Wampahoofus

The Wampahoofus is a creature from Lumberjack Folklore in Maine. It has the “scientific name” Limmertakus boottii, supposedly discovered by Dr. Francis Boott in the White Mountains. They live in puddles and boggy areas, and all that can be seen of them is a single bubble-like eye sticking out of the water. They anchor themselves in place and quickly retreat when discovered. The rest of the body is similar to a leathery lily pad and is incredibly strong despite its small size. They’re thought to have one arm that they use to grab at the boots of hikers. They do this because they eat boot leather and have a voracious appetite. Since this is only a right arm, it can be avoided by walking on their left. If a shoe is retrieved after Wampahoofus grabs it, they will release a sad gurgling noise. There is a specific tool made to deal with them called a Wampahoofus Rod, much like a ladle with a flat piece of metal and a hook at the end.

Citations:

Packard, Christopher. Mythical Creatures of Maine: Fantastic Beasts from Legend and Folklore. United States, Down East Books, 2021.