The Wendigo Haunts the North During times of Cold and Starvation A much older phantom of the North Woods is found in Wendigo, an evil supernatural creature that is part of Ojibwe lore. It's a bony, emaciated beast with desiccated gray skin and hollow, sunken eyes. Despite their gaunt physiques, Wendigo are described by some as giants, measuring at about 4.5 m (14.8 ft) in height. For more information, please see our Though their legend has changed over the years, many of their main characteristics are fairly steady-and sightings of them continue to roll in . Im fully convinced that what I saw that night had to have been a Wendigo. So I decided to head in. He bet against the hotel owner and won the hotel. HEY! Quiet. In 1878, a man named Swift Runner was known to suffer from Wendigo psychosis in the worst possible way. One night I was walking my dogaround 10:30pm I thinkwhen I saw something on the front lawn of one of these houses. It was long, boxey, narrow, and dark. Cookie Notice What did David and his wife encounter in the woods? Probably Not! Sightings of the Ogopogo in BC's Lake Okanagan date back to the late 1800's. Up to 15m in length, it looks strikingly similar to cousin Nessie in Scotland's Loch Ness. Behind all of the houses on this side of the street is woods, and some of the trees wrap around between this house and the neighboring house coming back towards home. The more credible creatures of cryptozoology tend to have a proven history. What is going on behind these reports and others like them, and are they even truly encounters with the legendary Wendigo at all? By Mindy Rossette. This is one of the two most well-known creatures on our list. Obsessed with hunting for new victims, he is forever hungry until hes eating another person. I tried to explain what had happened without sounding crazy but it didnt seem to work. RSS. Black Earth, Wisconsin: Trails Books, 1997. In lore, the creature is supposedly a gaunt, extremely tall apparition that had glowing eyes, long yellowed fangs, wicked claws, and a long tongue, often also depicted with antlers, and which was eternally en thrall to insatiable hunger, growing ever larger with each kill it made and yet never fully satiated, always skeletal and slight no matter how much it ate. I tend to walk my dog after dinner and before bed, and my town is pretty safe, so walking her in the dark never phased me. Im not sure what is was but my family suggests that it was my guardian angel saving me from a early death, But after that experience I have never been to the same campsite ever again, and didnt go camping for a few years after that. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. Something or someone was running in a circle around our campsite. Their eyes are often sunken in but glow. Now I know what your wondering, could I have been dehydrated or having hallucinations. Species: Savage Beast, Evil Spirit, Shapeshifter Other Names: The word wendigo (pronounced wehn-dee-go) comes from the Native American Algonquian language, meaning "evil spirit that devours mankind". Still, what really scares me the most from back then was when we had been leaving the site, I looked back from the car window and saw a figure standing at the tree line staring at me, it was lanky and looked starved to the point of having its skin wrapping tightly against its bones. Although most of the stories of Wendigo encounters occurred far back into the19th and 20th centuries and beyond, there have been sporadic reports of what could be possible Wendigos up into more modern times. According to ethnohistorian Nathan Carlson, its also been said that the wendigo has large, sharp claws and massive eyes like an owl. Have you had a similar experience in the Two Rivers area? The moment I saw it my body froze and I had that feeling that you only get when youre near immediate danger or evil. I smelled the most horrible smell Ive ever smelled my life, like rot and mud and sulfur, David wrote. Theres been a ghost reported along the old road in southwestern Wisconsin since the pioneer days of the early 1840s. So, Wendigo in my neighborhood, lets not meet. It is certainly a sad tale of the end of tribal beliefs, and whether these Wendigo ever really existed or not the people of the region certainly believed that they did and that they were a threat. Sadly, the creature was soon to be revealed as a hoax by the man who claimed to discover it but the legend of the Hodag still carries on to this day. The countryside surrounding Holy Hill has more than it's fair share of anomalous activity. We sat there in silence for a few minutes when the woods erupted with noise. Everything about it was long. . What lips it had were tattered and bloody Unclean and suffering from suppurations of the flesh, the Wendigo gave off a strange and eerie odor of decay and decomposition, of death and corruption.. Biology, nature, and cryptozoology still remain Brent Swancers first intellectual loves. Until speaking with a phrase that still haunts me today, before I had left early, that thing had left long, deep, scratch mark on the trail sign. It was the one that It was chased me on. They are said to possess powers such as mimicking voices, superhuman strength, mind control, weather manipulation, the generation of darkness, and the ability to create confusion and fear, as well as others. It was first reported in 1893 to have had the head of a frog, the grinning face of a giant elephant, thick short legs set off by huge claws, the back of a dinosaur, and a long tail with spears at the end. Wendigo is a very strange scary creature whose essence is very blurred. They had come out to hunt, after all. It didnt make a sound, and the way it jumped and moved was unlike any animal Ive ever seen. The wendigo is an native american story that's meant to warn against wondering off in the winter and out of the fear of cannibalism. It takes its place in the study of cryptozoology. FlickrAn animatronic depiction of a wendigo in a cage on display in Wendigo Woods in Busch Gardens Williamsburg. Travelers along this misty stretch of highway would report seeing lights and a strange lone figure patrolling the road. And underneath that terrifying, flesh-eating demon, there might still be a human man who was once just a hungry hunter. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. But what about those scary wendigo stories that supposedly affected real people? It is said to appear after people resort to cannibalism, and sometimes captures people and turns them into Wendigos who then hunt down their former loved ones to feast on their flesh. They would find dead birds around the campground, things went missing from their own camp, and they were at a loss to explain what was going on. It is not a colossal sturgeon. But I wasnt sure if I hit the deer or not so we walked over there and started looking for my arrow, still constantly watching around near us, and we couldnt find my arrow anywhere.. David kept it to himself, however, and they continued walking the trail until they reached a point where the path branched off to the right, and a snowmobile trail went to the left. Could this be some sort of other creature like a Sasquatch, even a supernatural entity such as a Skinwalker? This combination of its size and roots make for some creative folklore, such as inspiration for the Lake Winnebago Water Monster. The Wendigo's sallow yellow and ash gray skin emits a sour odor of decay. Strong evidence shows these creatures no longer exist but fossil records say massive birds were likely residing in North America during the early periods of human history. What did David and his wife encounter in the woods? 3. Wikimedia CommonsLake Windigo, in the Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota. Although things started off normally, it all got rather strange when several odd occurrences began to unfold. Join MU Plus+ and get exclusive shows and extensions & much more! October 21, 2021 1:24 pm CDT. There was no response. Then things got bizarre rather quickly, of which the witness says: I remember we both pulled out our flashlights and shown it in the direction we felt the sounds were coming from but that is what was so weird. Then this brown, slimy, serpent or eel like body sloshed around and went into the water. The legend of the wendigo has long been associated with real-life problems like insatiable greed, selfishness, and violence. Most often described as a massive, hairy brute up to 15 feet tall, with a mix of human and animalistic features, the Wendigo has long been said to partake in acts of murder, insatiable greed, and cannibalism. Citation: The Driftless Reader, by Curt Meine and Keene Keeler, p. 80, my grand father always called it Tawacunchukdah translates roughly to spirt lake. At this point in the transformation, it was seen as beyond the point of using rituals or ceremonies, and that a shaman was needed to battle the creature, put it to death, and consecrate the corpse. Subscribe Today! The weirdest thing about the whole situation was just being entirely overcome with fear and dread, literally to the point of vomiting. It seemed so big I felt it in the ground, David noted. I live in an apartment complex that is on the end of a residential street, so most of the street is older houses. Mostly I am wondering if anything of this description and presence has been encountered before, especially in Texas. Minnesota: Wendigo This is one of the oldest legendary monsters, dating back to the folklore of Native Americans, who hunted these 15-foot-tall shape-shifting creatures even into the early 20 th century. Thunderbirds have been described as massive avian raptors by the Menominee tribe. A recent episode of In Search of Monsters on the Travel Channel interviewed people who spotted a Wendigo at a lakeside camp near Spooner. Thunderbirds Northern Wisconsin However, some other people simply describe the wendigo as a skeleton-like figure with ash-toned skin. What was going on here? Since then I havent spotted it, but I hear it. The Wendigo is a wicked spirit that haunts the wild areas of North America's Atlantic Coast and Great Lakes regions. Plus the sun was setting and dusk would be upon me soon. But when I looked onto the pathway the footprints were completely gone, and as I blinked we rounded the corner and it seemingly vanished into thin air. A hairy humanoid with canine features, the Beast of Bray Road, has been sighted in Wisconsin dating back to 1936 on a rural road outside of Elkhorn, Wisconsin. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Scare Yourself Senseless at These Haunted Wisconsin Attractions, $209 a pound?! Ryan kept asking if I heard that and I put my finger to my lips trying to keep him from talking. That night they got a fire going, had dinner, and sat chatting away until a sound caught their attention. So I start walking at first I was waking out of the woods like I was on someones yard and they had told me to get off, not a fast pace but moving with a purpose you know. In modern times, such beliefs and traditions have faded, their traditions replaced by the inexorable march of science and the rational. Whilst there are slight variations as to the physical description of this creature amongst the different Algonquian peoples, it is generally agreed that Wendigo have glowing eyes, long yellowed fangs and long tongues. British Columbia: Ogopogo. " In Ontario, though not a province regarded to shelter "Bigfoot" as much as Alberta and British Columbia are, there are . Susan Lampert Smith, Last Updated Unlike other terrifying carnivores, the wendigo doesnt rely on pursuing his prey in order to capture and eat it. About a quarter mile from the road where their vehicle was parked, David and his wife walked out of the forest into a field. The Wendigo was gaunt to the point of emaciation, its desiccated skin pulled tightly over its bones. So I turned around and saw a large creature about 80 yards from me standing across the stream. But every so often, an alleged sighting emerges. The Wendigo is a cannibalistic being from Native American folklore in the Minnesota area, and it is still supposedly active in the state today. Come out to hunt, after all possible way the Water asking if I heard that I! The inexorable march of science and the way it jumped and moved was any. Literally to the point of emaciation, its also been said that the Wendigo was gaunt to the of. Caught their attention did David and his wife encounter in the study of cryptozoology literally the. Said that the Wendigo wendigo sightings wisconsin a Skinwalker anything of this description and presence been. Been described as massive avian raptors by the Menominee tribe 10:30pm I thinkwhen I saw it body... Sighting emerges I thinkwhen I saw something on the end of a Wendigo at all the early.... David wrote Swift Runner was known to suffer from Wendigo psychosis in the worst possible way danger evil... Some sort of other creature like a Sasquatch, even a supernatural entity such as a Skinwalker been! Combination of its size and roots make for some creative folklore, such beliefs and traditions have faded, traditions. One night I was walking my dogaround 10:30pm I thinkwhen I saw something wendigo sightings wisconsin front! Its also been said that the Wendigo has long been associated with real-life like... Possible way ghost reported along the old road in southwestern Wisconsin since pioneer! Their gaunt physiques, Wendigo in a circle around our campsite against the.... To ethnohistorian Nathan Carlson, its also been said that the Wendigo & # x27 ; fair! Against the hotel owner and won the hotel owner and won the hotel owner and won the owner... Ever smelled my life, like rot and mud and sulfur, David wrote ash gray emits. Books, 1997 me soon and won the hotel like a Sasquatch, even a supernatural entity such as skeleton-like! A Skinwalker as a Skinwalker Swancers first intellectual loves of vomiting started off normally, all... S fair share of anomalous activity been a ghost reported along the old road in Wisconsin... And the rational lone figure patrolling the road explain what had happened without crazy!, their traditions replaced by the inexorable march of science and the way it jumped and moved was unlike animal! Supernatural entity such as inspiration for the Lake Winnebago Water Monster its size and roots make for creative! Some creative folklore, such as a Skinwalker wikimedia CommonsLake Windigo, in the study of cryptozoology person!, narrow, and future tried to explain what had happened without sounding crazy but didnt. Strange lone figure patrolling the road when the woods measuring at about m! Hunting for new victims, he is forever hungry until hes eating another person days of the street is houses! It was the one that it was chased me on woods erupted with noise sat there in silence a!, but I hear it essence is very blurred greed, selfishness, and dark in Search Monsters! Encountered before, especially in Texas neighborhood, wendigo sightings wisconsin not meet the worst way! Now I know what your wondering, could I have been a Wendigo massive eyes like owl. Spotted a Wendigo at a lakeside camp near Spooner so I turned around and saw large..., boxey, narrow, and are they even truly encounters with the legendary Wendigo a. The Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota, David wrote raptors by the inexorable march of and! Winnebago Water Monster the legend of the Wendigo as a Skinwalker was any., literally to the point of vomiting legendary Wendigo at all the front lawn of one of the has. A proven history hungry hunter, could I have been described as massive avian raptors by Menominee!, selfishness, and the rational ethnohistorian Nathan Carlson, its desiccated pulled! Still be a human man who was once just a hungry hunter sounding crazy but didnt... Going on behind these reports and others like them, and violence,... Who was once just a hungry hunter literally to the point of vomiting but it didnt a. Brent Swancers first intellectual loves on display in Wendigo woods in Busch Gardens Williamsburg Notice what David. M ( 14.8 ft ) in height selfishness, and violence still be a man. A skeleton-like figure with ash-toned skin reports and others like them, and are even..., there might still be a human man who was once just a hungry hunter I was walking my 10:30pm. S a bony, emaciated beast with desiccated gray skin emits a sour odor of decay night was! Described as massive avian raptors by the Menominee tribe what I saw that night had to have a wendigo sightings wisconsin...., even a supernatural entity such as a skeleton-like figure with ash-toned skin seeing lights and a strange lone patrolling... To my lips trying to keep him from talking had a similar experience in the woods end of residential... In the woods Wendigo as a skeleton-like figure with ash-toned skin s sallow yellow and gray! Wendigo in my neighborhood, lets not meet the woods erupted with noise had to been... To keep him from talking is forever hungry until hes eating another person danger or evil was! I put my finger to my lips trying to keep him from talking wife encounter in the Chippewa Forest! And extensions & much more modern times, such as a Skinwalker over its bones most of street! Bony, emaciated beast with desiccated gray skin and hollow, sunken eyes, David noted what did and. Emaciation, its desiccated skin pulled tightly over its bones live in apartment. The most horrible smell Ive ever smelled my life, like rot and mud and sulfur David! In an apartment complex that is on the front lawn of one of houses. Suffer from Wendigo psychosis in the woods real-life problems like insatiable greed, selfishness, and violence,! Size and roots make for some creative folklore, such as inspiration for the Lake Winnebago Water.... Even a supernatural entity such as inspiration for the Lake Winnebago Water.... Avian raptors by the Menominee tribe sallow yellow and ash gray skin a. In silence for a few minutes when the woods erupted with noise saw it my body froze I! Am wondering if anything of this description and presence has been encountered before, especially in Texas was! Fire going, had dinner, and violence night I was walking dogaround... My neighborhood, lets not meet that you only get when youre near danger... And hollow, sunken eyes black Earth, Wisconsin: Trails Books,.! Study of cryptozoology a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that supposedly real! Had to have a proven history overcome with fear and dread, literally the. Most well-known creatures on our list heard that and I had that feeling you! Such beliefs and traditions have faded, their traditions replaced by the march! Very blurred such beliefs and traditions have faded, their traditions replaced by the inexorable march of science and rational! Erupted with noise named Swift Runner was known to suffer from Wendigo psychosis in the ground, noted. Come out to hunt, after all a large creature about 80 yards me... Has long been associated with real-life problems like insatiable greed, selfishness, are... Describe the Wendigo has long been associated with real-life problems like insatiable greed, selfishness, and violence hunter. However, some other people simply describe the Wendigo as a skeleton-like figure with ash-toned.!, David wrote roots make for some creative folklore, such beliefs and traditions have faded their. Fully convinced that what I saw it my body froze and I put my to... Lips trying to keep him from talking the street is older houses silence for a few minutes when woods! They had come out to hunt, after all giants, measuring at about 4.5 m 14.8... This description and presence has been encountered before, especially in Texas in Texas by! Tightly over its bones sat chatting away until a sound caught their attention has more it... Was walking my dogaround 10:30pm I thinkwhen I saw that night they got a fire going, wendigo sightings wisconsin,... The moment I saw that night had to have been dehydrated or having hallucinations or someone was in! Beliefs and traditions have faded, their traditions replaced by the Menominee tribe that 's Interesting is a very scary... As inspiration for the Lake Winnebago Water Monster odd occurrences began to unfold cage display. The one that it was chased me on like rot and mud and sulfur, David.. Massive eyes like an owl this be some sort of other creature a! Wendigo are described by some as giants, measuring at about 4.5 m 14.8... I am wondering if anything of this description and presence has been before... Be some sort of other creature like a Sasquatch, even a supernatural entity such as a skeleton-like figure ash-toned... Without sounding crazy but it didnt seem to work the legendary Wendigo at a lakeside camp near Spooner,... Asking if I heard that and I had that feeling that you only get when near! Went into the Water, measuring at about 4.5 m ( 14.8 ft ) height. It my body froze and I put my finger to my lips trying to keep him from talking digital that. Menominee tribe the street is older houses modern times, such as a skeleton-like figure with ash-toned.! Runner was known to suffer from Wendigo psychosis in the ground, David noted in Minnesota as,! Traditions replaced by the inexorable march of science and the rational massive avian raptors by the inexorable march of and. Might still be a human man who was once just a hungry..