What is the Pukwudgie Cryptid?

Though their existence is widely debated across the globe, cryptids are considered elusive beings of folklore and urban legend. Regardless of their physical existence, these creatures embody the mere extent of human fascination with fear and the unknown. To continue, one of the most common cryptids in the United States is the Delaware pukwudgie. With origins tracing back to early Native American fables, these creatures are something you simply have to see to believe! Now, let’s head into the hidden world of the pukwudgie to explore the tales surrounding this fantastical forest creature.

Origins of the Pukwudgie

For background, the pukwudgie goes by many other names including the Puk-Wudjie, Bokwjimen, or Puck-wudj-ininee. It is is a creature of legend found in folklore told by various Native American tribes. They are most predominately involved with the Lenape and Wampanoag tribes of Massachusetts and southern New England. The Algonquian tribe of the Great Lakes region have many tales involving this cryptid as well. In their language, “pukwudgie” translates to “little man of the woods that vanishes.” Additionally, the pukwudgie are cryptids found in various Algonquian-speaking tribes in the northeastern United States, like the Abenaki. With so many tribes telling stories of these creatures, it comes as no surprise how differently each group describes them. Nevertheless, the pukwudgie cryptid has impactful significance in Native American beliefs and cultural traditions in all of these indigenous communities.

To continue, tales of the pukwudgie go as far back as 9,000 years ago. This is around the time when the Wampanoag told the first story of this mysterious entity. These early accounts claimed this cryptid was one that once lived in harmony with humans, but eventually turned against us. The exact reason for this is varied, but there are two main explanations. Some urban legends claim humans betrayed them, making them angry. Alternatively, other stories describe pukwudgies as sneaky creatures whose entire plan was to deceive us from the very start.

Characteristics and Traits of This Cryptid

According to lore told by the Abenaki people, along with other northeastern Great Lakes tribes, pukwudgie are generally harmless beings. Widely considered to be tricksters, they are thought to only bring harm to those who mistreat or disrespect them. Tales often depict this cryptid playing pranks, causing harm, or making people lose their way in the forest. Besides that, they also seem to always hate cultural heroes by default, like the giant Maushop and his wife Granny Squannit — two mythological beings created by the Wampanoag and Mohegan tribes of New England. According to Wampanoag folklore, this is allegedly because they were extremely jealous of all the attention and admiration Maushop received from humans. In hindsight, this could be the reason why the pukwudgie started causing trouble for humans!

For some, the pukwudgie is considered a guardian of the land, while for others, it is an entirely mischievous or even malevolent entity. The Wampanoag tribe, for example, believes these cryptids are capable of both good and evil. In certain lore, the pulwudgie help guide lost or injured individuals through the forest to safety, as long as they show respect to the land. It is important to note that as more Native Americans began to convert to Christianity, their myths evolved over time, too. Because of this, some classic stories involving this cryptid changed entirely. In some places, new stories were told that placed the pukwudgie creatures at the root of all the evil, wrongdoing, and misfortune the native people experienced.

Physical Features of This Cryptid

Now that we know the general personality of this cryptid, let’s explore more of what they are supposed to look like. Using Native American stories and modern-day sightings, we can piece all of the information together to paint a clearer picture of the pukwudgie species. To start, almost all Native American accounts described this creature as goblin-like, standing no taller than about three feet in height. They walk upright on two legs with a dramatic, hunched-over stance. The pukwudgie is also believed to display both human and troll-like characteristics, such as large ears, a big nose, and smooth, grayish skin. Some legends depict the Pukwudgie with spikes or quills on their back — exactly like a porcupine.

According to native legends, pukwudgie have the supernatural ability to appear and disappear at will. They can also shape-shift into other forest animals at will. This is sometimes used for protection, while other times this skill is used to play mischievous tricks on people. Depending on the urban legend you follow, they can have a whole host of magical powers, like being able to make humans forget things or the ability to kill them with a “death stare”! Along with that, some pukwudgies are said to lure people to their deaths by leading them off cliffs. Some claim this cryptid launches poison arrows and sets destructive fires. Since the pulwudgie can be good or evil, Native Americans insist that it is best to simply avoid them entirely.