In North American superstition, what animal body part is carried as a lucky charm?

In North American superstition, a rabbit’s foot is carried as a lucky charm.

The charm became especially popular in the United States during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It was often attached to a key ring or carried in a pocket, and commercial versions were sold as inexpensive personal talismans. The rabbit’s reputation for rapid reproduction also helped connect it with fertility and abundance.

Some versions of the folklore prescribe unusual conditions for obtaining the foot, such as taking it from a rabbit under specific circumstances or at a particular place and time. These details vary widely and are not part of one consistent tradition.

The belief is sometimes incorrectly described as an ancient universal custom. Its best-known modern form is strongly associated with American popular culture. From a modern animal-welfare perspective, the charm also raises concerns about trapping, killing, and selling animal parts.