From Lake Lerna in Greece to the Honey Island Swamp in Louisiana, bog monsters have been spotted among us from time to time.
A bog monster, or swamp monster, is a fictional creature that wreaks havoc and usually lives in a swamp, creek, or cave. Many cultures around the world share stories of similar creatures found in their own backyards. So in this article, we’re be covering a few types of bog monsters. Some you may be familiar with…others, not so much.
American bog monsters
The Hydra
We’ll start with one of the earliest known versions of the bog monster: The Lernaean Hydra, also known as Hydra.Â
It is a serpentine water monster said to dwell in Lake Lerna in the Argolid (present-day Myloi, Greece). It is depicted as having several heads, with the exact number of heads varying by sources.
The Hydra, aside from its huge size, was said to possess a toxic breath. This along with its incredible regenerative ability made it a formidable creature of the deep. According to canonical Hydra myth, the creature was slain by Hercules as part of his Twelve Labours.
The Skunk Ape
The Skunk Ape is one of the most descriptive names for a bog monster. It has an ape-like appearance with an awful odor and is said to live in swamps and forests in the south-eastern US (most commonly Florida, Georgia, and Alabama).
Although it bears some similarities to the Sasquatch, it’s typically shorter and has hair on its shoulders and arms much like an Orangutan. Its body is said to have a red color, while it’s face and eyes have a pale coloration.
The Grootslang
The next beautiful monster on our list is the Grootslang (or Grote Slang). It is a legendary creature that is purported to inhabit a cave in the Richtersveld region, South Africa.
It is described as a giant snake, the size of an elephant. In some other versions, it is described as a creature with elephant and snake features. The cave where it dwells is called the ‘Bottomless Pit’ and is said to connect to the sea.
Legend has it that the Grootslang was responsible for the death of an English businessman Peter Grayson. This is not true, however, as the Englishman was reported killed by Lions during his expedition looking for diamonds.
The Honey Island Swamp Monster
This is a creature a little closer to home. According to Louisiana folklore, the Honey Island Swamp monster is a cryptid. Cryptids are animals said to have inhabited the Honey Island Swamp for about 58 years now (since 1963).
Like the Skunk Ape, the monster is ape-like in appearance, bipedal, and has an offensive odor. It’s described as being being much taller than the Skunk Ape (about 2 meters tall).
It also attracted national media attention in 1974 when Harlan Ford, a retired air traffic controller, and his friend Billy Mills discovered unusual footprints in the Honey Island swamp area. For the next 6 years till his death, Ford kept hunting this creature. After his death, the film Super 8 depicted what some believed was an inspired version of the creature.
Conclusion
Most of these creatures have fascinated man for a long time. In recent times they’ve made their way into the entertainment industry. You can find shirts, bags and other items adorned with references to these creatures all over the internet.
As it stands, science is yet to prove the existence of any of these creatures, but maybe that will change in the future.