Many are skeptical of its existence and others say that it has been confused as other folklore monsters such as a Wisconsin Bigfoot or a wendigo. From Texas we have a report from a witness who claims this happened out in the Texas Hill Country during the hot summer months. For more information, please see our Up until then this never would have been seen as totally strange by the Native people of the region, a necessary evil in their fight against sinister forces, but in the view of the Mounties and the white settlers they represented this was called murder. As the tale goes, the wendigo was once a lost hunter. This is still hard for me to wrap my head around because it shook me to my core, but this story takes place just over a year ago in late November 2018. He and his wife watched it briefly, unable to understand what they were looking at. Each one containing its own mystery of what might be lurking out there in the unknown. 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. They had just started hunting there a few days prior, and the odd feeling had been enough to convince David to turn back on previous excursions. Travelers along this misty stretch of highway would report seeing lights and a strange lone figure patrolling the road. According to the BFRO, five bigfoot sightings have been reported in Marinette County. However, in the case of the Native American communities, most of the stress was due to a dwindling amount of resources, not to mention the extermination of food in the area. I Often Hear That: I'll Share Some With You, TikTok and Its Strange Proliferation of Mysterious Accounts of Skinwalkers, A 3,500-Year-Old Frozen Mummified Bear Found in Siberia. And there isnt a single tree small enough to remotely look like what I saw. I have never ever heard about the thunderbird prior to today and now my brain is racing a million miles per hour. Basically, the word wendigo can also function as a symbol for gluttony and the image of excess. The "creature" of Native American legend that is said to be a disturbingly thin and gaunt individual that has ice in its veins and forever craves the taste of human flesh. The elusive aberration is said to roam the area of Bray Road located just outside of the town of Elkhorn. Once theyre isolated in the desolate depths of the wilderness, he attacks them and then feasts on them. Well Ive never hallucinated once in my life and I wasnt dehydrated because about 10 minutes prior to this event I drank an entire bottle of water and I always make sure Im hydrated before I go woodland exploring. The more credible creatures of cryptozoology tend to have a proven history. The human was transformed into a cannibalistic monster which roams the forests searching for prey. Sightings: date back to tribal indian days and now are seen by travelers, hikers and other people in the forests where it is seen. I stood up shining my flashlight in all directions trying to catch a glimpse of whatever was screwing with us. NASA's Photos From Mars: Don't Tell Me the Red Planet Wasn't Once a Thriving World! I was done. During an investigation by the Canadian Royal Mounted Police, a First Nations woman by the name of Wahsakapeequay turned up dead, strangled to death with a rope and the scene of the body displaying signs of a ritual. 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. 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. Jack Fiddler and his brother made no real attempt to hide the fact that it had been them, and that they had killed her because her family had asked them too, even helped them, as she had been transforming into a Wendigo. The Beast of Bray Road. In Native folklore, it was called N'ha-a . They saw a deer there, standing sideways out in the open. . Mostly I am wondering if anything of this description and presence has been encountered before, especially in Texas. The Wendigo is said to be a Algonquian native legend. Although things started off normally, it all got rather strange when several odd occurrences began to unfold. The creature has been referenced and sometimes even depicted in a variety of hit television shows, including Supernatural, Grimm, and Charmed. As David and his wife reached the fork, something not far off the trail ran off through the woods. What Is The Wendigo? Mostly described as a gaunt, almost skeletal monstrosity standing up to 15 feet high, with sharp claws, formidable fangs, skin tightly stretched over the bones, and with animalistic features. February 27, 2023. Since that night I havent had any other direct encounter with it, except one event that Im not sure is related but elicited that same feeling of being watched and almost felt. The voice calling me was a harsh, raspy, animalistic in tone imitation of my sisters voice, who had just recently left the trip due to stress only a few hours ago. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); To read this article, and access more real Wisconsin news, sign up for our free newsletter. Native Americans would send out scouts and warriors onto the lake for hunting trips only to hear screams with other tribesmen telling how they saw the hunters dragged underneath into the brackish waters by octopus-like tentacles. Ever since that night Ive been thinking about it and running through all of the possibilities of what it could be, but always coming up with no explanation. But speed wouldnt be a necessary skill for a monster of this nature. Other indigenous peoples believe a Wendigo is born out of an individual's gluttony, selfishness, overindulgence or extreme loneliness. My daughter and I saw an unexplained creature on a back road near Wisconsin Dells. There was no response. For being an insatiable predator, the wendigo is definitely not the largest or most muscular beast out there. It also has historical significance for many Indigenous communities. The earliest description of the Wendigo was that of similar appearance to a corpse, with a skeleton-like, thin body with gray skin . Devils Lake is actually called Day-wa-kun-chunk (holy lake or Sacred Lake) by the Ho-Chunk. Though he is said to be almost 15 feet tall, his body is often described as emaciated. Her most recent book is American Monsters: A History of Monster Lore, Legends, and Sightings in America. The evil being is associated with winter and starvation, and appears to feast on humans. What did David and his wife encounter in the woods? So I decided to head in. The Algonquian people say that during the turn of the 20th century, a large number of their people went missing. We have more lakes than any other country on the planet, so it stands to reason we would have at least one serious lake monster. I do remember antlers, and matted fur, but nothing gaunt or skeletal. Whether you are a believer of these mythical accounts or not, it always makes for a spine-tingling good time when you round up your friends for a story around the fire. So this tall, lanky creature is standing there and I cant see its face but by its positioning I know it has noticed me, also. One report comes from a witness on Reddit called universemasterOnGram, who says that he is of Native American descent and that this happened near an unspecified reservation on a camping trip when he was 13 years old. Above: That dang Hodag. This creature is so famous among northern Wisconsinites that it even has its own monument and country music festival. Answer (1 of 18): I have read all of your comments, This creature has been part of Native American truth for hundreds of years. This was seen as a constant threat, and turning into a Wendigo or being possessed by one was seen by the Natives of these lands as a fate worse than death. What is going on behind these reports and others like them, and are they even truly encounters with the legendary Wendigo at all? Hespends his recreational time with family and friends going camping, attending rock festivals, and running his own podcast Virden Interviews. It's bones are visible through its sickly yellow skin, and its body is composed of ice and matted fur. By far the most well-known and discussed type of hairy wild man of Native lore is none other than the mysterious and legendary entity known as the Wendigo, animalistic, hulking beasts with strange powers. Photo by Joshua Mayer. Then I kinda felt like someone was really looking at me. Skinwalkers are shape-shifting witches able to assume the attributes of various animals, especially canines. It was long, boxey, narrow, and dark. But there are also more to know about. My jaw was tight, my fist clenched, knowing I wasnt ready for whatever was out there if it was anything at all. I'm compiling the location of all sightings onto a map. The Wendigo has been described as a giant with a heart of ice, recessed eye holes and a lipless maw for a mouth. Each tribe typically had its own ceremonies, rituals, and talismans to ward off the creatures or stop a person from becoming one, but in most cases the final line of defense in fighting this supernatural threat was the tribes shamans. With its bones pushing out over its skin, its complexion the ash gray of death, and its eyes pushed back deep into the sockets, the Wendigo looked like a gaunt skeleton recently disinterred from the grave. Whether a psychological condition or a truly evil presence that lurks in the barren icy woodlands of North America, the Wendigo has certainly retained its twisted reputation as . He bet against the hotel owner and won the hotel. But it was very oddly shaped, almost like a football but horizontal with very long ears pointing up into the back, and I thought what I believe to be very long almost grayish hair.. These mounds were believed to have been created by the Aztalan natives when the lakes water levels were much lower. The blazing force of nature had almost burned my face when I was just stopped mid fall, I hadnt gained my balance it was just as if someone was hanging on to me and pulled me back. (Owner, manager, employee, etc. The legend can be traced back into the earlier 1900s when it's said that a circus train wrecked and a 12-foot-tall gorilla escaped. In recent years numerous wendigo sightings have been reported in Wisconsin. Ive tried telling people in my life about all of this but, as most people do with this type of stuff, none of them really put any stock into it except my brother now that hes had this experience. One of the most famous cases of someone allegedly being possessed by a Wendigo comes from 1878, when in Saskatchewan, Canada, a Cree fur trapper by the name of Swift Runner claimed that he had been possessed by insidious dark forces and had become a Wendigo after killing and eating his family during a harsh winter without food. So David raised his bow and nocked an arrow. I'd love to hear more about this encounter you had. Some people who have claimed to encounter the beast say its a relative of Bigfoot. View Map Email Share Casual dining featuring local farmers, craft beer, artisan cocktails and modern pub food. If the form doesnt work, you want to send a video file, or multiple photos please send them to info@wisconsinfrights.com, I took this photo/videoI found this photo/video online, I give Wisconsin Frights permission to use this photo or video. Watch Discover Wisconsin TV Saturday mornings at 10 on Fox Sports Wisconsin. The native story tells of a great mountain that floats in the western sky where thunderbirds gather. At the turn of the 20th century, the Algonquian tribes blamed many unsolved disappearances of people on wendigo attacks. One of the guys walked around a bit and came back and said he didnt see anything. But there is another aspect, according to which the Wendigo is something like . Most recently in 2019, mysterious howls in the Canadian wilderness led some to question whether they were caused by the infamous man-beast. But people still wanted to see his invention and it was exhibited for years until it was destroyed by fire. In the wilds and cold expanses of the North American continent, the Natives of the region had their own stories of sinister entities that stalked the night, and they too had those who would fight them. I live in a rural suburb in SE WI near a line of woods and ponds. He described it as the sound it would make if someone were dragging a heavy animal or body through rough brush/woods, and he had a feeling of dread and heaviness, like he couldnt look away and was being honed in on by something. All they said was they heard a lot of movement and then heard my scream and thats when they headed in our direction. It escalated when they began to hear footsteps in the area, a terrible stench would sometimes waft through, and there was a constant, inescapable feeling of being watched. The Cree say the Wendigo is an evil spirit that destroys mankind, a cannibal. Under those circumstances, who could blame them for having a fear of starvation? Few reports of the creature have surfaced since then. Wisconsin Downtowns: Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse & Oshkosh, Visiting Eagle River Throughout the Seasons, Its All About Oulu: Past, Present & Future, Discovering the Hidden Gems of Wisconsin with Best Western, The History & Legends of Jefferson County. Seemed to levitate across the road in front of our car. Wisconsin Wendigo Sightings Featured on In Search of Monsters The Wendigo as seen on Travel Channel series In Search of Monsters According to Native American legend, the wendigo is a horrifying, cannibalistic creature that dwells in the forests and waters of the Great Lakes region, hunting for its next human meal. By then, the hodag was so much a part of Rhinelander culture that the city is known as The Home of the Hodag, and boasts a Hodag Country Festival, several hodag statues and has a hodag as the mascot of the high school teams. An illustration of the Wendigo, a fearsome creature from Native American lore. I had mentioned my encounter to him when it first happened but he shrugged it off like most people I told, and likely didnt give it a second thought. But Wisconsins most famous hodag was born in 1893 in Rhinelander. It felt like longer but it was only a few seconds before this creature jumped straight up in the air (and I mean straight up, not forward) and bounded to the back of the house in 3 large strides. 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. Duke writes "Report details told by: Trapper: Howard B Leblank, a 54 year old trapper and hunting guide from Kenora Ontario. It all begin with Morris Pratt in 1889 where he built the Pratt Institute, which dealt with topics of spiritual studies long before the existence of UW-Whitewater. A Wendigo Manitou carving on Mount Trudee in Silver Bay, Minnesota. During a brutally cold winter, this mans intense hunger drove him to cannibalism. Join MU Plus+ and get exclusive shows and extensions & much more! The evil being is associated with winter and starvation, and appears to feast on humans. Unfortunately, this was the age of white settlers pouring into the region, and the idea of killing people due to suspicion that they were supernatural monsters did not sit well in this new world. Red question marks represent the broad location where the sightings occurred. Originally the lake was referred to as Mde Wakan or Bad Spirit Lake by the local Nakota Sioux for its deep, cold, and salt-infested waters. How could someone whistle this loudly without cracking while also running? And it was fast. It was so loud. As they made their way back toward the road to leave, a strong odor filled the air. While not exactly dealing with cryptids, the Second Salem town of Whitewater is known for its stories of witches and spirits. Ever take a good look at a sturgeon before? One of the most infamous cases is the story of Swift Runner, a Native American man who murdered and ate his whole family during the winter of 1879. Somewhere in Montcalm County is the town of Amble, Michigan, population approx. Written By And so ended the days of perhaps the last two Wendigo hunters out there and sealing the fate of the tribe to fall under the colonial laws of the settlers. That night they got a fire going, had dinner, and sat chatting away until a sound caught their attention. What was going on here? Would love your thoughts, please comment. In recent years numerous wendigo sightings have been reported in Wisconsin. I saw a grey hunched over humanoid in the woods near our elementary school. Photo taken circa 2014. After learning about the legend of the wendigo, you can check out these 17 real-life monsters. David estimated the creature to be eight to ten feet tall, with long, thin, gangly arms. i have also lived in wisconson half my life and i only know the hodag, Your email address will not be published. Meet The Cannibalistic Cryptid Of Your Nightmares. In certain cultures wendigo are depicted as humanoid, but with pale skin like a corpse. Vampire and werewolf of Mineral Point, Wisconsin is the author of 16 published books on strange creatures and phenomena. It was standing on its hind legs but had antlers or some type of tall ears like a bunny and its arms and legs were abnormally long and stretched to the bone. The creature has . Within the region, Fiddler was nearly legendary as a powerful shaman and healer, attributed with vast supernatural abilities such as the power to shapeshift, conjure up animal spirits, chase away evil spirits, deflect spells, and many others, but he was most well known as a Wendigo hunter. 3. In 1878, a man named Swift Runner was known to suffer from Wendigo psychosis in the worst possible way. Many have given Kenora . 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. Perhaps this can be attributed to the notion that he is never satisfied with his cannibalistic urges. 2. This had sent horrendous chills down my spine, So I ran the fastest Ive ever had back towards the campsite, while I heard the twigs and leaves crunching behind me. And on the far side of the stream from my house there are large trees. People have reported seeing the beast scavenging along the roads in Walworth County and neighboring Jefferson and Racine counties. The weirdest thing about the whole situation was just being entirely overcome with fear and dread, literally to the point of vomiting. Buy the Book: Skylight Books, Amazon, Powell's . In the early 20th century one such fighter of demons would take his last battle before succumbing to the invasion of the modern world and the death of traditions. The legend of the wendigo has long been associated with real-life problems like insatiable greed, selfishness, and violence. Room 18 of the St. James Hotel in Cimarron New Mexico is so haunted that the room is locked and guests are forbidden to enter, lest they upset the room's lingering disembodied guest, Thomas James (TJ) Wright. 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. He especially loves human flesh. The brother Pesequan was subsequently found guilty and sentenced to hang by the government, although he died from illness in 1909 before the sentence could be carried out, sadly just three days before a pardon went through. 6 Creepy Cryptids That Call Wisconsin Home. 5 Wisco Monsters to Look Out for This October. The countryside surrounding Holy Hill has more than it's fair share of anomalous activity. The experience has left David feeling uneasy about going back out in the woods, and is questioning whether he will ever go out hunting again. Im fully convinced that what I saw that night had to have been a Wendigo. Two consecutive notes with roughly a three to four second gap and then two more consecutive notes. So I turned around and saw a large creature about 80 yards from me standing across the stream. September 21, 2022. She had told me that before leaving a terrifically gaunt figure had been watching us across the river bank, and that it had noticed her and ran away on all four at a fictional speed she shakily said, staying quite frightened after. Many people paid to see the beast, which was displayed in a shadowy stall and emitted frightening noises. Stories, Sightings & Experiences ; Wendi-go in NE Pennsylvania? Still, he was hanged for his crime. In some forms, the Wendigo is the size of a human, while in others, it can be fifteen-feet-tall. I swept my light up in front of me and for maybe two seconds I saw it. 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