ABOUT FEARSOME CRITTERS

A fearsome critter is any of various outlandish, tall tale animals originating in the oral traditions of North America, especially in the jests and tall tales spread by forest tradesmen, around the turn of the twentieth century.

    Over a hundred years ago, a rich tradition was formed around certain mythical animals, collectively called fearsome critters. Stories of fearsome critters were carried by early lumberjacks, or other tradesmen, by word of mouth in the form of tall tales and practical jokes. The origins and characteristics of fearsome critters are largely overlooked today but to yesterday's logger these creatures formed an integral part of a culture forged in logging camps far away from society. Many fearsome critters were use as a way to induct new recruits at logging camps. Veteran loggers would often ease inexperienced woodsmen, referred to as “greenhorns,” into actually believing that such creatures existed. Frequently, these greenhorns were sent on fool’s errands, such as trying to catch the elusive snipe or find the nest of the upland trout. After a few fruitless hours in the frigid cold, these novice loggers would inevitably get the joke and return to camp.
    Fearsome critters played another important role as entertainment in tall tales. In an age when television was nonexistent, after a long day’s work, loggers would swap stories in logging camp bunkhouses about encounters from squonks, gumberoos, hodags, etc. Often, these stories were collaborated with unexplained occurrences throughout the work week. Trees shattered by lightning or wind damage could be attributed to the work of the splintercat or strange noises might be blamed on the treesqueaks. However, the range of phenomenon fearsome critters could account for ranged widely from simple mishaps to deeper issues. The hidebehind, for instance, was used both to justify paranoia, common in the isolated wilderness, and to explain why a logger might fail to return to camp.
    The characteristics of fearsome critters mark several interesting departures from the legendary creatures of classic mythology. As for many fearsome critters, the emphasis is placed principally on their behavioral attributes, even if little information is given of their physical appearance. This trait is especially prominent in those fearsome critters named specifically for their disposition such as: the hang-down, hidebehind, or come-at-a-body. Interestingly, some fearsome critters, if they could exist, might otherwise be mistaken for actual animals if not for acting contrary to their accustomed nature. To illustrate, the goofus is a bird that flies backwards because it is far more curious in seeing where it has been than where it is going. Others fearsome critters seemed created with attributes intended for the sole aim of utterly dooming the animal. The sidehill gouger is one such beast with legs of uneven lengths trapping forever in an endless, circular paths around hillsides. While the hugag is prevented from grazing due to its long, upper lip and laying down due to its jointless legs.