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Speedemon
The Speedemon is a creature from Lumberjack Folklore. It has the “scientific” name Rapidusdemonicus dorsonae. They have round bodies with five legs. They love chasing around small animals just for fun. They can often be heard in the evening spinning around as if in a cartwheel. They are thought to be incredibly hard to spot because of their rapid speed. Citations: Yarns of the Big Woods, Written and Illustrated by Art Childs
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Specs
Specs is a cryptid and possible Lazarus taxon. It was sighted in Florida in 1959. It was seen in a large underwater cave at about 35 feet deep. It was reported to have a cylindrical body measuring five and a half feet long, eight spiny legs, and stood three feet off the sea floor. It had a pointed head with stalks that have brown spotted eyes the size of silver dollars on the end. It was called Specs by the press due to a team going back to try to get ‘specs’ on the creature. It has been compared to the Spiny Lobster, or the Japanese Spider Crab, both being…
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South River Sprinting Alien
The South River Sprinting Alien became known 10 years after it was encountered. It was described in a letter from the witness dated November 2, 1973, and was sent to Dr. J. Allen Hynek who was the Chairman of the Department of Astronomy at Northwestern University. The letter was put aside due to countless sightings occurring and not addressed until April 1975. Ted Brocher with the assistance of Hynek and the Center for UFO Studies, contacted the witness for an interview. The witness had a degree in forestry and chose to remain anonymous. He crossed the South River and had his encounter at 11 pm. He was driving on South…
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Snow Wasset/Snow Wassit
The Snow Wasset is a creature from Lumberjack Folklore. They live in Canada and spend winter in the great lakes region and hibernate in the summer. During hibernation their hair turns green and curly, and they grow small legs to make burrows in cranberry bogs. They emerge from hibernation after the first snowfall and move through the snow like a porpoise. They hunt in packs to catch and consume grouse, rabbits, and when in desperate situations, wolves. They are known to have voracious appetites and are thought to be four times more dangerous than a wolverine. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United…
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Wendigo
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Slide Rock Bolter
The Slide Rock Bolter is a creature from Lumberjack Folklore which are said to be found in Colorado. They live in mountains on inclines of at least 45 degrees. They have large heads, small eyes, mouths like a sculpin (a kind of fish) and tails with two tail flippers shaped like hooks. They anchor themself at the top of mountains and wait for people to pass underneath. When this happens, they drool down the mountain and slide down this saliva to consume their prey. After is slides down, it uses its momentum to slide up the next mountain and latch itself on to repeat the process. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia…
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Skrat
The Skrat is a form of ghost from Scandinavian myth and a variation of the Myling. They toy with people at night, typically appearing at midnight and especially during the winter. They are known to hang on sledges and make the horses tired from the added weight. Once the horse is tired, the Skrat disappears while laughing. They have horse-like laughs and if someone finds treasure, the laugh of the Skrat can make it vanish. Citations: Northern Mythology: Comprising the Principal Popular Traditions and Superstitions of Scandinavia, North Germany, and the Netherlands. United Kingdom, E. Lumley, 1851.
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Skovtrolde
The Skovtrolde are creature from the myths of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. They are trolls found only in the densest areas of the woods, and their name fittingly means “wood trolls.” They’re malicious creatures who constantly try to hurt humans. Citations: Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Beasts and Monsters in Myth, Legend and Folklore. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2016. Bane, Theresa. Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology. United States, McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers, 2013. Keightley, Thomas. The world guide to gnomes, fairies, elves, and other little people. United States, Avenel Books, 1978.
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Sköll
Sköll is a giant wolf from Norse mythology. His name means “repulsion” and he chases the sun trying to devour it. He is a son of Fenrir and is paired with his brother Hati. The giantess Iarnsaxa feeds him the marrow from adulterers and murderers. Eclipses are caused when he or his brother nearly succeed, and people would make loud noise to scare them off. It is thought that at Ragnarok both will succeed and devour the celestial bodies, setting off three years of winter. Citations: Dougherty, Martin J.. Norse Myths: Viking Legends of Heroes and Gods. United Kingdom, Amber Books Ltd, 2016. Guerber, Hélène Adeline. Myths of the Norsemen:…
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Skinwalker/Yeenaaldlooshii
The Skinwalker comes from Navajo, Hopi, and Pueblo myth. Though they are known for taking the form of coyotes, they can also take other animal forms. Some believed the Anasazi were these shapeshifters and the word Anasazi either means “ancient enemies” or “ancient ones.” Skinwalkers were inherently viewed as evil, but in more recent times they are not always seen that way. They wear the skin of wolves or coyotes to transform. Citations: Brown, Nathan Robert. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Werewolves. United Kingdom, DK Publishing, 2009. Steiger, Brad. The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shape-Shifting Beings. United Kingdom, Visible Ink Press, 2011.
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Skeljaskrímsli
The Skeljaskrímsli is a creature from Iceland whose name means “shell monster.” They are described as stocky creatures with large heads and huge mouths which are sometimes described as similar to that of a hippopotamus. Seashells cling to their scales, skin, hair, and they make a clinking and rattling sound as they move. Citations: Greene, A. Kendra. The Museum of Whales You Will Never See: And Other Excursions to Iceland’s Most Unusual Museums. United States, Penguin Publishing Group, 2020.
