Top Five Cryptids You Might Find in Illinois

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Cryptids in Illinois

When people think of cryptids, they tend to think of places like Loch Ness or the Appalachian Mountains or the great woods of the Pacific Northwest, but Illinois has had more than it’s fair share of cryptid sightings, as well. Pretty much from one end of the state to the other, there is a chance of seeing something strange in the woods, the sky or the water. Here are five elusive and possibly mythical beasts you have the best chance of seeing in this Midwestern state:

1. Mothman

One cannot think of the giant winged humanoid called mothman without thinking of the collapse of the Silver Bridge in West Virginia. Mothman was sighted in the area many times before the collapse of the bridge. Did he cause it? Was he trying to warn people? And if he is somehow related to disasters, should the people in the Chicago area be worried? Mothman has been sighted in Chicago and the suburbs over 150 times over the last several years. The focal point seems to be O'Hare airport, so if you believe in the mothman disaster theory, you might want to fly out of Midway for a while.

2. Dogman

What is a dogman? A werewolf? A genetically modified super soldier? A wolf who learned to stand on two legs? A bigfoot with a long snout? There are many theories about their nature and origins, but whatever they are, people are seeing them in Illinois and the surrounding states. Your best chance to see a dogman in Illinois may be in Elk Grove Village, but they’ve also been seen in McHenry County, Chicago and further downstate. Wherever you might see one, be careful--these are generally reported to be more violent and aggressive than other cryptids.

3. Bigfoot (Big Muddy Monster)

There have been a few sightings of the familiar tall, hairy creature with the big feet all over the state of Illinois, but perhaps the most famous are the sightings in the southern part of the state in and around Murphysboro and Cairo. The sightings started in 1973 and still continue to this day, but what is special about this particular bigfoot is that he is usually seen covered in mud and slime, earning him the name “Big Muddy Monster.” Other, more traditional bigfoot sightings are often reported in the western half of the state or down in the Shawnee National Forest.

4. Lake Michigan Sea Serpent

It seems like every deep water lake has its sea monster, and so it is with Lake Michigan. Witnesses going as far back as 1817 describe seeing a 30 to 60 foot long eel-like creature swimming the waters of this great lake. Sometimes called “South Bay Bessie”, this monster is sometimes described as having a reptilian head and snake-like body. As with all sea monsters, this one comes complete with distant photos that may or may not show the creature in its slithery glory. Your best bet to see this creature is apparently in the waters around the north suburbs of Chicago.

5. The Enfield Creature

Last and certainly weirdest is the only cryptid on this list that can apparently be found in Illinois and Illinois only...The Enfield Horror. This beast was first seen in 1973 (apparently a big year for cryptids in southern Illinois) by a young boy. The creature was described as having red eyes, claws, grey skin covered in slime and, most notably, three legs. The creature may have followed the boy home, because later that night one of his neighbors saw the thing trying to break into his house. The sightings were also linked to reports of UFO sightings in the area around the same time.

But Wait, There's More...

There are, of course, more cryptids reported in Illinois than just the five listed above. One group that nearly made the list were Thunderbirds, the giant winged creatures that seem to appear randomly throughout the state. Native American legends talk of the Wendigo in and around Illinois as well, although some say that they may be the "Dogmen" that people see from time to time. If you're looking for paranormal phenomena in general, you can't drive more than a few miles without crossing a haunted road, passing a haunted cemetery, or going through an area where a UFO was reported. Illinois is definitely a state with plenty of weirdness for everyone.

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