The legend of the Wendigo stems from Native American folklore, primarily in Algonquian-speaking tribes located in south and southeastern Canada, the Great Lakes Region, and northeastern United States. Although most of the stories of Wendigo encounters occurred far back into the19th and 20th centuries and beyond, there have been sporadic reports of what could be possible Wendigos up into more modern times. More sightings in the Bay followed in the 1930s, '60s, '70s and '80s. Join MU Plus+ and get exclusive shows and extensions & much more! But ironically enough, these stories might actually represent the Indigenous peoples response to the horrific violence unleashed on them by non-Native people. Other indigenous peoples believe a Wendigo is born out of an individual's gluttony, selfishness, overindulgence or extreme loneliness. I noticed a little later that she was acting as if something was threatening her, so I looked up, and saw it. February 27, 2023. Jack Fiddler and his brother made no real attempt to hide the fact that it had been them, and that they had killed her because her family had asked them too, even helped them, as she had been transforming into a Wendigo. Above: That dang Hodag. Something or someone was running in a circle around our campsite. By far the most well-known and discussed type of hairy wild man of Native lore is none other than the mysterious and legendary entity known as the Wendigo, animalistic, hulking beasts with strange powers. Once theyre isolated in the desolate depths of the wilderness, he attacks them and then feasts on them. Thunderbirds Northern Wisconsin Rather, one of his creepiest traits is his ability to mimic human voices. The Story Behind the Special Wisconsin Cheese Back on Sale, Old World Wisconsin Provides a Historical Home for the Holidays, A Landmark Farm Enjoys New Life as a Community Education Center with a Focus on Healthy Food, The 5 Hottest Majors at the University of Wisconsin Right Now, Wisconsin's 7 Weirdest Towns & Why They're Called That, 8 Cheese Factories You Can Visit in Wisconsin. 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. Map of all currently-documented sightings. 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. 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. Wendigo Attack Report. We decided we better get out of there because it was starting to get dark and we were both pretty freaked out, David wrote. Mississippi: Mercritis This story is an odd myth it's about a disease! Other sightings by the Nakota reported huge, Loch Ness-like fish monster in the lake as well. Travelers along this misty stretch of highway would report seeing lights and a strange lone figure patrolling the road. 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. Different versions of the wendigo legend say different things about his speed and agility. According to Animal Planet, Swift Runner claimed to be possessed by a windigo spirit at the time of the murders. Neil Rosenstech. The tribes attributed many of the mysterious disappearances to the wendigo, thus calling him the spirit of lonely places.. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Wendigo in Wisconsin 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. They had come out to hunt, after all. Watch Discover Wisconsin TV Saturday mornings at 10 on Fox Sports Wisconsin. David estimated the creature to be eight to ten feet tall, with long, thin, gangly arms. Still, what really scares me the most from back then was when we had been leaving the site, I looked back from the car window and saw a figure standing at the tree line staring at me, it was lanky and looked starved to the point of having its skin wrapping tightly against its bones. Few reports of the creature have surfaced since then. I have heard what sounds like a little girl calling for help out in those woods before. Some say its a sea serpent. 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. So I turned around and saw a large creature about 80 yards from me standing across the stream. Food & Drink If Bigfoot has been here all along, we would expect to meet him in old legends as well as in the latest sightings. We turned around, my eyes glued to the trees, and when we got to the middle of the houses I could see two eyes watching me through the two houses. i have also lived in wisconson half my life and i only know the hodag, Your email address will not be published. If you are interested yourself then maybe you'll have to take a trip over to Bray Road at night and see for yourself. But every so often, an alleged sighting emerges. The sightings were . Wikimedia CommonsA Wendigo Manitou carving on Mount Trudee in Silver Bay, Minnesota. Other stories describe it more like a thin bipedal bear creature with a skeletal head and antlers. 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. 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. That trail later became what today is referred to as the Old Military Road. Ryan told them that we called the police and roughly thirty minutes later a park ranger showed up. Snapped my line like it was nothing a few years back. The human was transformed into a cannibalistic monster which roams the forests searching for prey. 5 Wisco Monsters to Look Out for This October. In some forms, the Wendigo is the size of a human, while in others, it can be fifteen-feet-tall. David kept it to himself, however, and they continued walking the trail until they reached a point where the path branched off to the right, and a snowmobile trail went to the left. I'd love to hear more about this encounter you had. After feasting on another humans flesh, he transformed into a crazed man-beast, roaming the forest in search of more people to eat. I looked at Ryan and told him to call the police. The local tension leading up to such accusations may even be comparable to the fear that preceded the Salem witch trials. The Wendigo is a cannibalistic monster from the Algonquin myths of North America. My name is Charles Keeper, and I was an investigative reporter for a local paper in Wisconsin. He's written articles for MU and Daily Grail and has been a guest on Coast to Coast AM and Binnal of America. It felt close enough to touch but we never saw a thing. My house is about 100 yards from a small stream that splits the small wooded area in half. They would prevent the snakes from overrunning the earth and devouring mankind, according to Menominee folklore. 6 Creepy Cryptids That Call Wisconsin Home. Every culture that has evil supernatural entities has ways to battle them, and those who would go head to head with them and step up ready to battle. This creature is so famous among northern Wisconsinites that it even has its own monument and country music festival. 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. Devils Lake Monster Baraboo Strong evidence shows these creatures no longer exist but fossil records say massive birds were likely residing in North America during the early periods of human history. Wendigo or not, it is very creepy, to say the least. The Wendigo is a wicked spirit that haunts the wild areas of North America's Atlantic Coast and Great Lakes regions. I was done. The whistling came back. Thats when the movement stopped but the whistling was still constant. More stories followed, each adding to the lore of the fearsome hodag. Like I was being watched. " In Ontario, though not a province regarded to shelter "Bigfoot" as much as Alberta and British Columbia are, there are . 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? In recent years numerous wendigo sightings have been reported in Wisconsin. It is believed by native Americans that wendigos call out for help like a human in order to lure people toward it. Basically, the word wendigo can also function as a symbol for gluttony and the image of excess. He finally got out that he was outside smoking and heard loud dragging and rustling sounds coming from the wooded pond area. I just kept thinking about what I saw. Required fields are marked *. If you would really like to know what they are , go to a reservation and ask a Native American. It's bones are visible through its sickly yellow skin, and its body is composed of ice and matted fur. Species: Savage Beast, Evil Spirit, Shapeshifter Other Names: The word wendigo (pronounced wehn-dee-go) comes from the Native American Algonquian language, meaning "evil spirit that devours mankind". "Massive" is the Word. 3. This combination of its size and roots make for some creative folklore, such as inspiration for the Lake Winnebago Water Monster. I saw a grey hunched over humanoid in the woods near our elementary school. All That's Interesting is a Brooklyn-based digital publisher that seeks out stories that illuminate the past, present, and future. So I started walking towards my house which is would mean I would have to walk uphill. He uses this skill to lure people in and draw them away from civilization. It is still terrifying to talk or think about. For more information, please see our In 1878, a man named Swift Runner was known to suffer from Wendigo psychosis in the worst possible way. I tend to walk my dog after dinner and before bed, and my town is pretty safe, so walking her in the dark never phased me. I Often Hear That: I'll Share Some With You, TikTok and Its Strange Proliferation of Mysterious Accounts of Skinwalkers, A 3,500-Year-Old Frozen Mummified Bear Found in Siberia. They are some massive prehistoric fish that can be very intimidating up close and in person. Answer (1 of 18): I have read all of your comments, This creature has been part of Native American truth for hundreds of years. The "creature" of Native American legend that is said to be a disturbingly thin and gaunt individual that has ice in its veins and forever craves the taste of human flesh. Much like other legendary beasts, the wendigo remains a fixture in pop culture in modern times. Grasping its victim, the Wendigo runs at such speed that the poor victim's eyes bleed and his feet burn. Moving just east of Madison lies the community of Lake Mills and Rock Lake. The fear I felt was incredible. These spooky tales passed down through generations of Whitewater residents and UW-Whitewater students continue to be a part of the towns unique culture. 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. Her most recent book is American Monsters: A History of Monster Lore, Legends, and Sightings in America. Eyewitness sketch of a mysterious creature that dashed in front of a moving car near Holy Hill. 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