I Hope I Don't Run Across These In the States! Quiz

No, it's not the Loch Ness Monster, but it's close in appearance.

Champ is a famous monster that supposedly lives in Lake Champlain, a long lake between Vermont and New York. For centuries, people have reported seeing a creature in the water that looks like a giant serpent or an aquatic dinosaur. Native Abenaki stories spoke of a strange lake monster long, long ago.

Over the years, the stories have gained momentum with reported sightings, blurry photos, and television shows. Scientists, for the most part, attribute Champ to being a huge fish, a log, or a trick of light on water. Whatever it is, Champ has become a big part of Vermont culture.

If you see some glowing red eyes in West Virginia, a disaster could be heading your way.

Mothman is a famous unexplained creature who inhabits the area around Point Pleasant, West Virginia. It is said to be a tall, dark, winged figure with brightly glowing red eyes. It can fly extremely fast. It likes to hang around an abandoned TNT plant from WWII.

Mothman is associated with impending disasters. This ties back to the sightings of it right before the tragic Silver Bridge collapse in 1967 which resulted in the deaths of almost 50 people. Some people believe it is a supernatural warning, while skeptics say it is a very large bird (like a crane) in very poor lighting. Today, the legend is a big part of the local culture and Mothman even has its own festival and huge statue.

Does Bigfoot have a relative in Arkansas?

The Fouke Monster is also called the Boggy Creek Monster. It is a Sasquatch-type creature that is said to roam the swamps and forests around Fouke, Arakansas, near Texarkana. People describe it as very large at 10 feet (3 m) tall and weighing around 800 pounds (362 kg). It is covered with shaggy hair and has a terrible smell. It leaves behind huge footprints.

The legend became famous in the 1970s after several sightings and then the cult movie called "The Legend of Boggy Creek". Some people firmly believe something mysterious is roaming the swamps. Skeptics say it is a mis-identified large animal or simply overactive imagination.

There's definitely one dog you don't want to run across in Maryland!

The Snarly Yow is a terrifying creature that lives in the western part of the state, especially on the old National Road (Route 40) near Boonsboro. It is described as a massive, ghostly black dog with glowing eyes, huge teeth, and a menacing growl. It prowls the mountain passes in the area where it will appear out of nowhere. It has been said to have terrified travelers (whether on horseback or car) for over 200 years.

Some of the Appalachian legends say that bullets can pass right through it because it is a spirit animal and not flesh and blood. Many experts say the tale is likely coming from old German immigrant folklore, as the area was heavily settled by that culture. The old stories than got mixed with mountain ghost lore and the Snarly Yow became part of the community legend.

The Jersey Devil does not live off of a specific exit number on the New Jersey turnpike, but instead inhabits the dark forests of the Pine Barrens there.

According to local legend, a woman named Mother Leeds lived there in the 1700s and, when she discovered she was pregnant for the 13th time, cried out "Let it be the devil!". The poor baby was then born as a winged monster with hooves, claws, and a horse-like head. It flew off into the woods.

Over the years, many people have claimed to have heard eerie screams or to have seen a flying creature in the Pine Barrens. Scientists think the legend grew from folklore combined with mis-identified animals, as well as a good dose of story telling. Whatever the case, the Jersey Devil became a key part of New Jersey culture.

Is it an iguana or the Frogman?

The Loveland Frogman is a strange creature from Loveland, Ohio, that is described as a fairly short human-like frog. It is said to be about 4 feet (1.2 m) tall and to travel upright on two legs. It is thought to inhabit the riverbanks of the Little Miami River. The first sightings of it were around 1950 when a man saw it near the road. Then in the 1970s several more sightings occurred, including one by some police officers.

Some of the reports claimed the creature carried a wand and made sparks appear, which added to the mystery. Skeptics believe the sightings were probably large iguanas that were escaped pets. However, as late as 2016, thanks to a "Pokemon Go" player, it had been spotted. It has become a beloved part of Ohio culture and was even made the state's official cryptid in 2026.

Anybody up for a Hodag festival?

The Hodag is a creature that supposedly lives around the Rhinelander, Wisconsin area and calls the woods there its home. It is said to look like an odd mixture with the head of a frog, a smiling elephant-like face, thick legs with giant claws, a spiky back, and a spear-tipped tail.

The legend started in the 1890s when a lumberjack named Eugene Shepard claimed he had actually captured a creature such as this while he was on the job. He exhibited it for a bit before admitting it was a hoax and made from wood, ox horns, and hide. People, however, loved the story so much that the Hodag became an entity unto itself and became part of the culture. Every year the area hosts a large four day country music festival honoring the Hodag (and country performers).

Is Bigfoot's cousin now traveling the Mississippi River?

Momo is the nickname for the Missouri Monster. This is a Sasquatch-like creature that lives near river towns on the Mississippi, including the town of Louisiana. In that town, in the 1970s, two women were enjoying a picnic on a hill when they spotted Momo. He was described as a 7 foot (2.1m) tall, ape-like beast with a pumpkin shaped head, thick black hair, and a putrid odor.

Later witnesses would say sometimes it carried a dead dog under its arm, making the stories even more scary. Newspapers and television quickly turned it into a legend. Skeptics believe the sightings were probably hoaxes or pranks, but the creature became part of Missouri folklore.

Let's hope the Honey Island Swamp Monster does not interfere with Mardi Gras!

The Honey Island Swamp Monster lives in the dark swamps not far from New Orleans, Louisiana. Witnesses describe it as a large, hairy, ape-like creature with glowing eyes and a very foul smell. It roams around the deep marshes and cypress forests of the area. The legend became very famous in the late 1960s when a local man claimed he found strange, large footsteps and said he even filmed the strange being.

Some people believe it could be a hidden swamp-dwelling animal similar to Bigfoot. Skeptics, however, think it is likely a large bear or some kind of escaped animal. The swamp itself, with its eerie, dark atmosphere adds to the imagination. The monster has become one of Louisiana's most famous cryptid legends.

The Lizard Man is a danger to vehicles!

The Lizard Man is a strange, reptile-like creature that hangs out in the swamps and wetlands near Bishopville, South Carolina. The legend became famous in the 1980s when several people reported seeing a tall green creature with glowing red eyes, scales, and claws. It also supposedly had amazing strength. One teenager claimed the creature attacked his car, and afterward people found scratches and bite marks on various vehicles in the area.

News spread the story across the country, making the Lizard Man a famous swamp dweller. Skeptics believe the damage was probably just vandalism or normal animal encounters. The legend, however, took off and the creature is now part of the South Carolina lore.