The Wendigo - A Creature of Cryptozoology

Basically, the story of the Wendigo serves as vital partaccumulated additional size each time proportionate to
in the culture and the tradition of the tribes that inhabitthe devoured flesh.
the mountain ranges and the forests of the northernDespite the variation in size however, common
United States and Canada. These tribes include thefeatures of this creature include a skeleton-like body
Ojibwa or Saulteaux, the Cree, and the Innu, Naskapi,with the bones pushing out on its dried out ash gray
and the Montagnais.skin, much like that of a corpse. It is said to have
The Wendigo is a man-like beast resembling thesunken eyes, if not glowing hollow sockets, and its
characterizations of the popular zombies that appeardried lips are bloody. They have sharp yellowish fangs
in many horror stories these days. According to theand long slimy tongues. Wendigos are also said to give
stories of the Algonquin people, the Wendigo is aoff a foul odor that resembles a stinking carcass in the
malevolent cannibalistic creature that can possessadvanced stages of decomposition.
human bodies. Based on the legends, people whoBased on the tribal stories, the Wendigos have a
indulge in cannibalism are highly at risk for becomingvoracious appetite for human flesh. They are never full.
Wendigo.Despite having a fresh flesh feast, they will
Wendigos are referred to using a variety of names.continuously look for another victim, and another. The
These include Windigo, Windago, Windiga, Witiko,beasts are said to lurk the forests especially during the
Wee-tee-go, Wihtikow, among other variants. As forwinter period or during times of famine.
its appearance, it seems that Wendigos have variousSome sightings of a mysterious shadowy creature
forms as well.have been reported in the forests of the northern
According to one tribe, the Wendigo appears to haveregions of Minnesota. Tribes often attribute the loss of
a size of a human being, and it can only be seen if youtheir hunters and forest dwellers to the gluttonous
come across it, face-to face. Because it was very thin,characteristic of the Wendigos.
seeing the beast from the side will be entirelyThere is a website that describes the Wendigo and
impossible. However, other stories claim that thenumerous other creatures of Cryptozoology in detail,
Wendigos are not at all paper thin. Instead, they arethis website is called: Unknown Creatures and it may
giant spirits, with an estimated height of at least fifteenbe found at this url:
feet tall.You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter or
The variation in the said height can be linked to anotheron your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety
variant of the story where it is said that the beast willand without modification except for formatting needs
grow larger each time it devours human flesh- theor grammar corrections.