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