Sheepsquatch

9 Feb

The legend of Sheepsquatch is a folk tale from the Appalachian region of the United States. According to the legend, Sheepsquatch is a creature about the size of a bear with white fur and big horns.

What is Sheepsquatch?

Sheepsquatch is a big, fluffy, white cryptid that's been spotted across counties in West Virginia, mainly in the southwest.

People say it's about the size of a bear and has a long, pointy head with sharp teeth and horns. It has paw-like hands, similar to a racoon or an opossum, and a long, hairless tail.

It's known for smelling like sulfur, but it might actually be a musky scent from a gland similar to those found in other carnivores.

The most sightings have happened in Boone, Kanawha, Putnam, and Mason counties, with a surge in Boone in the mid-90s.

Sheepsquatch Sightings

The first reported sighting of Sheepsquatch was in 1994. A former sailor claimed to have seen Sheepsquatch breaking through the forest and drinking from a creek. They watched it for a bit before it went into the brush.

That same year, two kids saw it while playing in their yard and described it as a big white bear that stood up on its hind legs. The creature got scared by the kids and ran off, breaking tree branches as it went.

More sightings occurred in 1995. A couple spotted Sheepsquatch sitting in a ditch by the side of the road. They stopped their car to get a closer look and saw that it was similar to previous descriptions, but with four eyes.

This time, the creature didn't run away. Instead, it jumped out of the ditch and attacked the car. The couple drove away fast and later noticed big scratches on the side of their car where the beast had attacked.

In 1999, a couple of campers were hanging out in the forest at night near Boone County, around a bonfire. They heard some snorting and shuffling around the camp, like an angry bear, but it didn't come into the light of the fire right away. Suddenly, Sheepsquatch charged out of the darkness at the campers. They freaked out and ran back to their house, with Sheepsquatch chasing after them. The creature stopped at the edge of the forest, let out a terrifying scream, and then headed back into the woods. The next day, the campers went back to the campsite and saw that it was all torn up, like someone had plowed it for gardening.

In Fulks Run, Virginia in 2105, Sheepsquatch was seen again in the Appalachia forests. Six campers who were spending the night in the woods saw it close to midnight. They describe it as being around 8-9 feet tall with shoulders about 4-5 feet wide. One of the campers first spotted it on top of a nearby hill, crouched down. Then it stood up and started running down the hill towards the campers, but there was a river separating them.

The Sheepsquatch tried to cross the river, which made the campers panic even more. They watched as it emerged from the water looking like a huge white dog standing on two legs. Then, all of a sudden, a loud screech was heard from a couple of miles away and the Sheepsquatch looked up, revealing its face in the moonlight. The campers were scared as they saw it let out a whimper and then took off running in the opposite direction of the noise. The campers quickly packed up and left, and only told the locals about it because they were afraid of being made fun of if they told the authorities.

Possible explanations for Sheepsquatch Sightings

There are several possible explanations for these sightings of Sheepsquatch:

Misidentification: People may mistake other large animals, such as bears or coyotes, for a Sheepsquatch, especially if they are seen at a distance or at night.
Folklore: The idea of a Sheepsquatch may have originated as a folktale or legend and has been passed down through generations. People may see things that fit their expectations based on these stories, leading them to believe they have seen a Sheepsquatch.
Hoaxes: Some Sheepsquatch sightings may be hoaxes, created for fun or to gain attention. This can be difficult to prove, as the people who claim to have seen the creature may sincerely believe that they did.
Psychogenic illness: Some people may have experienced hallucinations or delusions that led them to believe they saw a Sheepsquatch. This can be caused by a variety of psychological and physiological factors.
Undiscovered species: In rare cases, Sheepsquatch sightings may be the result of an undiscovered species of animal that has yet to be scientifically documented.