3. 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. The highly anticipated government report on unidentified aerial phenomena in American airspace was released Friday afternoon. One of the most famous cases of someone allegedly being possessed by a Wendigo comes from 1878, when in Saskatchewan, Canada, a Cree fur trapper by the name of Swift Runner claimed that he had been possessed by insidious dark forces and had become a Wendigo after killing and eating his family during a harsh winter without food. Food & Drink BONUS: Whitewater, WI Thats when the whistling started. You dont earn the name Devils Lake for no reason. According to the BFRO, five bigfoot sightings have been reported in Marinette County. In return, the aliens gave him a handful of pancakes. Many times, I think I have a theory to explain some of these things, and I'll receive a new case that puts me right back to square one.. I ran back to where Ryan was and sat down. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. One of the aliens held a container and gestured to Simonton to fill it up. They nevertheless stayed at the camp, as it was a trip they had been planning for months, and on the second to last day something very bizarre would unfold, of which the witness says: Although, these occurrences were a disturbance it did not deter us from staying for the final two days as we had been planing it for months, but one experience years ago on the day right before our departure, still haunts me to this day. So, Wendigo in my neighborhood, lets not meet. I had been strolling through the forest while looking firewood when I heard rustling in the bushes behind me, as this happened it seemed that all life ceased around me because I could only hear my heartbeat and the lone heavy footsteps approaching me, then I heard my name called from what seemed every direction yet echoed from in front of me while also coming from behind. Even evidence of marking our gate (EXCESSIVE urine). This had sent horrendous chills down my spine, So I ran the fastest Ive ever had back towards the campsite, while I heard the twigs and leaves crunching behind me. His saddled and bridled horse returned to the saloon without a rider. He's written articles for MU and Daily Grail and has been a guest on Coast to Coast AM and Binnal of America. The house has since collapsed, but the legend lives on. Moving just east of Madison lies the community of Lake Mills and Rock Lake. Whatever this person or thing was, it was about five feet up in a tree. Now as far as I know there is no family history on either side for hallucinations, and even of there were, this would have been my only experience with one my entire life, and it's been almost a full decade since this happened. ago. In 1879, a Plains Cree trapper that also served as a guide for the North West Mounted Police, known as Swift Runner, fell victim to Wendigo psychosis when he went camping in the northern woods with his wife and 6 children. Though their legend has changed over the years, many of their main characteristics are fairly steady-and sightings of them continue to roll in . Sightings of the Wendigo are not nearly as common as they were prior to the 20th century, but there are still reports of encountering Wendigos in the northeastern states of the U.S. and Canada. The missionaries described the condition as an ailment that was a combination of lunacy and frenzy. He went to grab his flashlight but by the time we went to the door to look it was gone. Indeed, one was seen as perfectly able to be changed into a Wendigo, in most cases if they resorted to eating the meat of another person, or through magic woven by another Wendigo, and humans were also at times said to be possessed by the creatures. Then this brown, slimy, serpent or eel like body sloshed around and went into the water. Whether you are a believer of these mythical accounts or not, it always makes for a spine-tingling good time when you round up your friends for a story around the fire. It didnt make a sound, and the way it jumped and moved was unlike any animal Ive ever seen. A Wendigo Manitou carving on Mount Trudee in Silver Bay, Minnesota. Modern interpretations often depict the monster as a tall, man-like figure with a stag head or skull with antlers and a decomposing flesh body, sometimes covered in hair. So I turned around and saw a large creature about 80 yards from me standing across the stream. I do remember antlers, and matted fur, but nothing gaunt or skeletal. Everything about it was long. How could someone whistle this loudly without cracking while also running? 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. These spooky tales passed down through generations of Whitewater residents and UW-Whitewater students continue to be a part of the towns unique culture. The witness in this case claims that he spends a lot of time camping and hiking the area with his brother Ryan, and on this day, they had headed out to a place they knew well, midway through Jacks River Trail in the Cohutta Wilderness. The legend of the Wendigo is still very alive in some parts of the Great Lakes region and the forests of Canada. I dont think I have ever yelled so loud. One description of the Wendigo was given by Native author and ethnographer Basil H. Johnston, who wrote of it: The Wendigo was gaunt to the point of emaciation, its desiccated skin pulled tightly over its bones. What did David and his wife encounter in the woods? The trapper confessed to killing and eating his family and was executed by authorities. To the white settlers reading this, it was a tale of devil-worship, black magic, and deadly superstition among the untamed savages of the uncharted wilds, and it drew much call to bring the Native people under control and impose their own laws on them. The Infographics Show focuses on making animated motion infographic videos, made in a fun and entertaining way. 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. Within the region, Fiddler was nearly legendary as a powerful shaman and healer, attributed with vast supernatural abilities such as the power to shapeshift, conjure up animal spirits, chase away evil spirits, deflect spells, and many others, but he was most well known as a Wendigo hunter. Lake Winnebago Water Monster - Lake Winnebago Wikimedia CommonsLake Windigo, in the Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota. The lore of the Wendigo, which is often ominously translated as the evil spirit that devours mankind, varies slightly from tribe to tribe, but it is always seen as a malevolent creature with an intense, uncontrollable perpetual hunger for human flesh, and often said to possess the minds of others in order to drive them to cannibalism. 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. The Mystery of New York's Renegade Subway Psychic, Forget About What We Know About Roswell: It's What's Missing About the Case That We Need to Look For, Archeologists Discover Another Secret Corridor Inside the Great Pyramid of Giza, Perfectly Preserved Remains of an Ice Age Puppy Reveal Its Surprising Last Meal, Bizarre Accounts of Firefights and Shoot-Outs With Bigfoot and Bigfoot-like Creatures, The Time a Sea Monster Attacked a U.S. Navy Destroyer. According to the La Crosse Tribune, Simonton was a plumber who, in April 1961, was making lunch in his kitchen when he saw something large come down from the sky into his yard. Most recently in 2019, mysterious howls in the Canadian wilderness led some to question whether they were caused by the infamous man-beast. Many people in the regions where the Wendigo legends were most popular still believe that Wendigos roam the dark forests, waiting to prey on their next . It was standing on its hind legs but had antlers or some type of tall ears like a bunny and its arms and legs were abnormally long and stretched to the bone. The evil being is associated with winter and starvation, and appears to feast on humans. A flesh-eating monster appears in the video game Fallout 76 and has 3 different subspecies and the characteristics of the Wendigo monster that the player faces depends upon where they are in the game. The voice calling me was a harsh, raspy, animalistic in tone imitation of my sisters voice, who had just recently left the trip due to stress only a few hours ago. In fact, many anthropologists believe that the concept of a wendigo only developed after the Native people had contact with the Europeans. An oxen trip from Milwaukee to Galena, Illinois, took five days back then, and along the road, saloons and inns sprang up to feed and shelter the miners, and to separate them from their earnings. Some people who have claimed to encounter the beast say its a relative of Bigfoot. Some anthropologists also argue that wendigo stories especially those involving wendigo accusations are linked to stress within the Native American communities. Rather, one of his creepiest traits is his ability to mimic human voices. Other legends say they can regenerate their body and are unaffected by harsh weather conditions. Isolation caused by harsh winter conditions created fear amongst people in the northern region of the U.S. and in Canada which led to people resorting to cannibalism in order to prevent death by starvation. It all begin with Morris Pratt in 1889 where he built the Pratt Institute, which dealt with topics of spiritual studies long before the existence of UW-Whitewater. Obsessed with hunting for new victims, he is forever hungry until hes eating another person. More stories followed, each adding to the lore of the fearsome hodag. Northern lights gleam green and purple above Wisconsin. And very large, dark eyes, oriented forward like a predators would be. One woman named Susie said she and her daughters friend saw a UFO while at a lake house in Rhinelander. The cannibalistic forest creature is known for allegedly appearing in harsh winter conditions and cold seasons, preying upon humans in an attempt to satisfy its never-ending hunger for human flesh. A few weeks ago my brother was over and he was outside smoking when he came in quickly and locked the door behind him. The countryside surrounding Holy Hill has more than it's fair share of anomalous activity. Ive lived in a without-a-doubt haunted house, frequently go on after-hours explorations of known haunted places, and have seen and experienced many paranormal events. Whether you believe the wendigo lurks in the woods at night or not, this is not just another boogeyman story meant to scare people for no reason. Their origins also have some variations, but the main cause according to the majority of traditions, is that humans who were overcome by greed or hunger, or those who resorted to cannibalism to stay alive, were at risk of becoming Wendigos themselves. But there are also more to know about. Both traditional and modern descriptions indicate that the Wendigo also has glowing eyes, yellow fangs, and a long tongue. It is certainly a sad tale of the end of tribal beliefs, and whether these Wendigo ever really existed or not the people of the region certainly believed that they did and that they were a threat. Since that night I havent had any other direct encounter with it, except one event that Im not sure is related but elicited that same feeling of being watched and almost felt. Meet The Cannibalistic Cryptid Of Your Nightmares. There are many local traditions of the Wendigo with slightly different details in its appearance and abilities depending on the region, but it is always said to be frightening, and there are also variations in their powers. Chad Lewis, Wisconsins own expert in the strange and unusual including aliens and UFOs, has just one question for the U.S. government. I never seen one but there are times I feel dread just outside my house at night during the winter. In that same street I saw a lady in white in the dead cold in a skirt just strolling down the street a couple days before.. We dont know if its a Wendigo or a skinwalker, but behind one of the trees in our yard he noticed a deer like creature that happens to make him very uneasy. But the Air Force came and they had no reason to disbelieve Simontons account. he said elders would go there to reflect on the lessons of their ancestors. The native story tells of a great mountain that floats in the western sky where thunderbirds gather. As the tale goes, the wendigo was once a lost hunter. ContactAlisa Schafer ataschafer@gannett.com. As he looked a bit longer, the four lights broke apart, swirling and dancing in complicated patterns around each other before coming back together to form a diamond shape. Subscribe Today! Many of us are packing up and heading into the great outdoors for a fun array of activities like swimming, biking, hiking, hammock napping, and scary campfire stories. For them it was beyond mere lore and legend, but rather a very real threat, something that lurked in the shadows and had to be dealt with. The Chippewa, Algonquian peoples, and Cree tribes are often associated with the legend as these tribes lived in the areas where Wendigo sightings have been reported, with stories of the Wendigo being passed down for generations. Subscribe NOW so you don't miss what's next https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGgdhMFHiKym-z4G7IB4BYw?sub_confirmation=1 Support me on Patreon https://. This combination of its size and roots make for some creative folklore, such as inspiration for the Lake Winnebago Water Monster. Other indigenous peoples believe a Wendigo is born out of an individual's gluttony, selfishness, overindulgence or extreme loneliness. Mothman in Wisconsin. The player must survive the Wendigo and get rid of the curse in order to beat the game. I could list every single commercial airplane model in use right now, he said. During a brutally cold winter, this mans intense hunger drove him to cannibalism. Snapped my line like it was nothing a few years back. Until Dawn is a video game where the player can control up to 8 different characters that are trapped on Blackwood Mountain. The wendigo is a beast that lives alone in the northern forests, feeding whenever possible on human flesh. Is it something that is even beyond our comprehension? As long as there have been demons and monsters in our world and those who believe in them, there have been those willing to fight them. If you knew him, he doesnt really get uneasy about that stuff. Native Americans would send out scouts and warriors onto the lake for hunting trips only to hear screams with other tribesmen telling how they saw the hunters dragged underneath into the brackish waters by octopus-like tentacles. Lake Windigo, in the Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota. Primary Editor: Jia-Rui Cook. Now this is the part I will never forget. Such tales abounded, and the tribes who feared the Wendigo took all of this very seriously. I saw a grey hunched over humanoid in the woods near our elementary school. Tonight my boyfriend let our dog out to use the bathroom and shes usually very alert and will go after anything, but tonight she looked in the direction and then kept going on about her buisness which again is very abnormal for her. Nothing. However the person is then possessed by an evil Wendigo spirit and transforms into the beast. There is a document from the Jesuit Relations that claims French missionaries stumbled upon individuals with an unknown condition to them, Wendigo psychosis. Wendigo Sightings In Canada and Northern parts of the United States where Algonquian-speaking tribes live, wendigo sightings were reported by both Native Americans and white settlers. Sometimes these animals were disemboweled and their entrails found hanging from bushes or trees like macabre Christmas tree ornaments, and sometimes they were simply torn in half, with one of the halves missing. These mounds were believed to have been created by the Aztalan natives when the lakes water levels were much lower. I tried to explain what had happened without sounding crazy but it didnt seem to work. The tribes attributed many of the mysterious disappearances to the wendigo, thus calling him the spirit of lonely places.. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The curious thing about Rock Lake is that if you dive down in certain parts of the lake you can find small pyramid like structures. What Is The Wendigo? Wendigo psychosis symptoms are often associated with delusions of turning into a monstrous Wendigo, poor appetite, fear of or becoming cannibalistic, and nausea and vomiting. He says of what happened next: There is a creek on that property as well, and while usually we never had any issues while down there, this one time had proven to be quite strange; Topaz the cat was unwilling to cross in her usual spot, and it was eerily quiet. The Wendigo beast appears in many films, books, and video games. HEY! Quiet. Wikimedia CommonsA Wendigo Manitou carving on Mount Trudee in Silver Bay, Minnesota. Susan Lampert Smith, Last Updated But you release it during COVID, and people are like, Well, whats next?. The Best Evidence and Footage of the WENDIGO Cryptid Monster World of MONSTERS 122K subscribers Subscribe 28K views 1 year ago #cryptozoology #cryptid #wendigo In this video we explore the most. We've even noticed EXTREMELY large (seemingly) deer tracks that circle the house. The local tension leading up to such accusations may even be comparable to the fear that preceded the Salem witch trials. Jay Bradley caught a video of unidentified luminous objects flying around on the shore of the Chippewa River in Rusk County while on a fishing trip with his wife in August 2019. One of the most worrying stories traded among the Algonquian tribe is about a creature known as the wendigo. Im of the mind that things beyond our comprehension and everyday scope absolutely do exist, and this is one I wont be messing with or going on adventures to see again. Here's everything you need to know about this creature. Everything you think you know about the world, its just wrong.. The condition often develops in the harsh winters of the north when heavy snowfalls isolate individuals for long periods of time. 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 Wendigo was gaunt to the point of emaciation, its desiccated skin pulled tightly over its bones. We are also from south eastern Wisconsin, in Waukesha county. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); To read this article, and access more real Wisconsin news, sign up for our free newsletter. Many still believe that the Wendigo roams the woods and the prairies of northern Minnesota and Canada. The 5 Hottest Majors at the University of Wisconsin Right Now, Business It depends on the day you talk to me as to where I fall on these categories. Is it interdimensional? If you would really like to know what they are , go to a reservation and ask a Native American. These locals would encounter Rocky by their boats and along the shore where they would be traumatized once sighting the incognito beast hissing at them. Basically, the word wendigo can also function as a symbol for gluttony and the image of excess. I heard it land but it either jumped an impossible distance or landed in a thicket because I heard it but never saw. Both Fiddler and his brother were arrested and charged with murder in the case of Wahsakapeequay, and the story of these two Wendigo hunters out in the savage wilds drew sensationalist headlines around the country. The most recent was in April 2013, when a retired police officer witnessed a bigfoot crossing a highway near Pembine.