The Ozark Howler

Deep in the Ozark Mountains, where the ridges rise dark against the sky and hollows hide secrets older than memory, something howls in the night. The Ozark Howler - a creature described as a terrifying amalgamation of bear, wolf, and something from nightmare - has been reported across the region for generations.

Description

Witnesses describe the Ozark Howler as:

Size: Approximately the size of a large bear, sometimes described as bigger

Body: Stocky and muscular, covered in dark, shaggy fur

Horns: Large curved horns, sometimes described as ram-like or elk-like

Eyes: Glowing red or orange eyes that reflect light unnaturally

Tail: A long, sometimes described as cat-like tail

Sound: Its call is described as utterly distinctive - a cross between a wolf’s howl and an elk’s bugle, sometimes compared to a human scream. Those who hear it describe it as the most terrifying sound imaginable.

Historical Reports

The Ozark Howler has allegedly been reported since at least the 1800s:

• Native American legends of the region reportedly include references to a horned beast
• Early settlers described encounters with something unlike any known animal
• Reports have continued through the 20th and 21st centuries

Common elements in reports:

• Encounters occur at night, usually in remote locations
• Witnesses often hear the creature before seeing it
• The creature displays apparent intelligence
• It seems to avoid direct confrontation, preferring to intimidate and retreat

Regional Distribution

The Ozark Howler has been reported across the Ozark Plateau:

• Northern Arkansas
• Southern Missouri
• Eastern Oklahoma
• Small areas of eastern Kansas

The mountainous, heavily forested terrain of the Ozarks provides ideal habitat for a creature that wishes to remain hidden.

Possible Explanations

Misidentified Animals: Bears, elk, or mountain lions might be misidentified by frightened witnesses. However, no known animal matches all the described characteristics.

Unknown Species: Cryptozoologists suggest the Howler might be an undiscovered species, perhaps a remnant population of a prehistoric creature.

Folklore: The creature might be purely legendary, stories passed down and embellished through generations.

Deliberate Hoax: Some researchers suggest the Ozark Howler was invented in the early internet era as a collaborative hoax. Posts on early cryptozoology forums may have created the legend.

The Internet Question

Interestingly, detailed descriptions of the Ozark Howler first appeared prominently on the internet in the early 2000s. This has led some to question whether the creature has genuine historical roots or was essentially created online.

Evidence for historical existence:

• References in older regional folklore books
• Oral traditions in Ozark communities
• Reports that predate the internet

Evidence against:

• The most detailed descriptions appeared first online
• Some early internet posts may have been intentional mythology-building
• Physical evidence is entirely absent

Modern Sightings

Reports continue into the present day:

• Trail cameras occasionally capture unexplained images
• Hunters report hearing strange calls in remote areas
• Witnesses describe fleeting encounters on back roads

The difficulty of investigating such reports in the vast Ozark wilderness leaves the question open.

The Sound

Perhaps the most consistent element across reports is the Howler’s call. Those who claim to have heard it describe:

• A sound unlike any known animal
• A quality of terror that seems beyond the acoustic properties of the sound itself
• An immediate, instinctive fear response
• Knowing, somehow, that what made the sound should not exist

Whether the Ozark Howler is real, imagined, or something in between, its legend adds another layer of mystery to the ancient mountains that were already full of secrets.

Sources

• Ozark folklore collections and cryptozoology databases