Half rabbit, half antelope—and all mischief. This week, we dig into one of America’s most enduring mythological mashups: the jackalope.

Beloved hoax? Ancient cryptid? Viral taxidermy? We trace the jackalope’s strange evolution—from drunken Wyoming prank to echoes of medieval horned hares and Mesoamerican myths. With antlers on its head, a taste for whiskey, and the uncanny ability to mimic human speech, the jackalope straddles the line between folklore and Frankenstein taxidermy.

Plus: its bizarre mating habits, ancient global cousins like the Wolpertinger and Al-Mi'raj, and the virus that might explain everything.

Strap in for antlers, absurdity, and a surprising amount of historical receipts.

Sources

Fantastically Wrong: The Disturbing Reality That Spawned the Mythical Jackalope | WIRED

The majestic jackalope and how it became a folklore legend | CBC Radio

Jackalope | Cryptid Wiki

The Story Of The Jackalope, The Legendary Rabbit With Antlers Said To Roam Wyoming

Jackalope - Wikipedia

Wolpertinger - Wikipedia

Al-Mi'raj - Wikipedia

Lepus cornutus - Wikipedia

Music attributions

Bent and Broken (intro)

"Bent and Broken" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Awkward Meeting (outro)

"Awkward Meeting" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Beneath the pristine waters of Oregon’s Wallowa Lake, something ancient stirs.

This week, we dive into the chilling legend of Wally, the Wallowa Lake Monster—an elusive, hump-backed serpent feared by many. From a tragic love story punished by a furious lake spirit, to 50-foot serpents and monstrous black heads breaking the surface, the sightings span centuries.

Plus: could a crustacean the size of a horse be hiding beneath the waves? And what do Arab folklore and crab-zilla hoaxes have to do with it?

Legends, love, and lake monsters—tune in now.

Sources

The Nez Perce Legend of Wallowa Lake

Wallowa Lake Monster | Cryptid Wiki

Wallowa Lake Freshwater Crustaceans | Cryptid Wiki

Cryptid Profile: Big Wally (AKA: The Wallowa Lake Monster) — THE PINE BARRENS INSTITUTE

Music Attributions

Bent and Broken (intro)

"Bent and Broken" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Awkward Meeting (outro)

"Awkward Meeting" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Small, pale, and disturbingly human—this week on Creatures Unknown, we dive into the twisted legend of the Melon Heads. With bulbous skulls, razor teeth, and a violent streak, these creatures are said to haunt the forests of Michigan, Ohio, and Connecticut.

Were they tortured orphans? Inbred cannibals? Or figments of fevered local lore? From secret asylums to shadowy roads like “Dracula Drive,” each region has its own dark twist on the myth. Join us as we unravel the eerie origins—and possible truths—behind one of America's strangest urban legends.

Sources

Melon Heads | Cryptid Wiki

Melon heads - Wikipedia

Revenge of The Melonheads: Urban Legend or Real Life Horror? (PART 1) | Geauga County Maple Leaf

Revenge of The Melonheads: Urban Legend or Real Life Horror? (PART 2) | Geauga County Maple Leaf

Music Attributions

Bent and Broken (intro)

"Bent and Broken" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Awkward Meeting (outro)

"Awkward Meeting" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cryptid legends captivate us, but not all are what they seem. This episode of Creatures Unknown uncovers some of history’s strangest and most elaborate hoaxes. From the Ozark Howler, a beast fabricated by a college prankster, to the grotesque Feejee (Fiji) Mermaid, a stitched-together abomination P.T. Barnum turned into a sensation—these hoaxes prove belief and deception go hand in hand. But what makes people believe in the unbelievable? And could some of these legends hold a grain of truth? Tune in to uncover some fun hoaxes!

Sources

Category: Hoax | Cryptid Wiki

House of Geekery | Great Cryptozoology Hoaxes

Hangar 1 Publishing | Exploring Famous Cryptid Hoaxes That Captivated the World

Fiji mermaid - Wikipedia

Ozark Howler | Cryptid Wiki

Not Deer | Cryptid Wiki

Drop Bear | Cryptid Wiki

Music attributions

Bent and Broken (intro)

"Bent and Broken" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Awkward Meeting (outro)

"Awkward Meeting" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

A chilling wail in the night. A ghostly figure by the water’s edge. A legend that spans generations and cultures. In this episode of Creatures Unknown, we explore the terrifying story of La Llorona, the vengeful spirit cursed to wander the earth in search of her drowned children.

From her tragic origins in Mexican folklore to eerie encounters reported across the Americas, La Llorona has haunted the dreams of children and adults alike for centuries. Is she a cautionary tale, a restless ghost, or something even more sinister? We’ll dive into regional variations, historical connections to Aztec mythology, and real-life encounters that will send shivers down your spine.

Lock your doors, stay away from the riverbanks, and whatever you do—don’t follow the sound of her cries.

Music attributions

Bent and Broken (intro)

"Bent and Broken" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Awkward Meeting (outro)

"Awkward Meeting" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Sources

La Llorona - Wikipedia

La Llorona | Legend, Description, History, & Facts | Britannica

La Llorona: An Introduction to the Weeping Woman | Folklife Today

"La Llorona in juvenile hall," 1968; article published in Western Folklore, July 1968 | Library of Congress

Deep in the murky swamps of Louisiana lurks the Rougarou, a fearsome, red-eyed beast that blends Cajun folklore with werewolf legend. Said to be a shapeshifter cursed by disobedience or witchcraft, this swamp-dwelling terror stalks those who break the rules of Lent or dare to wander too far into the bayou at night. From eerie encounters to its lasting legacy in festivals, theme parks, and pop culture, we unravel the chilling tales of the Rougarou—along with other Louisiana legends like the Honey Island Swamp Monster and the sinister Grunch. Join us at Creatures Unknown to explore!

Sources

Rougarou | Cryptid Wiki

Rougarou - Wikipedia

Rougarou: The Swamp Werewolf - Terrebonne Parish Library System

Atlas Obscura

Honey Island Swamp monster - Wikipedia

Legends of Louisiana Cyptids

Music attributions

Bent and Broken (intro)

"Bent and Broken" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Awkward Meeting (outro)

"Awkward Meeting" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this fun, new episode of Creatures Unknown, we dive into the bizarre tale of the Enfield Monster, also known as the Enfield Horror. With firsthand accounts of a three-legged, flashlight-eyed creature terrorizing a small Illinois town in 1973, cryptozoologist Loren Coleman joins the hunt to uncover its secrets. Could it be an escaped kangaroo, the Devil Monkey cryptid, or something far more sinister? From alien theories to swamp apes, join us as we unravel the mystery that left researchers, locals, and monster hunters scratching their heads—and occasionally running for their lives.

Sources

Enfield Monster - Wikipedia

Cryptids Fandom - Enfield Horror

Enfield Horror | Cryptid Wiki

The Mystery of the Enfield Monster [Horror IRL]

Cryptid Wiki - Devil Monkey

Honey Island Swamp Monster | Cryptid Wiki | Fandom

Music attributions

Bent and Broken (intro)

"Bent and Broken" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Awkward Meeting (outro)

"Awkward Meeting" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this fun new episode of Creatures Unknown, your hosts read excerpts from "Fearsome Creatures Of The Lumberwoods,” a book written by William T. Cox. It’s a collection of fictional stories about various creatures that supposedly inhabit the forests, deserts, and mountains of North America. From the Gumberoo, to the Hugag, to the Wampus Cat, this compendium covers creatures both fantastical and bizarre. Join us as we have fun with folklore across the United States!

Sources

Fearsome Creatures Of The Lumberwoods: With A Few Desert And Mountain Beasts by William T Cox (Author), Coert DuBois (Illustrator)

Music attributions

Bent and Broken (intro)

"Bent and Broken" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Awkward Meeting (outro)

"Awkward Meeting" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/