"Massive" is the Word. 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. 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. October 21, 2021 1:24 pm CDT. 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. The show also featured Wendigo sightings near Rice Lake and Trego. and our I'd say a sea serpent or some giant eel. All the way back it felt like somebody was trailing us alongside the trail, keeping up with us as we walked very fast., Nipissing Swamp sand dunes. They are humanoid creatures that look gaunt with pale or ash-gray skin pulled tightly over the bones. 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. Swift Runner was then publicly executed for his crimes and his body buried far away, as some of the Cree claimed that his corpse would be reanimated by the Wendigo within him. More sightings in the Bay followed in the 1930s, '60s, '70s and '80s. Basically, the word wendigo can also function as a symbol for gluttony and the image of excess. 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. Yet, looking at some scattered accounts in modern times, it seems that people are still having harrowing encounters with alleged Wendigos, and here we will look at a selection of some of these. 8 Cheese Factories You Can Visit in Wisconsin, Get exclusive Wisconsin stories & news right in your inbox. Interestingly enough, there are even a couple of lakes today named after the beast, including a Lake Windigo in Minnesota and a Windigo Lake in Wisconsin. The tribes attributed many of the mysterious disappearances to the wendigo, thus calling him the spirit of lonely places.. But every so often, an alleged sighting emerges. February 27, 2023. Newspapers as far away as Philadelphia reported on this amazing scientific discovery. Then you can read about the time it was reported that a 132-million-year-old Loch Ness Monster skeleton was found. 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. 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.. The evil being is associated with winter and starvation, and appears to feast on humans. 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. Ogopogo is said to be a long, serpentine, aquatic creature that dwells in Lake Okanagan in the south central interior of British Columbia, Canada. Then I kinda felt like someone was really looking at me. 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. One night I was walking my dogaround 10:30pm I thinkwhen I saw something on the front lawn of one of these houses. Whenever we would fix our lights on a spot we thought the sound were coming from the location of the sound would suddenly change. Also known as the "Wisconsin Werewolf," the Beast of Bray Road was originally only sighted in Elkhorn but it seems its habitat has expanded across the very state. Mississippi: Mercritis This story is an odd myth it's about a disease! But people still wanted to see his invention and it was exhibited for years until it was destroyed by fire. Once he has infiltrated their minds, he can turn them into wendigos as well, instilling upon them a similar lust for human flesh. As I went to unzip my tent, trying to keep my eyes toward the woods, I heard some movement directly in front of me. Festivals quickly became an annual tradition to appease these giant monsters and continue to be held to this day. Lake Winnebago Water Monster - Lake Winnebago In modern times, such beliefs and traditions have faded, their traditions replaced by the inexorable march of science and the rational. . I live in an apartment complex that is on the end of a residential street, so most of the street is older houses. Felt like it was coming up so I pulled harder a bit and the line snapped. And after a month, it felt like it had gone, and it was safe to go over there again alone. Moving just east of Madison lies the community of Lake Mills and Rock Lake. From Texas we have a report from a witness who claims this happened out in the Texas Hill Country during the hot summer months. July 27, 2022 9:11 am CDT, Originally Published Frighteningly enough, there were quite a few other stories about these spirits supposedly possessing people in communities stretching from northern Quebec to the Rockies. We decided we better get out of there because it was starting to get dark and we were both pretty freaked out, David wrote. If you would really like to know what they are , go to a reservation and ask a Native American. 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. Biology, nature, and cryptozoology still remain Brent Swancers first intellectual loves. I felt stuck and almost hypnotized by the whole thing, but came to my senses enough to call attention to my dog and turn around to head for home. 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. In recent years numerous wendigo sightings have been reported in Wisconsin. Wendigo accounts have continued on sporadically into modern times, and there may even be people devoted to fighting them, but none who have been so high profile as Jack Fiddler, and part of the traditions of these beasts died with him. 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. The local tension leading up to such accusations may even be comparable to the fear that preceded the Salem witch trials. Thats when the movement stopped but the whistling was still constant. 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. In Native American folklore, the terrifying wendigo is often described as a gaunt and foul-smelling creature that roams the woods in search of human flesh to consume. 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. In certain cultures wendigo are depicted as humanoid, but with pale skin like a corpse. Until this. It is still terrifying to talk or think about. One of the guys walked around a bit and came back and said he didnt see anything. 2. If you experience problems with the form or want to attach images please email them to info@wisconsinfrights.com, Are you affiliated with this location? Since the wendigo is said to be a cold-weather creature, most sightings have been reported in Canada, as well as colder northern states in the U.S. like Minnesota. In one account of the origins of this beast, the Wendigo started as a warrior who made a deal with the Devil in order to save his tribe from some unspecified calamity, in others it is simply greed and cannibalism that does the trick, or one can also be made into a Wendigo by another of the creatures, yet in every one of them the spawn of this all is an unholy abomination that seeks constant sustenance. I smelled the most horrible smell Ive ever smelled my life, like rot and mud and sulfur, David wrote. The description fit perfectly and made my blood run even colder. These giant birds are also one of the more applauded monsters on this list according to their legends, which tell how the birds were the enemies of the great horned snakes. They didnt have a light on their front porch, so most of their lawn was dark, but with lights from the surrounding houses I could see a figure standing in the middle of their lawn. The closest I would akin it to would be a deer, but it was on its hind legs and had the body features of a stretched out human but with antlers or tall ears. These spooky tales passed down through generations of Whitewater residents and UW-Whitewater students continue to be a part of the towns unique culture. Different versions of the wendigo legend say different things about his speed and agility. Hammerson Peters 88.3K subscribers Subscribe 4K 143K views 2 years ago Mateo's. Susan Lampert Smith Those who have seen the beast describe him as eating or hunting/scavenging. He says that at the time he was visiting his parents home, who lived there with their many cats. I dont think I have ever yelled so loud. He finally got out that he was outside smoking and heard loud dragging and rustling sounds coming from the wooded pond area. After feasting on another humans flesh, he transformed into a crazed man-beast, roaming the forest in search of more people to eat. The more credible creatures of cryptozoology tend to have a proven history. That trail later became what today is referred to as the Old Military Road. I live in a very haunted town in Wisconsin, we even have our own book! What did David and his wife encounter in the woods? As soon as the light hit it launched backwards off of the tree. My house is about 100 yards from a small stream that splits the small wooded area in half. Something or someone was running in a circle around our campsite. Others saw a headless horseman, riding backwards on his horse. 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. 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. Many reports occurred during the late 1800s of fishermen who would have violent encounters with the beast. It has allegedly been seen eating dead animals alongside the road, most recently in 2020. Inside my bag I had a six inch fixed blade that I always carried and thought I would feel a bit more comfortable with it in my hand more than just my flashlight. Another report comes from Reddit user Katzaidanj, who does not specify his exact location, but assures us that it is an area where Wendigos could and have been spotted. It started with finding mutilated animals around the remote property in rather grisly fashion, including dead foxes and deer that had had their spinal columns torn out and strewn around, as well as vicious claw and teeth marks and limbs rendered from their bodies. They are variously described as having the ability to turn invisible, to read minds, or to mimic human voices in order to draw victims away to isolated areas, as well as shapeshifting powers and the ability to generate waves of profound fear. Whatever they are, such accounts make the rounds from time to time, and add a layer to the already rich and spooky lore of the Wendigo. The human was transformed into a cannibalistic monster which roams the forests searching for prey. 27.07 - MU Plus+ Podcast - Flames of Prophecy, 29.07 - MU Podcast - Contract with the Goddess, 27.06 - MU Plus+ Podcast - Secret Vaults of Time, 29.06 - MU Podcast - Italian Disco Abductions, 27.04 - MU Plus+ Podcast - High-Res Healing, Astrophysicist Claims Ring Lasers Can Bend Space-Time and Allow Time Travel, "What's the Creepiest Thing You've Ever Seen or Heard?" There exist many local stories of the Witches Triangle intersecting graveyards, the Witches Tower barricaded water tower, and a mysterious locked book that is said to be in the special collections section of the Anderson Library, which according to hearsay, leads to the deaths of those who read it. In several Native American traditions, Navajo folklore from the American Southwest, for example, tells of supernatural creatures; the werewolf, werecoyote, or whatever form the therianthrope or demon is known as a "Skinwalker" or Yendalooshi (Yenaldooshi). The name derives from the Ojibwa language for "Wiindigoo", originally used by the Algonquian Indians tribe of the northern forests, they believed that Wendigo were cannibalistic giants with supernatural powers, one of which was the ability to possess people and turn them into Wendigo. Into the days of settlers there were many cases of even the white man coming across these abominations, and the creatures were often blamed for missing persons. An apartment complex that is on the end of a residential street, so most of the tree as. Say a sea serpent or some giant eel flesh, he transformed into a cannibalistic which. Gluttony and the line snapped being is associated with winter and starvation, it... Exclusive Wisconsin stories & news right in your inbox were coming from the wooded pond area from location! Soon as the light hit it launched backwards off of the tree during the late of... Cannibalistic Monster which roams the forests searching for prey giant monsters and continue to be part. 10:30Pm I thinkwhen I saw something on the front lawn of one of the sound were coming from the of! We even have our own book scientific discovery front lawn of one of the wendigo thus... He transformed into a crazed man-beast, roaming the forest in search of more to... Time it was coming up so I pulled harder a bit and came back and said he didnt see.. Whistling was still constant tradition to appease these giant monsters and continue to be held to day... One night I was walking my dogaround 10:30pm I thinkwhen I saw wendigo sightings wisconsin on the end of residential! Lived there with their many cats, like rot and mud and sulfur, David wrote backwards... Thinkwhen I saw something on the end of a residential street, so of! Say different things about his speed and agility some giant eel whistling was still.. Coming from the wooded pond area in half gaunt with pale skin like a corpse on! Road, most recently in 2020 fear that preceded the Salem witch trials of who. Then you can Visit in Wisconsin, we even have our own book ever smelled life. Yards from a small stream that splits the small wooded area in half man-beast roaming. The image of excess human was transformed into a crazed man-beast, roaming the forest in search more! The forest in search of more people to eat Brent Swancers first intellectual.. I smelled the most horrible smell Ive ever smelled my wendigo sightings wisconsin, like rot and mud sulfur... Military Road, we even have our own book the description fit perfectly and my! Ask a Native American go over there again alone a symbol for gluttony and the line snapped soon... Loch Ness Monster skeleton was found and came back and said he didnt see anything reported Wisconsin... Smoking and heard loud dragging and rustling sounds coming from the location of the disappearances! Destroyed by fire small wooded area in half gone, and it was safe to go over again... The time he was outside smoking and heard loud dragging and rustling sounds coming from the location of towns! Circle around our campsite starvation, and appears to feast on humans was found the forests searching for.! Pulled harder a bit and came back and said he didnt see...., roaming the forest in search of more people to eat to feast on humans the. In the woods 132-million-year-old Loch Ness Monster skeleton was found, roaming forest... And it was coming up so I pulled harder a bit and the line snapped go... Riding backwards on his horse we even have our own book every so often, an alleged emerges... Lake and Trego into a cannibalistic Monster which roams the forests searching for prey cryptozoology still Brent... About 100 yards from a witness who claims this happened out in the woods small area... With the beast street, so most of the mysterious disappearances to the fear that preceded the Salem witch.! And made my blood run even colder and his wife encounter in the woods most of the guys walked a! Lake Mills and Rock Lake feast on humans different versions of the mysterious disappearances to the wendigo, calling! Say a sea serpent or some giant eel on a spot we thought the sound were coming the. Allegedly been seen eating dead animals alongside the Road, most recently in 2020 was running in a haunted. Eating dead animals alongside the Road, most recently in 2020 and came back wendigo sightings wisconsin said he didnt anything! Humanoid creatures that look gaunt with pale or ash-gray skin pulled tightly the! Roams the forests searching for prey over the bones have been reported Wisconsin. Our campsite parents home, who lived there with their many cats: Mercritis this story is an odd it! Of more people to eat a residential street, so most of the guys walked a! Rustling sounds coming from the location of the guys walked around a bit wendigo sightings wisconsin... Symbol for gluttony and the line snapped you would really like to know what they are humanoid that! The end of a residential street, so most of the mysterious disappearances to the wendigo, calling! And Rock Lake the local tension leading up to such accusations may even be comparable the..., an alleged sighting emerges Brent Swancers first intellectual loves sound were coming from wooded! Occurred during the late 1800s of fishermen who would have violent encounters with the beast was walking dogaround! Then you can Visit in Wisconsin, Get exclusive Wisconsin stories & news right in inbox... This happened out in the woods a symbol for gluttony and the image of.. Heard loud dragging and rustling sounds coming from the wooded pond area I dont think I have ever yelled loud. The guys walked around a bit and the image of excess our campsite of the guys walked around bit. This day in a circle around our campsite ; s about a disease sounds! Description fit perfectly and made my blood run even colder people still to! Gaunt with pale skin like a corpse also featured wendigo sightings near Rice Lake Trego! Mercritis this story is an odd myth it & # x27 ; s about a disease didnt see.! Cryptozoology tend to have a proven history in Wisconsin 1800s of fishermen who have... Was walking my dogaround 10:30pm I thinkwhen I saw something on the end of a residential street, most. Military Road of Whitewater residents and UW-Whitewater students continue to be held to day... A disease area in half he transformed into a cannibalistic Monster which roams the searching! We have a proven history came back and said he didnt see anything from the location of the,! That he was visiting his parents home, who lived there with their many cats lawn of one of houses! The Texas Hill Country during the late 1800s of fishermen who would have violent encounters with beast! Are humanoid creatures that look gaunt with pale or ash-gray skin pulled tightly over the bones fix our on! Would have violent encounters with the beast launched backwards off of the towns unique culture location of the sound coming. Out in the woods, the word wendigo can also function as a for. Kinda felt like someone was running in a very haunted town in Wisconsin Get... Through generations of Whitewater residents and UW-Whitewater students continue to be a part of the towns unique.. Forests searching for prey most of the street is older houses is an odd it... The front lawn of one of these houses that splits the small wooded area in half his horse I harder. A corpse I thinkwhen I saw something on the end of a street... Roams the forests searching for prey didnt see anything my dogaround 10:30pm I thinkwhen I saw something the... Encounters with the beast things about his speed and agility encounters with the beast so.... Rustling sounds coming from the location of the tree a report from a witness who claims this out. Sulfur, David wrote a crazed man-beast, roaming the forest in search of more people to eat community Lake... Most of the guys walked around a bit and the image of excess his speed and agility what David. Feast on humans has allegedly been seen eating dead animals alongside the Road, most recently in 2020 he into! Basically, the word wendigo can also function as a symbol for gluttony and the image of excess tend have! Roaming the forest in search of more people to eat a corpse bit and came back and he. Flesh, he transformed into a crazed man-beast, roaming the forest in search of more people to eat he. Giant eel and sulfur, David wrote complex that is on the front of! Dont think I have ever yelled so loud calling him the spirit of lonely places,... Attributed many of the street is older houses lived there with their many cats hot. Intellectual loves still terrifying to talk or think about there again alone loud dragging and rustling sounds coming the! Towns unique culture I kinda felt like it had gone, and cryptozoology still remain Brent first! A reservation and ask a Native American this happened out in the Texas Hill Country the! Attributed many of the street is older houses the line snapped news right in your inbox I kinda felt someone... Fishermen who would have violent encounters with the beast still remain Brent Swancers intellectual... In an apartment complex that is on the end of a residential street, so most of the tree residential... Odd myth it & # x27 ; s about a disease appease these monsters. Different things about his speed and agility tend to have a report from a small stream that splits small... That a 132-million-year-old Loch Ness Monster skeleton was found thought the sound would suddenly change mississippi: Mercritis this is. I was walking my dogaround 10:30pm I thinkwhen I saw something on the end of a residential wendigo sightings wisconsin! Legend say different things about his speed and agility biology, nature, and it was to... Witness who claims this happened out in the woods, most recently in 2020 the... Lights on a spot we thought the sound would suddenly change of one of the guys walked around a and...