Richard Freeman has a good, new post on the lake-monsters of Wisconsin. As Rich says:
"In one of my earliest blogs I wrote about cryptid material turning up in museums and the possibility of unlabelled or ‘lost’ material in collections around the world. In the state of Wisconsin some strange material, possibly related to a lake monster, was uncovered not once but twice. The Winnebago Indians believed in two distinct types of dragon-like monster inhabiting lakes. The Wak Tcexi was a paranormal entity and was evil. The Winnebozho was flesh and blood, and benign. There are a number of ‘monster lakes’ in the state but this story is linked to two in particular. Lake Mendota is close to Wisconsin’s capital, Madison. Sightings of the creatures date back to the 1860s. W.J. Park and his wife were boating on the lake when they came across what looked like a large log. Mr Park poked the ‘log’, which dived, churning up the water. Lake Mendota is linked to Lake Monona via the Yahara River. Monsters are seen here too. In July 1892 the wonderfully named Darwin Boehmer and a friend were boating on the lake when they saw the monster swimming off towards Ott’s Spring with an undulating motion. It showed 14 feet of its back above the surface."
And here's the rest of Rich's post...
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
New Stuff at the CFZ Blog
Check out today's edition of the main CFZ blog (Still on the Track) in England, where you'll find intriguing posts on the mysterious creature of Loch Lomond; a Q&A with Charles Paxton; and Neil Arnold talking about a truly weird creature: the Beast of Bideford.
Also: take a look at The Anomalist of the last two days. You'll find links to posts on such critters as ghostly black-dogs; rock-apes; Bigfoot; the Chupacabras; and what sound very much like wild wolves in England.
Hopefully, by sometime next week I will have finally wrapped up 2 of the 3 books for which I'm fast approaching deadline-day; and so after that I'll have more time to devote to posting lengthier stories here, and to get things back on an even-keel!
Also: take a look at The Anomalist of the last two days. You'll find links to posts on such critters as ghostly black-dogs; rock-apes; Bigfoot; the Chupacabras; and what sound very much like wild wolves in England.
Hopefully, by sometime next week I will have finally wrapped up 2 of the 3 books for which I'm fast approaching deadline-day; and so after that I'll have more time to devote to posting lengthier stories here, and to get things back on an even-keel!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
A British Big Cat Gig
2010 Big Cats in Britain Conference.
4th 5th 6th June, Glasgow, Scotland.
Venue TBA.
Speakers include:
Loren Coleman (USA)
Ruby Lang & Mike Williams (Australia)
Di Francis ( Scotland)
Dr David Hetherington (Scotland)
Jonathan McGowan (England)
Shaun Stevens (Scotland)
Additional speakers to be confirmed.
Tickets for Friday night, Saturday and Sunday £40. One day £25.
Full details can be found here: http://www.bigcatsinbritain.org/2010conference.htm
Tony Healy Q&A
Oll Lewis continues his project to interview various players in the cryptozoological scene, and here's the latest: Tony Healy.
Anomalies
Check out The Anomalist for all the links on the following stories...
Lindsay Selby: Lake Voronta Beast Cryptozoology Online. Beginning a search for lake monster tales, Lindsay Selby starts with reports that are extremely difficult to determine, since they deal with a lake in Siberia that's situated 100 miles from the nearest town. Nonetheless, some serious individuals, possessing impeccable credentials, have reported the presence of a large creature of indeterminate species in the waters of this remote lake. Selby chronicles the reports of the elusive...and isolated...monster reported to inhabit a remote lake in an area of Russia still vastly under-explored. Elsewhere, Mike Dash has something to say about lake monsters, too, as well as the proliferation of certain local legends concerning bodies of water, in 'The Lake That Has No Bottom...'. Meanwhile, another type of monster, long relegated to the halls of myth and legend, has inspired another search, as reported in Richard Muirhead: Muirhead's Mysteries: The Dragons of Sussex - Part One.
Lindsay Selby: Lake Voronta Beast Cryptozoology Online. Beginning a search for lake monster tales, Lindsay Selby starts with reports that are extremely difficult to determine, since they deal with a lake in Siberia that's situated 100 miles from the nearest town. Nonetheless, some serious individuals, possessing impeccable credentials, have reported the presence of a large creature of indeterminate species in the waters of this remote lake. Selby chronicles the reports of the elusive...and isolated...monster reported to inhabit a remote lake in an area of Russia still vastly under-explored. Elsewhere, Mike Dash has something to say about lake monsters, too, as well as the proliferation of certain local legends concerning bodies of water, in 'The Lake That Has No Bottom...'. Meanwhile, another type of monster, long relegated to the halls of myth and legend, has inspired another search, as reported in Richard Muirhead: Muirhead's Mysteries: The Dragons of Sussex - Part One.
Monstrous Walks!
Check this new development from Neil Arnold, which sounds like it will be an excellent venture!
Starting Monday February 8th - 7:30pm to 9:30pm - Neil Arnold will be conducting 'Monster Walks' around parts of London. With the help of London Paranormal who run regular ghost and history walks throughout the capital, the London 'Monster Walks' will see full-time folklorist Neil Arnold introduce us to a menagerie of mysterious beasts within the concrete jungle. The tour will stop off at various points in the City which are ornamented with monstrous images, and with each image a story will be applied.
Neil will speak of serpents, big cats, griffins, giant fish, bears, phantom hounds, all sighted throughout the capital. He'll also speak of the Highgate 'vampire', Spring-Heeled Jack and the London 'mermaid' hoax. A surreal safari indeed.
Just when you thought it was safe to not go in the woods, the London 'Monster Walk' will bring the beasts of London lore into the streets.
PRESS RELEASE 2010
From the people who bring you THE LONDON GHOST FESTIVAL
Tours of terror, spill the beans on London’s dark, gruesome and haunting past
Woven into London’s vibrant and bloody history is a plethora of ghosts and supernatural creatures hiding within its shadows of folklore and legend. Scratch the surface and the stories come to life as they bleed into our modern culture. Phantasmagoria events are pleased to introduce a series of three specifically devised "Haunted History Walks" around some of London's most haunted and historical areas exploring some of the capitals most horrid history, petrifying ghost stories and mythical beasts.
FOR FURTHER DETAILS: www.londonparanormal.com/monsterswalk.html
Starting Monday February 8th - 7:30pm to 9:30pm - Neil Arnold will be conducting 'Monster Walks' around parts of London. With the help of London Paranormal who run regular ghost and history walks throughout the capital, the London 'Monster Walks' will see full-time folklorist Neil Arnold introduce us to a menagerie of mysterious beasts within the concrete jungle. The tour will stop off at various points in the City which are ornamented with monstrous images, and with each image a story will be applied.
Neil will speak of serpents, big cats, griffins, giant fish, bears, phantom hounds, all sighted throughout the capital. He'll also speak of the Highgate 'vampire', Spring-Heeled Jack and the London 'mermaid' hoax. A surreal safari indeed.
Just when you thought it was safe to not go in the woods, the London 'Monster Walk' will bring the beasts of London lore into the streets.
PRESS RELEASE 2010
From the people who bring you THE LONDON GHOST FESTIVAL
Tours of terror, spill the beans on London’s dark, gruesome and haunting past
Woven into London’s vibrant and bloody history is a plethora of ghosts and supernatural creatures hiding within its shadows of folklore and legend. Scratch the surface and the stories come to life as they bleed into our modern culture. Phantasmagoria events are pleased to introduce a series of three specifically devised "Haunted History Walks" around some of London's most haunted and historical areas exploring some of the capitals most horrid history, petrifying ghost stories and mythical beasts.
FOR FURTHER DETAILS: www.londonparanormal.com/monsterswalk.html
Friday, January 22, 2010
Adam Davies on BoA
There's no doubt that one of the best shows on all-things mysterious is Tim Binnall's Binnall of America. And the new edition is no exception, as the guest is Brit Adam Davies, author of the crypto-book, Extreme Expeditions.
And here's Tim himself to tell you more:
Adam Davies
Extreme Expeditions of 2009
1 Hour, 31 Minutes
Extreme explorer Adam Davies returns to BoA:Audio to give us an update on his two big expeditions from 2009: a trip to Nepal searching for the Yeti and to Sumatra looking for the Orang Pendek. We'll cover the perilous conditions of the Himalayan trip which was showcased as a two-hour MonsterQuest special, the responsibilities of leading a massive expedition, how the trip changed Adam's views on the Yeti, and behind the scenes notes on the trip and special. Then we'll cover his Fall 2009 journey to Sumatra in search of the Orang Pendek. We'll find out how the trip came about, the amazing Orang Pendek sighting that members of his team had, the Sumatran culture in relation to the mystery cryptid, and tons more.
One of cryptozoology's most daring researchers, Adam Davies, provides an up close and personal look at his ground-breaking research of the past year.
And here's Tim himself to tell you more:
Adam Davies
Extreme Expeditions of 2009
1 Hour, 31 Minutes
Extreme explorer Adam Davies returns to BoA:Audio to give us an update on his two big expeditions from 2009: a trip to Nepal searching for the Yeti and to Sumatra looking for the Orang Pendek. We'll cover the perilous conditions of the Himalayan trip which was showcased as a two-hour MonsterQuest special, the responsibilities of leading a massive expedition, how the trip changed Adam's views on the Yeti, and behind the scenes notes on the trip and special. Then we'll cover his Fall 2009 journey to Sumatra in search of the Orang Pendek. We'll find out how the trip came about, the amazing Orang Pendek sighting that members of his team had, the Sumatran culture in relation to the mystery cryptid, and tons more.
One of cryptozoology's most daring researchers, Adam Davies, provides an up close and personal look at his ground-breaking research of the past year.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Glen Vaudrey Q&A
As part of his ongoing Q&A project to interview numerous people within the field of cryptozoology, the CFZ's Oll Lewis today focuses on Glen Vaudrey, the author of The Mystery Animals of the British Isles: The Western Isles.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Anomalies!
Check out today's Anomalist for the latest news on a wide range of tales of the crypto-kind, including the latest on Gef, the talking mongoose of Manx (or blatant hoax, of course!); phantom black-dogs; and a post from Loren Coleman on the cryptids of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Texas Terrors
Well, living on the fringes of Dallas, Texas, I just had to make mention of this particular, new posting from good friend Micah Hanks, which deals with the so-called Texas Chupacabras. I've investigated a number of these cases and even own (thanks to Walt Andrus of the San Antonio Mutual UFO Network) a skull of one of the ugly-looking critters.
Do, I think these are the same things roaming around Puerto Rico? No, I do not. Why not? Keep checking in here for an important update on the subject of the Texas Chupacabras...
Do, I think these are the same things roaming around Puerto Rico? No, I do not. Why not? Keep checking in here for an important update on the subject of the Texas Chupacabras...
Wild Cats & Horse-Eels
There are a couple of good, new posts at the main CFZ blog today, including one from Richard Muirhead on mystery wild-cats of Ireland and Scotland, and this one from Lindsay Selby on the legendary horse-eel of Lough Fadda.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Q&A Crypto
Last week, the CFZ's Oll Lewis interviewed me on a variety of cryptozoological issues, including how I got interested in the subject, my favourite books, and more. This is part of an on-going project that Oll has established to interview numerous people within the crypto-field.
Here's the link to the Q&A at the CFZ's UK blog. Check out the rest of the blog, too, for previous and forthcoming Q&A's!
Here's the link to the Q&A at the CFZ's UK blog. Check out the rest of the blog, too, for previous and forthcoming Q&A's!
Friday, January 15, 2010
High-Strangeness on Cannock Chase
Once again the dark woods of England's Cannock Chase have been the location of another weird creature encounter. In this new case - that has quite literally just surfaced - the witness describes seeing a wolf-like animal the size of a lioness!
Here's the link to the complete article on this particularly intriguing story...
Here's the link to the complete article on this particularly intriguing story...
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Bigfoot in the News
Today's Anomalist is a veritable Bigfoot-fest, with 5 or 6 good, new stories of the Sasquatch kind! As you'll note, my posts are a bit brief here this week. The reason: a couple of book deadlines that are taking up most of my time. But, I'll be blogging back at full-strength here shortly!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
New Guinea Beasts
Over at today's Anomalist, you can find a link to a very interesting article from Dr. Karl Shuker on the mystery animals of New Guinea (including a Bigfoot-type creature), which is definitely worth a read!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Cardiff Giant
Okay, I know it's not really a cryptid, but...As I noted in the blog-post below, this past weekend I was speaking about all-things cryptozoological at the Ghosts of Cooperstown, NY gig.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I learned that just up the road from the hotel where the event was being held is the Farmer's Museum; which is home to the (very!) infamous Cardiff Giant.
The caper of the Cardiff Giant is a truly strange and convoluted one filled with all manner of entertaining twists and turns. If you don't know the story of the giant-man (or, rather, the giant-hoax), click here for all the weird details.
The photo that accompanies this post was taken by me at around 11.00 PM on Saturday night when the temperature had plummeted to what felt like previously unrecorded levels - both inside and out!!
The Wanderer Returns
Well, I got back home late last night after speaking on a whole variety of cryptids (including the Owlman, the Goatman, Bigfoot and werewolves) at the Ghosts of Cooperstown, NY gig, which was a lot of fun and very informative.
Of course, in the 5 days I have been away, a number of good and intriguing crypto stories have surfaced, so I urge you to check out the CFZ's blog; Cryptomundo; and The Anomalist for the latest news.
There's a wealth of material, so going direct to the sources is probably going to be quicker than you having to wait for me to do separate posts on everything that's afoot!
Of course, in the 5 days I have been away, a number of good and intriguing crypto stories have surfaced, so I urge you to check out the CFZ's blog; Cryptomundo; and The Anomalist for the latest news.
There's a wealth of material, so going direct to the sources is probably going to be quicker than you having to wait for me to do separate posts on everything that's afoot!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
GOING OFFLINE
I'm going offline now, as this coming weekend (Jan. 8 to 11), I'll be lecturing on the subject of my book, There's Something in the Woods at the Ghosts of Cooperstown, NY conference, the details of which can be found here. I'll be back on Tuesday, so have a good weekend!
Crypto Q&A
Oll Lewis interviews Scott Corrales about how he got interested in cryptozoology, his favorite crypto-books, his views on which cryptids we may one day find proof of, and much more.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Nessie and More...
From today's Anomalist:
The End of Nessie: Researchers Fear Loch Ness Monster May Be Dead DR. Reports from Scotland indicate the rumors over the past several years that the Loch Ness Monster may have gone on to the big lake in the sky have tourism officials worried. Members of the official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club are dismayed over the declining number of Nessie sightings. Only one credible sighting was reported in 2009, but some sonar readings of a large body moving through Loch Ness have been made on several occasions. There's more on recent Nessie sightings in Loch Ness Monster Death Rumours Denied. Elsewhere on the cryptozoology scene, famed cryptozoologist and author Loren Coleman injects a bit of naughty into the "Noughties" with The Top Ten Sexiest Cryptomundo Images of the '00s. With many images.
The End of Nessie: Researchers Fear Loch Ness Monster May Be Dead DR. Reports from Scotland indicate the rumors over the past several years that the Loch Ness Monster may have gone on to the big lake in the sky have tourism officials worried. Members of the official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club are dismayed over the declining number of Nessie sightings. Only one credible sighting was reported in 2009, but some sonar readings of a large body moving through Loch Ness have been made on several occasions. There's more on recent Nessie sightings in Loch Ness Monster Death Rumours Denied. Elsewhere on the cryptozoology scene, famed cryptozoologist and author Loren Coleman injects a bit of naughty into the "Noughties" with The Top Ten Sexiest Cryptomundo Images of the '00s. With many images.
The CFZ's 2010 Yearbook
Jon Downes gives us the lowdown on the new issue of the CFZ's annual Yearbook:"Well, the Yearbook is now finished - admittedly, five days after it should have been. It only remains to be seen whether - with the intermitttent broadband that we have at the moment as a result of the inclement weather - if it uploads properly today."
And, here's the contents, with page numbers:
3 Contents
5 Foreword by Jonathan Downes
7 On the Piast by Jonathan Downes
25 A Disquisition into Steller's 'Sea Ape' by David Francazio
41 The Strange Environment, and Stranger Fauna of Lake Titicaca, Bolivia by Richard Muirhead
51 The River Medway Monster and Kent's Coastal Creatures by Neil Arnold
77 The Abominable Snowman by Adam Davies
85 Preliminary Cryptozoological Checklist by Dale Drinnon
127 The Kraken and the Colossal Misunderstanding by Oll Lewis
137 The Gurt Dog Returns by Max Blake
145 Red eye glow: a new explanation by Dr. Karl Shuker
149 Things that should not be: those mysterious out of place alligators by Theo Paijmans
163 Flying snakes and jumping snakes - a worldwide survey by Richard Muirhead
180 Scranton K by Richard Freeman
181 The Monsters Of Scooby-Doo by Neil Arnold
189 CFZ Australia: 2009 Report by Ruby Lang and Mike Williams
193 CFZ USA: 2009 Status Report by Nick Redfern
203 2009: A year in the life of the Centre for Fortean Zoology by Jonathan Downes
215 About the Centre for Fortean Zoology
219 CFZ Press
Monday, January 4, 2010
From The Anomalist
I couldn't, of course, let a new year begin without highlighting for you a few intriguing new posts from our good friends at The Anomalist:
Sylvanic Bigfoot, What's the Story? GhostTheory. Some videos, claims of a secret valley in the Rockies and a claim the valley is peopled by Bigfoot. Javier Ortega carefully avoids any strong opinion of the claims made by Todd Standing that he and his companions know the whereabouts of a multitude of Bigfoot creatures in North America's most storied mountain range. Could Standing's claims be true? Why won't Standing take biologists to this mysterious valley? With videos. Elsewhere, curious remains lead to the report Demon Cat Possible Goat Sucker. With photos.
Cryptid Sighting - Garrett County, MD - 12/16/09 Phantoms & Monsters. A woman living near Grantsville in western Maryland describes what she saw while returning from a holiday party in the early post-midnight hours on December 16. What could the creature be that this lady encountered in western Maryland? That's a question for cryptozoologists, of course. But cryptozoologists don't always get to check out exotic beasts like the one prowling 'round a garbage can in Maryland.
Canadian in Utah to Seek 'Strange Creatures Seldom Seen' Deseret News. Meet John Warms, a retired school teacher who resides in Manitoba, Canada. Warms is on a quest to discover some of the many anomalous creatures he has heard about so he can write a book about them. He also says he once observed a giant beaver in a Canadian waterway and thinks he has discovered some of the 445-pound creatures' lairs. Does a giant beaver, relic of the Pleistocene, inhabit Canadian lakes and streams?
Sylvanic Bigfoot, What's the Story? GhostTheory. Some videos, claims of a secret valley in the Rockies and a claim the valley is peopled by Bigfoot. Javier Ortega carefully avoids any strong opinion of the claims made by Todd Standing that he and his companions know the whereabouts of a multitude of Bigfoot creatures in North America's most storied mountain range. Could Standing's claims be true? Why won't Standing take biologists to this mysterious valley? With videos. Elsewhere, curious remains lead to the report Demon Cat Possible Goat Sucker. With photos.
Cryptid Sighting - Garrett County, MD - 12/16/09 Phantoms & Monsters. A woman living near Grantsville in western Maryland describes what she saw while returning from a holiday party in the early post-midnight hours on December 16. What could the creature be that this lady encountered in western Maryland? That's a question for cryptozoologists, of course. But cryptozoologists don't always get to check out exotic beasts like the one prowling 'round a garbage can in Maryland.
Canadian in Utah to Seek 'Strange Creatures Seldom Seen' Deseret News. Meet John Warms, a retired school teacher who resides in Manitoba, Canada. Warms is on a quest to discover some of the many anomalous creatures he has heard about so he can write a book about them. He also says he once observed a giant beaver in a Canadian waterway and thinks he has discovered some of the 445-pound creatures' lairs. Does a giant beaver, relic of the Pleistocene, inhabit Canadian lakes and streams?
Ronan Coghlan Q&A
Also interviewed by Oll Lewis is one of the most entertaining people in cryptozoology and Forteana: Ronan Coghlan, who I always look forward to hanging out with at the annual Weird Weekend gigs every August in England. Indeed, my wife Dana (who met Ronan in the summer of 2006) memorably describes him as "a lovable hoot"!
Loren Coleman Q&A
The Center for Fortean Zoology's Oll Lewis interviews Loren Coleman about Loren's cryptozoological work, favorite books, how he got involved in cryptozoology and much more. Here's the link.
Neil Arnold: 2 New Posts
Neil Arnold can always be guaranteed upon to come up with good stuff, and here's Neil's two latest:
1. The first on a phantom ape-man;
2. And the second on Neil's new-year's resolution. And what, you may ask, is that resolution? Click here to find out!
1. The first on a phantom ape-man;
2. And the second on Neil's new-year's resolution. And what, you may ask, is that resolution? Click here to find out!
On the Track: The Latest
The latest edition of the CFZ's in-house, online magaziine, On the Track, has just been posted to YouTube. Enjoy!
Ghosts of Cooperstown
This coming weekend (Jan. 8 to 11), I'll be speaking about my book, There's Something in the Woods at the Ghosts of Cooperstown, NY gig, details of which can be found here. If you're coming along, say hello!
Lists of the Crypto-Kind
Loren Coleman provides us with a notable and varied collection of crypto-lists for 2009. Check it out!
Mystery Animals of the Western Isles
Well, the holiday is now well and truly over, so it's back to normal here. And here's wishing everyone a happy new year!So, let's get back to it!
As many of you may know, Jon Downes embarked upon an ambitious project about 18 months ago to publish a series of books (titled The Mystery Animals of the British Isles) that would cover each and every one of the many and varied counties in the British Isles.
The latest is an excellent one titled The Mystery Animals of the British Isles: The Western Isles and is written by Glen Vaudrey.
You can find my review of Glen's book (which covers such critters as sea-serpents, werewolves, big-cats and much more) at my regular Lair of the Beasts column at Mania.com.