they might be images of rabbits infected by the Shope papilloma virus which causes tumors that can resemble horns or antlers. The origin of the name is unclear, but may come from glassmakers from the village of Wolterdingen who made schnapps glasses shaped like animals, which they called 'Wolterdinger.'

The Wolpertinger myth has increased in popularity over the past two centuries because of taxidermies created by Bavarian taxidermists in the 1800s for fun and to sell to tourists as 'local wildlife.' Stuffed 'Wolpertingers,' composed of parts of real animals that have been stuffed, are often displayed in inns or sold to tourists as souvenirs in the animal's 'native regions.' The Deutsches Jagd- und Fischereimuseum in Munich, Germany features a permanent exhibit on the creature.

Reader's Guide

The Wolpertinger holds significance as a distinctive example of German folkloric composite animals, reflecting regional creativity and the blending of local wildlife into a mythical creature. Its popularity grew notably in the 1800s due to taxidermists creating whimsical specimens for entertainment and tourism, which helped cement its place in Bavarian cultural identity. The creature is part of a larger family of horned mammals found throughout Germanic regions, with counterparts such as the Austrian Raurakl, the Rasselbock of the Thuringian Forest, the Dilldapp of the Alemannic region, and the Elwedritsche of the Palatinate. Its legacy extends into modern popular culture, appearing as a character in Walter Moers' novel 'Rumo and His Miraculous Adventures' and as a pet in the video game World of Warcraft during special events. The Wolpertinger also serves as a tourist attraction, with stuffed versions sold as souvenirs and displayed in inns, and is the subject of a permanent exhibit at the Deutsches Jagd- und Fischereimuseum in Munich. Its uncertain origins—possibly linked to 17th-century woodcuts or rabbit tumors—add to its mystique, and the unclear etymology of its name, possibly from glassmakers in Wolterdingen, further enriches its folkloric appeal.