Embark on a journey to explore the countless myths about supposedly undiscovered creatures, known as cryptids, throughout North America.
Yoair Blog - The world's anthropology blog publication. The Most Famous Cryptids of North America - Yoair Blog Skip to content Yoair.com About Us Internship Partnership Blog Guide Get Started Login Register ☰ About Us Blog Guide Internship Partnership Get Started Register Login Go to Yoair.com Travel Guide Anthropology Ancient History History Indigenous Current Events Art Myth Architecture Ecology Short Stories General Myth The Most Famous Cryptids of North America Post Views: 29,265 What is a Cryptid? The line between reality and folktale can often become murky. Stories of monsters that hide in the shadows often create their own reality – influencing people’s perceptions to ascribe unnatural explanations to things they think they have seen. Stories of close encounters with monsters and other unknown creatures have existed for as long as humans have told stories. The name “cryptids” is used to refer to any animal that some people claim to have witnessed but that has not yet been scientifically proven to exist. The types of cryptids vary widely. Some theoretically could exist while others seem to defy the very laws of nature and biology. Some cryptids are believed to be the only ones of their kind, while others are supposedly members of entire species still to be discovered. Many people to this day try to track down and find concrete proof of cryptids. At the same time, many others create fake evidence of cryptids to gain publicity. Myths of these fantastical animals can be found in North America across many cultures and countries. Image Source: Hog Island Press Bigfoot One of the most famous North American cryptids is Bigfoot, also known as the Sasquatch. The name “Sasquatch” is derived from the Salish word saskehavas, meaning “wild men.” Bigfoot is believed to roam western Canada and the northwestern United States. This creature is often described by locals as being a large, bipedal ape of incredible strength, with brown or black fur covering most of its body and, as its name indicates, having a pair of massive feet. Reported sightings and alleged casts of Bigfoot’s footprints, mostly in temperate forests, have ranged from one and a half to two feet long. These large footprints are what gave Bigfoot its name. Many supposed Bigfoot sightings have been explained as bears walking on their hind legs or pranksters in ape costumes. Cryptid Sightings Bigfoot is not the only “ape-man” mentioned in folklore. The Yeti in the Himalayas and the Skunk Ape in Florida are two other very well-known examples of large ape-like humanoid creatures. However, Bigfoot has accumulated the greatest amount of “evidence” for its existence based on the number of reported sightings. The first evidence of Bigfoot found by a European was in 1811. The English explorer David Thompson reported finding “footprints” that he believed belonged to an unidentified creature. Reported sightings and footprints continued to be discovered over the next hundred years. But, Bigfoot truly gained its fame when, in 1958, an American, Raymond Wallace, claimed to have seen the creature on multiple occasions and presented large footprint casts as evidence. While he never admitted it during his life, after his death in 2002, his children reported that Wallace’s Bigfoot evidence was an elaborate prank and hoax. This admission, however, didn’t dissuade other Bigfoot hunters. Reported sightings and evidence of Bigfoot continued in Canada and the United States. The most famous sighting of Bigfoot was shared in a video recording and set of photographs by American directors Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin in 1967. They claimed that these images show a female Bigfoot at Bluff Creek, California. These images have become iconic. Moreover, many TV shows and documentaries have been dedicated to uncovering the mystery of Bigfoot, such as Expedition Bigfoot in 2019, Finding Bigfoot in 2011, and Sasquatch in 2021. Photographers: Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin El Chupacabra The “Chupacabra,” meaning goat-sucker, is another very well-known, but a very different kind of cryptid, that has been reported by farmers across Central America, the Caribbean, and the southern United States since the late 1990’s. This mysterious creature has been blamed for the slaughter of livestock by draining them of their blood. The first mention of this creature came in 1995 in Puerto Rico by a woman named Madelyne Tolentino who said the Chupacabra killed her goats and left puncture wounds in them like those of a vampire bat. The descriptions of the Chupacabra vary much more than descriptions of Bigfoot. Some witnesses claim the Chupacabra is a 5-foot-tall bipedal reptile, while others claim that it looks more like a hairless dog with spines running down its back. Some even say that the creature is an extra-terrestrial and have connected it to UFO sightings. However, the various descriptions of the Chupacabra have several overlapping and defining characteristics: nocturnal, glowing red eyes, scaly skin, and possessing razor sharp fangs and claws. The Chupacabra, like a vampire, is said to feed on the blood of its victims, mostly goats and other small livestock, using a pair of deadly fangs. Animals killed by the Chupacabra are almost completely drained of blood. Additionally, the Chupacabra is supposed to be extremely vicious and hostile to everything it encounters. Truth Behind the Cryptid Despite the beast’s notoriety and having drawn the attention of many cryptid hunters, there has not been any substantial evidence of the Chupacabra being anything more than a myth. Many supposedly captured Chupacabras turn out to be just wild dogs and coyotes suffering from mange, a skin disorder spread by parasitic mites that causes animals to lose all their hair, their skin to turn grey, and get severe rashes. And, researchers believe that Chupacabra sightings are really just sightings of canines suffering from mange. The dead livestock are most likely just victims of hungry wild dogs and coyotes. Notwithstanding the explanations and evidence that credibly dispute the existence of the Chupacabra, many people still believe in this creature and photos and sightings of the beast still continue to appear and generate great interest. Artist: Jaime Chirinos Mothman In the city of Point Pleasant in West Virginia, a creature unlike anything in nature is said to lurk in the shadows, and when it does appear, it portends doom. This creature, called “Mothman”, is described as combining the features of an insect and a man: it has a roughly humanoid shape, with pitch black skin, a massive wingspan, and large glowing red eyes. Some accounts claim that the creature is headless with its eyes located on its chest. The Mothman is rumored to act as an omen for impending major disasters. Many people draw connections between Mothman sightings and massive accidents and disasters that occur a few days later. The events Mothman is often connected to are catastrophic and result in massive loss of life, property damage, or both. Cryptid Sightings Myths surrounding the Mothman first appeared on November 12, 1966, when several witnesses claimed to have seen a large, flying creature with a roughly humanoid shape and glowing red eyes. Sightings continued in Point Pleasant until December 15, 1967, the same day that the major bridge in Point Pleasant, the Silver Bridge, collapsed, killing forty-six people. As news of the coincidental sightings of the strange insect-like humanoid creature and the bridge catastrophe spread, people across the world began claiming to have seen the Mothman shortly before other disasters. Some people have even claimed to have seen the beast flying around just a few days before the nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl in 1986. While photographs circulate purportedly showing the Mothman, there is no physical evidence such as DNA or a footprint of the creature. Some scientists explain that these “appearances” of the Mothman are actually owls or other large predatory birds. The Mothman remains a symbol of the city of Point Pleasant. Rumors of close encounters are still being passed around. A Mothman statute was erected in the city center and there is now a Mothman museum and an annual Mothman festival. The Mothman, like Bigfoot, has become a part of modern popular culture. Mothman is the subject of the 1975 book The Mothman Prophecies by John Keel, which was later adapted into a 2002 film starring Richard Gere. Other even less memorable Mothman films were made, such as The Eyes of the Mothman, for which one reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes, Steven W, pleaded “please… for the love of god… for the love of poundcake…. for the love of ANYTHING you may hold dear… DO NOT WATCH THIS.” Artist: Bob Roach Jersey Devil The myth of the Jersey Devil – a demon flying through the skies of New Jersey and Pennsylvania killing livestock and destroying crops – has been around for over 250 years. The Jersey Devil is described as a malicious biped with a goat-head, a snake-like tail, and large bat-like wings. This cryptid has been spotted lurking in forests, perched on rooftops, or flying through the sky with its massive wings. The nature of this cryptid is controversial. Some people believe that the Jersey Devil is a manifestation of Satan, others claim that it is a cursed child, and still others speculate that it’s an undiscovered species. Birth of a Cryptid One origin myth of the Jersey Devil goes back to the year 1735 in Leeds Point, New Jersey. On a stormy night, while giving birth to her thirteenth child, a woman named Deborah Leeds screamed that the child was the devil. So the story goes, the baby was born with various inhuman deformities including horns, wings, hooves, and a tail. The baby escaped and still lives, hunting for victims in the middle of the night. Sightings of the Jersey Devil have been reported for centuries, even by policemen and politicians. They claimed to have witnessed the monster moving swiftly through the night. Researchers have come up with multiple theories on the monster’s true nature, such as it being a crane, a statue of a gargoyle, or a worker on a rooftop. Despite its notoriety and persistent sightings for hundreds of years, no physical evidence establishing the existence of the Jersey Devil has been found. The cryptid, however, remains a major symbol of New Jersey, as evidenced by New Jersey’s professional ice hockey team being named the New Jersey Devils. Their name is based on the Jersey Devil and was given to the team by fans who voted for it as their team’s new name. Artist: Ryan Doan Champ Almost all cultures have their sea serpents’ myths. Scotland has the Loch Ness Monster, and North America has Champ, the reptilian aquatic monster of Lake Champlain, located mostly in northwestern Vermont but also crossing into New York and Canada. Legends of a giant sea serpent or marine reptile inhabiting Lake Champlain first appeared centuries ago with the Native American Abenaki people, who described a terrifying giant horned sea serpent called Gitaskog, meaning “great serpent.” Champ is often pictured as either a giant serpent or a prehistoric marine reptile such as the long-necked Plesiosaurs with black or green scales along its body. Reports of Champ’s length have varied widely, ranging from 10 to 187 feet long. Cryptid Sightings One of the most famous sightings of Champ was in Port Henry, New York, by a “Captain Crum” in 1819. The captain told reporters that he saw a 187 foot long black serpent with a horse-like face rearing its head out of the water. He claimed that it had pale eyes, three teeth, and a star mark on its forehead. Captain Crum, however, had nothing to support his story. Reported sightings of Champ continue to this day. There are even photos of close encounters with Champ. One of the most famous photos was taken in St. Albans, Vermont by Sandra Mansi in 1977. It depicts a snake-like form poking its head out of Lake Champlain. Many people cite this photo as being undeniable proof that Champ exists somewhere within the lake. Scientists, however, believe that the figure in the photograph is most likely just a piece of driftwood. While people argue that it is entirely possible that a creature could be lurking undetected in the depths of the 420 square mile lake, scientists offer simpler explanations. Scientists say the sightings are likely of large fish that inhabit Lake Champlain, such as sturgeons and garpikes that have long and slender bodies. Quickly cooling lake water can create mirages in the air that would make the fish look much longer than it actually is, even monstrous. Despite the scientific explanation for its sightings, Champ has a special place in the hearts of the citizens of Vermont and New York. The city of Burlington, Vermont has a baseball team called The Vermont Lake Monsters, with Champ as its mascot. Champ is such an icon that in the village of Port Henry, New York, August 7th has been declared as “Champ Day,” when people hold a Lake Champlain Monster Festival and celebrate the mythical creature. Photographer: Sandra Mansi Cryptids: Myth vs. Reality Cryptids act as a bridge between fantasy and reality. The myths and folklore people are raised on can often lead them to view the world in a more supernatural light, where anything moving in the corner of their eye can somehow be connected to the creatures they were told about in stories. Such deep-seeded beliefs are hard to overcome no matter how persuasive the scientific explanations are or how fantastic the creatures. The belief in cryptids is not confined to North America, but is persistent in cultures across the world. There appears to be something profoundly human in believing that there are unseen beings lurking just beyond what is known and what is real and, yet equally so, in disproving such fantasies through science and reason. So, there will always be some people looking to prove the existence of monsters and others seeking to dispel such myths. If you enjoyed reading my article make sure to look at my articles on: Tool-Making Thor Dinosaur Art Related The Fantastic Grindylow: Pride of Yorkshire and LancashireIn the remarkable territory of Northern England, lies many cultural treasures, mysteries, and mythology that create a common society. From historic events and landmarks, there also comes figures that define the character of the region. As we explore the fantastic Grindylow: Pride of Yorkshire and Lancashire, we gain an interesting…December 5, 2022In "Anthropology"Anthropology: Ghost Stories and Folktales as Cultural and Historical IndexesInteractions and Storytelling Humans as a species and as cultural beings are defined by their interactions. In interacting with others, we learn about norms, culture, and the rich depths of tales that inform us. Storytelling is one of the key aspects of human interaction. This may involve gossiping in the…November 9, 2022In "Anthropology"Anthropology: The Fascination With Scary Movies in North AmericaAs many of you are aware, Halloween is near dawning on us once again. Known for its intriguing stories, dark history, and overall mystique. This time of the year becomes special as many audiences in North America and beyond revisit and discover scary movies. In this week’s article, there will…November 22, 2022In "Anthropology" Published by Jack Pecau My name is Jack and I'm going to be a junior at GW and the Corcoran School of Art and Design and I love writing, drawing, and learning about ancient history and cultures. View all posts by Jack Pecau November 7, 2022November 7, 2022america, Bigfoot, Chupacabra, cryptid, education, Jersey Devil, Mothman, myth, mythology, USA Share this:TwitterFacebookLinkedInRedditTumblrPinterestLike this:Like Loading... 3 thoughts on “The Most Famous Cryptids of North America” Jack Pound says: December 7, 2021 at 2:47 pm Interesting read! I’ve been on a “finding bigfoot and other cryptids” obsession reading blogs and watching documentaries/videos. I recently found a new show that just came out on discovery+ called Alaskan Killer Bigfoot – and so far it’s a really enjoyable watch!! It’s about the mysteriously abandoned Portlock, Alaska which hasn’t been lived on for the past 70 years and still today because the inhabitants felt threatened by a Bigfoot-like creature so they fled off the land. The show follows an expedition group who go back to Portland to see if the land can be lived on once again, but of course they fear a cryptid during their journey. Loading... Reply randyshackelford says: December 17, 2021 at 8:39 pm Just saw this article on Discoery+’s new show Alaskan Killer Bigfoot: https://www.homernews.com/life/new-reality-tv-show-explores-nantinaq-stories/ If you’re a Bigfoot fan, definitely check this show out. They do an incredible job, the history is fascinating and the cast is sensational. Highly recommend Loading... Reply Claudio B. says: October 4, 2022 at 9:22 am Me encantó el informe. Loading... Reply Leave a Reply Cancel reply Post navigation Previous Previous post: Sociopolitical Anthropology: Introduction to International Relations and How this Political System WorksNext Next post: Travel Guide: Explore Romania, from its Historic Castles to its Amazing Cuisine Sidebar Select LanguageAfrikaansAlbanianAmharicArabicArmenianAzerbaijaniBasqueBelarusianBengaliBosnianBulgarianCatalanCebuanoChichewaChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)CorsicanCroatianCzechDanishDutchEnglishEsperantoEstonianFilipinoFinnishFrenchFrisianGalicianGeorgianGermanGreekGujaratiHaitian CreoleHausaHawaiianHebrewHindiHmongHungarianIcelandicIgboIndonesianIrishItalianJapaneseJavaneseKannadaKazakhKhmerKoreanKurdish (Kurmanji)KyrgyzLaoLatinLatvianLithuanianLuxembourgishMacedonianMalagasyMalayMalayalamMalteseMaoriMarathiMongolianMyanmar (Burmese)NepaliNorwegianPashtoPersianPolishPortuguesePunjabiRomanianRussianSamoanScottish GaelicSerbianSesothoShonaSindhiSinhalaSlovakSlovenianSomaliSpanishSudaneseSwahiliSwedishTajikTamilTeluguThaiTurkishUkrainianUrduUzbekVietnameseWelshXhosaYiddishYorubaZulu Subscribe to Blog via Email Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Email Address Subscribe Join 356 other subscribers Flights Stays Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Multiple Choice *Round TripOne WayFrom *To *Traveler 1 Traveler ClassEconomyBusinessFirst ClassPremium EconomyDateSearch Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.CityRooms Selected Value: 1 Guests Selected Value: 1 DateSearch Recent Posts Memoir: Perfect Target for Experiencing Racial Prejudice and Ignorance in El Cajon A Quite Literal Cultural Melting Pot: French Creole The Evolution of Vegetarianism The UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Trier Law of Attraction: The Universal Secret of Positive Affirmations Categories Ancient History (78) Anthropology (841) Architecture (25) Art (119) Current Events (143) Ecology (60) General (189) History (223) Indigenous (29) Myth (84) Short Stories (51) Travel Guide (559) %d bloggers like this: JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember SunMonTueWedThuFriSat 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930311234567891011JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember SunMonTueWedThuFriSat 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930311234567891011 ✕ Error. Try later. You have blocked Push Notifications. Follow these instructions to enable Push Notifications. Subscribe to receive push notifications on latest updates You are unsubscribed to Pu… truncated (108 more characters in archive)