11 Michigan Cryptids: Appearance, Behavior, and Location

To the wary, Michigan cryptids lurk just around the corner. A shadow merging into the mist, footprints that appear human but are much too large — these traces of mystery linger in the mind when you understand the lore.

Cryptids are outlandish creatures of unproven existence. You might hear stories about a cryptid while sitting around the campfire sharing spine-tingling stories. Or the tales may crop up as friends describe unexplainable, spooky events. 

Here’s a list of 11 Michigan cryptids and what we know about them.

1. Michigan Dogman  

Go for a lonely, moonlight walk in Michigan woods, and you might find yourself prey to the Michigan Dogman. Don’t expect to see a dog, however. The Dogman is a large wolf-human hybrid with ferocious power and a lust for chaos. Rumor says he lives in the woods, with the first reputed sightings in Wexford County.

Steve Cook’s song “The Legend” explains the horror of this myth.

2. Bigfoot

Bigfoot’s influence reaches across cultures. He’s appeared in front of hikers, roaring with rage on remote trails and campsites. Mountain climbers share anecdotes of Bigfoot’s ominous bulk looming in the distance. 

Believers have spotted Bigfoot on every major continent. In the U.S., Michigan folklore says Bigfoot resides in the state’s wooded areas and resembles a massive, hairy ape or man. Some reports put Bigfoot’s height at 15 feet!

3. The Green Squirrel of Amble

Amble, MI, has something few towns can boast of — its own monster. Witnesses claim to have been terrorized by a yelping, putrid green squirrel the size of a car. The Green Squirrel of Amble is another Michigan cryptid exclusive to the state.

If you want to see the Green Squirrel, Michigan cryptid experts say you may want to listen for it. Its haunting sounds whip around lonely corners at night.

4. Mishipeshu 

Mishipeshu is a Native American-born cryptid, a water creature that might be an infernal cross between a cat and the Loch Ness monster. It lives in Lake Superior and is reputed to attack boats and swimmers when it succumbs to its evil nature.

Mishipeshu’s origins are cloudy, but some say that the monster began as a government experiment that went wrong.

5. Waheela

In frigid North American forests, explorers risk coming across the Waheela, another of the Michigan cryptids born from Native American lore. The Waheela is a gigantic, malicious wolf with an unquenchable appetite for blood. Unlike the Michigan Dogman, which looks part human, the Waheela is a pure, monstrous wolf in appearance.

Stories show that the Waheela attacks hunters and trappers who wander near its lair.

6. The Paulding Light 

Many cryptids have distinct, recognizable forms, like the Green Squirrel of Amble’s sickly green fur or Bigfoot’s towering stature. The Paulding Light is more ephemeral. It’s a flickering, distant white light from a wild path in Paulding, MI. 

No one is quite sure what the light represents. Skeptics say it’s just traffic lights; believers claim that the light is ghostly illumination connected to evil in Paulding.

7. The Ada Witch 

Ada, MI, residents have been haunted by the Ada Witch for hundreds of years. She was an ordinary settler until her husband caught her cheating and slayed her in the streets. Now, her ghost is doomed to wander the area forevermore, clad in white and rising from the graveyard.

The Ada Witch doesn’t hurt those who see her, but seeing her ghostly figure can trigger terrible dread.

8. Pressie 

Pressie sightings and reputed attacks center on boats.

Pressie is Mishipeshu’s neighbor in Lake Superior. It’s also a snake-like water monster but lacks Mishipeshu’s cat-like features. Pressie is known for its extra-long body, which might measure over 100 feet. It’s thought to lay coiled at the bottom of the lake until it’s disturbed.

9. Nain Rouge

Detroit’s founder, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, reportedly saw the Nain Rouge and was plagued with trouble for the rest of his life. Sightings of the small red devil have continued since then. 

The Nain Rouge chills the blood with demon-red skin and eyes, bulging horns, and obvious power. Victims may experience physical or mental effects after an encounter.

10. The Melon Heads

The scariest ghosts are those seeking retribution. That’s the case with the Melon Heads, a group of ghostly children haunting Holland, MI. According to the story, a local doctor abused hydrocephalic children. The children’s souls now reside in the town and can’t move on. 

Most sightings place the Melon Heads near densely wooded areas. Like the Ada Witch, these ghosts frighten their victims more than they harm them.

11. The Ogre of Seney

If you love learning about the cryptids of Michigan, you may want to research the story of P.K. “Snapjaw” Small. He was an outdoor worker in Seney who built a reputation by completing wild and disgusting challenges for alcohol. Records claim he would eat animal droppings and willingly dirty himself in public. 

Today, the Ogre of Seney drifts over the streets he once walked as a man. The Ogre is a sad ghost you may hear wailing for more drink.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Jean Faucett/Shutterstock.com