Description
The Hodag is a famous creature from American folklore, especially associated with Rhinelander, Wisconsin. It’s often described as a strange, fierce monster with the head of a frog, thick horns, sharp fangs, the body of a reptile, green eyes, spikes along its back and a long tail with spines. This mythical creature was first discovered in Rhinelander in the late 19th century but may have been roaming the Northwoods before that. The Hodag reportedly breathed fire and smoke and had a pungent smell. He was about 7 feet long, 30 inches tall and weighed in at about 200 pounds.
Behavior
The Hodag is usually described as a dangerous, aggressive forest creature with strange habits.
First Sighting
The Hodag legend started in 1893 when a local lumberjack named Eugene Shepard claimed he captured the beast in the forests around Rhinelander. He and a group of local men used hunting dogs, rifles and squirt guns loaded with “poison water” to attack the Hodag without success. They finally used dynamite to successfully kill the fearsome creature. He even displayed what he said was the creature’s remains.
A few years later Shepard said had captured a live Hodag. He took the captured beast on tour throughout the state including a stop at the Oneida County Fair where attendees paid to see the captured Hodag. This most likely had more visitors than the bearded lady.
Later, Shepard revealed the whole thing was a hoax, and the “creature” was a cleverly built model used to entertain crowds and attract attention. But the legend lived on. For decades, golfers around Rhinelander have blamed the Hodag for disappearing golf balls, and anglers have claimed the beast steals fish off their lines.