Origins of the jackalope?

Andrew says:

I could be mistaken, but [your post about the poor fellow with the unusual skin condition] looks like a virus that rabbits get that causes what look like horns growing out of them called Shope papillomavirus. That was the first thing i thought when i saw it, although it's probably not related. I have several pet rabbits and they don't go outside because there are rabbits with that in the area, and once you see it, you never forget it.

Is this the real-life origin of the mythical jackalope? Link