What Is Minnesota’s and Wisconsin’s Most Famous Monster? It’s Not Sasquatch
If you thought Sasquatch was the most documented supernatural creature in Minnesota or Wisconsin, think again. I was definitely surprised when I found out which two were for the Land of 10,000 Lakes and the Badger State.
The website, Brilliant Maps put together a list of the most famous mythical creatures and animals in each state:
- Alabama – White Thang
- Alaska – Tizheruk
- Arizona – Mogollon Monster
- Arkansas – Fouke Monster
- California – Tahoe Tessie
- Colorado – Slide-Rock Bolter
- Connecticut – Melon Heads
- Delaware – Zwaanendael Merman
- Florida – Skunk Ape
- Georgia – Altamaha-ha
- Hawaii – Menehune
- Idaho – Sharlie
- Indiana – Beast of Busco
- Illinois – The Enfield Horror
- Iowa – Van Meter Monster
- Kansas – Sink Hole Sam
- Kentucky – The Kelly Little Green Men
- Louisiana – Rougarou
- Maine – Specter Moose
- Maryland – Chessie
- Massachusetts – Dover Demon
- Michigan – The Michigan Dogman
- Mississippi – Pascagoula River Aliens
- Missouri – Momo
- Montana – Shunka Warak’in
- Nebraska – Alkali Lake Monster
- Nevada – Tahoe Tessie
- New Hampshire – Wood Devils
- New Jersey – Jersey Devil
- New Mexico – Teratorns
- New York – Champ/Champy
- North Carolina – The Beast of Bladenboro
- North Dakota – Thunderbird
- Ohio – Loveland Frogmen
- Oklahoma – Oklahoma Octopus
- Oregon – Colossal Claude
- Pennsylvania – The Squonk
- Rhode Island – Vampire Mercy Brown
- South Carolina – Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp
- South Dakota – Taku-He
- Tennessee – Tennessee Wildman
- Texas – Chupacabra
- Utah – Bear Lake Monster
- Vermont – Northfield Pigman
- Virginia – Snallygaster
- Washington – Bigfoot
- West Virginia – Mothman
- Wyoming – Jackalope
A lot of these creatures I have never even heard of. Let's dive into Minnesota's most famous supernatural creature:
The Wendigo
Originating from Native-American legend, and is said to be a cannibalistic demonic half-beast as told by the Algonquian peoples along the Atlantic coast of the United States and Canada. Myths and Folklore wiki went on to say the legend lends it's name to the disputed modern medical term wendigo psychosis, which is supposed to be a culture-bound disorder. The name also loosely translates to "evil spirit that devours mankind".
The mythical spirit can be seen in numerous variations of TV and movies including: 'Ravenous' (1999), and 'Pet Sematary' (2019) and most recently, 'Antlers' (2021). Before we dive into Wisconsin's most known mythical creature, the is a pretty cool video to check out about the Wendigo below:
So what's lurking around Wisconsin? Moldy cheese? Disappointed Packer fans who still think old man Aaron is the answer? Nope, the most famous mythical creature from the Badger state is:
The Beast of Bray Road
According to Legends of America, A hairy humanoid with canine features was been seen throughout the years on Bray Road outside of Elkhorn, Wisconsin and other nearby counties. The first sightings date back to the 30's with more recent sightings in the 80's, 90's and even just a few years ago someone thinks they got a picture of the beast. I would definitely not be sticking around if I saw something that looks like a werewolf.
There was a movie with the same title that was released in 2005. Inside Edition even did a story about the urban legend back in the early 90's that you can check out below:
Well after that deep dive, it looks like I won't be sleeping tonight. What do you think, do these stories have some truth? Or are they just made up Urban Legends to send a good scare down your spine?