Lumberjack Folklore
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Elmer the Moose Terrier
Elmer The Moose Terrier was a strange creature was the dog that belonged to Paul Bunyan. It was said to be a dog strong enough to shake a moose to death, like most terriers could with a rat. It was also known to be an incredible tracker. One day though, he had an accident. He was rustling around in a cabin, and the lumberjack who lived there thought it was some dangerous creature. In response to the rustling creature, the lumberjack threw his ax and cut Elmer cleanly in half. Another person quickly sewed him back together and managed to save him. In the mans haste though, he accidentally sewed…
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Jackalope/Antelabbit/Aunt Benny/Horny Bunny/Jack-A-Lope/Jack-Pine Jackalope/Stag Bunny
Jackalopes are from the Southwestern region of the United States. They are thought to resemble jack rabbits with either deer antlers or antelope horns in proportion to their bodies. They ar extremely shy, but will fight ferociously if they or their families are threatened. They are thought to be capable of running over sixty-five miles per hour. While running at high speeds, they are incredibly dangerous as they can gore people to death. When in this state of anger, the Jackalope can only be killed with a buffalo gun. They are thought to only mate during flashes of lightning. Jackalope milk is supposedly capable of curing any number of ailments.…
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Dungavenhooter/Dungaven Hooter/Dungaven-Hooter
The Dungavenhooter is a bizarre creature from Lumberjack Folklore. They resemble large alligators with no mouths and massive nostrils. They live in logging regions and lie in wait until a person approaches. When a victim is close enough, the Dungavenhooter will swipe its tail to take their feet out from under them. The Dungavenhooter will then jump on and pulverize their victims until they’re broken down into a gaseous state, which they then inhale to consume them. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Matthews, John, and Matthews, Caitlin. The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A-Z…
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Duck-Footed Dum-Dum
The Duck-Footed Dum-Dum is a silly creature from Lumberjack Folklore. It goes by the “scientific name” Ventertympanum coxi. The skin on their backs is similar to a drum and they have two tails shaped like drum sticks. They use these tails to quickly hit their backs, making a drumming sound. This sound is used to indicate to fish that spawning season has begun. Citations: Yarns of the Big Woods, Written and Illustrated by Art Childs
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Dismal Sauger/Sauger
The Dismal Sauger is a creature from Lumberjack Folklore. They live in forest swamps and often have scummy water dripping from their cypress hair. They are silent by nature but can be heard by the water constantly dripping from their beards. The sound of this dripping can make a person go insane. They are thought to be related to the Happy Auger. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Matthews, John, and Matthews, Caitlin. The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A-Z of Fantastic Beings from Myth and Magic. United Kingdom, Harper Element, 2009. Rose, Carol. Giants…
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Come-At-A-Body/Jump-At-A-Body
The Come-At-A-Body is a creature from Lumberjack Folklore. They are known by the “scientific” name “Quadrupes improvisus.” They are harmless creatures resembling woodchucks, with short stubby limbs, flat faces, and large eyes. They also have green whiskers and a mark on their backs or stomachs resembling a dollar sign. They have very soft fur, but also have a ball of matted hair on their tails with holes in them that makes a loud moaning or whistling noise when it moves through the wind. They make this noise when attacking or looking for a mate. Some claim their legs are shorter on one side of their body to help them walk along…
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Columbia River Sand Squink
The Columbia River Sand Squink is from Lumberjack Folklore. They have the front half of a coyote and the back half of a bobcat with a spotted rear. They can produce an electrical discharge. They also lay plastic-like eggs to protect them from the electricity they produce. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Matthews, John, and Matthews, Caitlin. The Element Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: The Ultimate A-Z of Fantastic Beings from Myth and Magic. United Kingdom, Harper Element, 2009. Rose, Carol. Giants Monsters and Dragons: An Encyclopedia Of Folklore Legend And Myth. United Kingdom, WW Norton, 2001.
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Club-Tailed Glyptodont/Clubtailed Glyptodont
The Club-Tailed Glyptodont is a strange creature from Lumberjack Folklore. Often found in Texas, they can be seen throwing large boulders up mountains to watch them roll back down. They have large flat tails made of a substance similar to a bull’s horns, but their tails are also incredibly springy. They use their tails to pick up the boulders they throw, to bounce through the air, and to cushion even the highest falls. When throwing a boulder into the air they stand on their back legs, spin around, and hit the boulder with their tail to launch it. Citations: Bratcher, James T.. Analytical Index to Publications of the Texas Folklore…
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Central American Whintosser
The Central American Whintosser is from Lumberjack Folklore. Mean and constantly causing trouble, they are often found in coastal California and Mexico. They have a long body shaped like a triangular prism with a set of four legs on each of its three sides. If there is an earthquake, they are unbothered as they won’t lose their footing even if they roll. Their heads and tails are connected to their bodies in a swiveling joint for this same reason. They have forward-facing bristling fur. They cannot be clubbed, spiked, or shot and have more lives than a cat. They can be killed by luring them into an area where all…
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Cement Worms
Cement Worms are creatures from Lumberjack Folklore similar to Ice Worms. They have the scientific name “Vermes Shatteratus.” They can be found in aging concrete sidewalks and building foundations and are thought to be the reason that cement crumbles. They can be found throughout the US, and according to mythologist Ralph Walker, rockslides in the Rocky Mountain area could indicate Cement Worms have moved to canyon walls. Citations: Wyman, Walker Demarquis. Mythical Creatures of the U.S.A. and Canada. United States, University of Wisconsin-River Falls Press, 1978.
