The Legend of Bigfoot. T. S. Mart
females are more aggressive and less reasonable than males
Diet: cannibalistic
Vocalization: loud and horrible shrieks, causing instant death to those who hear it
Location: northern woods of the Midwest and Northeast
Tidbit: also known as a “face eater.” If one saw a man coming, he would lie down and beat his chest, producing a sound like a partridge. Other names include Chenook, Wintiku, Giwakwa, and Kiwakwa. Legend states the Chenoo was once a human who became evil for committing a terrible crime. They are often associated with the Wendigo.
Legend: Their strength depends on the quantity or size of a human-shaped piece of ice that resides in the heart. You can read more on this monster in the history and legends chapter.
LOCKRIDGE MONSTER
Hair/Fur: bushy brown hair
Height: 5 feet
Body Appearance: smaller than a typical Bigfoot, shaped like a bear
Facial Features: monkey’s face
Characteristics: bipedal and quadrupedal; will travel on all fours but stands upright and walks like a man
Demeanor: mutilates animal bodies, often not eating all of the kill
Diet: chickens, rabbits, raccoons, pigs, turkeys, and sometimes cows
Foot Size: 10 inches
Location: Jefferson County, Iowa
MISSOURI MONSTER (MOMO)
Hair/fur: long, matted black hair
Height: 6 to 7 feet
Body Appearance: humanlike with a large head, no neck
Facial Features: unknown—face is covered by a mass of hair
Characteristics: strong and unpleasant garbage odor
Demeanor: shy of humans but possibly aggressive toward dogs
Foot Size: 10 inches long, 5 inches wide; 3-toed
Vocalization: low-pitched growl to scream; growling and gurgling noise like someone trying to whistle underwater
Location: Missouri, in Pike County along the Mississippi River
Legend: During the summer of 1972, many sightings and strange occurrences frightened several families within the Pike County community. Also reported with this account were two fireballs floating over a hill; witnesses also reported hearing a ringing sound from that direction. Investigation revealed a strong odor and footprints, but the monster had disappeared. Once word of the monster hit the newspapers, hunters and thrill seekers from surrounding states overwhelmed the community and police by trespassing, shooting cattle, and tearing up farmland.
THE MURPHYSBORO MUD MONSTER
Hair/Fur: long, matted, muddy, light color—possibly albino
Eyes: glowing, red
Heights: 7 to 8 feet
Weight: 350–400 pounds
Body Appearance: bulky humanlike form; long arms
Facial Features: roundish to cone-shaped head
Characteristics: horrific odor; smells like river slime; may leave a trail of black slime
Demeanor: curious of humans and animals but instills fear
Foot Size: 10–12 inches long, 3 inches wide
Vocalization: piercing roar, loud shrieks
Location: Murphysboro, Illinois
Legend: In the summer of 1973, this Bigfoot-type creature spent two weeks frightening the citizens of Murphysboro. The first sighting was reported by a young couple who saw the creature in an isolated area near the river at midnight. They were so frightened by its appearance and loud scream that they went to the police. While investigating, the officers found several footprints and heard the loud noise, which frightened them enough they huddled in the police cruiser until their nerves settled. Other citizens, carnival workers, and a five-year-old boy reported seeing the Bigfoot. All recalled a horrifically loud noise, awful smell, and feeling of intense fear. The police chief called in extra help to search for the creature, but even the German shepherd used in the chase cowered outside a barn. When posses of townsfolk began to form, the police chief called in officers from the surrounding areas to help maintain order as they searched. While there were a couple more sightings after this two-week period, for the most part, the creature had disappeared.
WENDIGO
Hair/Fur: matted white hair
Eyes: glowing yellow
Height: 7 to 15 feet
Body Appearance: sharp claws; tall and lanky; yellow-tinted skin
Facial Features: long yellow fangs; overly long tongue; like the Gugwe, snout resembles that of a mandrill, baboon, or bear
Demeanor: fierce, intimidating
Diet: cannibalistic
Vocalization: long, drawn-out, fearsome howl
Location: snowy regions
Tidbit: Half phantom and half beast, he lives in the forest and preys on humans, especially children. Stories of this Bigfoot type date back to the earliest Native American legends.
BIGFOOT OF SOUTHERN APPALACHIA
Because their biomes are similar to the rest of the Appalachian region, we included southeastern Ohio and northeastern Alabama in this section. Appalachian culture also dictates some interpretation based on superstitions and folklore that accompanied Europeans who immigrated from the Old Country. Names like Yeahoh or Ya-hoo are almost exclusive to this region, thanks to Daniel Boone and other frontiersmen who listened to his stories and told many of their own.
BIGFOOT OR WEST VIRGINIA STONE MAN
Hair/Fur: brown, black, gray, but most commonly reddish-brown
Eyes: large, round eyes; shine noted but not glowing
Height: 6 to 10 feet
Weight: 400–500 pounds
Body Appearance: wide shoulders and long arms; upright and bipedal; hair covers everything except palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and part of the face
Facial Features: humanlike with flat nose, partially covered in hair, sloping forehead, dark skin
Characteristics: strong odor; knocks with sticks and rocks; thought to bend trees and make structures as a way of communicating; nests are made in rock structures, caves, and overhangs
Demeanor: curious about and wary of humans; lives in solitary locations, possibly in family groups
Diet: omnivore, eating a combination of plants, small animals, and deer
Foot Size: 12–18 inches
Vocalization: howling apelike calls; may also make popping noises with mouth
Location: West Virginia
Tidbit: The Iroquois called Bigfoot Ot-ne-yar-hed, meaning “stone giant” and also Gno’sqwa (Genoskwa) meaning “stone coat,” names that accompanied them from the North as they came south to their hunting grounds, bringing their legends with them. More prominent in