Snallygaster: North American Folklore

A dragon-like beast local to central Maryland, the Snallygaster is said to be equipped with enormous wings and razor sharp teeth. Early descriptions of the creature report it as a half-reptile, half-bird beast. The beak holding the dangerous teeth is metallic, and according to legend, the wingspan of the Snallygaster can range from 20 to 30 feet. Somer early reports of the Snallygaster state that it had tentacles similar to that of an octopus, and most reports state that the Snallygaster is one-eyed, like a cyclops. The Snallygaster is feared for its knack for carrying away children and livestock in the clutches of its sharp talons.

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Because of these huge wings, some who believe in the Snallygaster tend to think that it is the offspring of the prehistoric pterodactyl, that has somehow survived to modern day. Others, who are more inclined to believe it is a monster from the depths of hell, paint seven-pointed stars on the sides of their barns and houses to keep the Snallygaster away. Sightings of the Snallygaster are many, and one legend states that a roosting Snallygaster left behind an egg the size of a barrel in the rafters of a man’s barn.

Some consider the dreadful Snallygaster to be a fearsome critter, but it’s origins predate the lumberjack folklore of North America by some time. Sightings of the Snallygaster begin as early as the 1730s when the area of Maryland with the most Snallygaster activity was first settled. The Snallygaster, while local to Maryland, has been sighted in Appalachia, with the Snallygaster deeply embedded in West Virginian folklore.

The Snallygaster is one of America’s most famed mythological beasts. In the early 20th century, the Smithsonian offered a cash prize for anyone who could kill the beast and bring them the hide. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, hunter that he was, had it on his list of kills he wanted to make.

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