Post by Joanna on Oct 15, 2013 21:19:23 GMT -5
Real Wolfmen, Beast of Bray Road, Werewolves, Dogmen and Other Upright Canids
Twenty-plus years and hundreds of sightings after the first sightings of the Beast of Bray Road, the “wolfman” of Wisconsin’s Walworth, Jefferson and Racine Counties, has been discussed on TV shows such as Monsterquest, Lost Tapes, Mystery Hunters, numerous local TV/radio programs, and has even been featured on SyFy’s In Search Of. Since the sightings became widely known, there have been more than a dozen reports from Rock, Walworth and Jefferson Counties, dating as far back as 1963.
Whether the sightings are old or just happened, and no matter the type of creature, the more information we have, the better the chances that we can eventually put the pieces of the puzzle together. And for the record, I do not believe these are traditional werewolves! As far as I’m concerned, their true nature is yet to be determined.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. The most frequently asked question, paws down, is: What is the Beast, really? Natural animal, or supernatural?
Answer: I don’t know. We simply don’t have enough evidence. And there is a high probability that everyone is not always seeing the same thing. There could be a biological, physical animal seen by some, while others see phantoms or supernatural entities from a variety of sources. A few may be misidentifications or hoaxes.
2. Second most frequently asked question is: Have you seen the creature?
Answer: No, although I would like to. I’ve hiked many Kettle Moraine Trails, camped out in sightings areas and driven many miles. But to my knowledge, no one, with the exception of a handful of previous witnesses, has been able to go out and actually see the creature. However, I saw the upright, grey-furred back of something 7-feet-tall while on location with Monsterquest in 2006. This is detailed in my book The Michigan Dogman,Werewolves and Other Unknown Canines Across the USA.
3. What time of day is the Manwolf most frequently seen?
Answer: Most sightings occur between 10:30 pm and 5 a.m., but a few have occurred either at twilight,dawn or in daylight hours.
4. What time of year is the Manwolf most frequently seen?
Answer: Sightings occur all year round, but peak in Wisconsin between August and October when high cornfields facilitate covert movement.
5. Where can I camp out on Bray Road to see the werewolf?
Answer: Nowhere. The land on Bray Road is privately owned and is under increasing development. People who see you on their land will call the sheriff and report you for trespassing. You must obtain permission from landowners to walk in the fields or woods. You’d be better off camping in one of the many Kettle Moraine State Forest campgrounds and hiking the more remote trails. By the way, stealing the “Bray Road” sign is not cool, it’s criminal and disrespectful to the town.
6. Is the creature often seen near cemeteries?
Answer: I do find more and more sightings are near cemeteries and old sacred burial and effigy mound sites — also crossroads, churches and military areas. Water and some type cover like brush or cornfields are the most consistent characteristics of sighting areas.
7. Is the Beast of Bray Road a Native American legend?
Answer: Many tribes have legends about people turning into wolves or dogs, such as the Navaho Skinwalker or Cree Skinchanger. There is a mistaken notion that the creature might be a Wendigo, but these mythic beasts are usually described as 20-foot-tall skeletal creatures made partly of ice and relate to starvation and cannibalism. See my books for detailed discussions of relevant Native American beliefs.
8. How long have the sightings been going on?
Answer: If you don’t count old loup-garou legends from places like Green Bay or Detroit, the earliest reported incident happened in 1936 outside Jefferson, Wisconsin.
9. Does the creature hurt humans?
Answer: Contrary to a werewolf slasher video that uses my title, The Beast of Bray Road, I do not have a single report of any human being injured by a Manwolf beyond one man in Quebec who was scratched deeply on his hip and side, although many people have been thoroughly frightened by its aggressive actions and posture. It seems to be more of a scavenger and hunter of small game and deer. Its main aim when encountered is to get out of sight as quickly as possible.
10. Can you send me all your files/all your reports for a specific state/take me werewolf hunting/answer all my questions about the Beast or werewolves?
Answer: I deeply regret there is only one of me, while there are many such requesters. I’m sorry but it just is not possible for me to assist in any of these cases. Besides, my files are a mess!
11. How do I report a sighting?
Answer: Include as much information as possible, including date (or closest estimate), time of day, weather conditions, lighting conditions, location, terrain or environment of location, what you were doing when sighting occurred, type of vehicle (if driving), direction in which you were traveling, whether you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, what the creature was doing when spotted, which direction it appeared from if moving, whether it was on two legs or four, approximate height and weight, color, fur description, head shape, ears, eyes, teeth or claws if visible, if tail was seen, shape of legs, any sounds or smells, any thoughts or emotions that occurred to you during the sighting, how you felt afterward, whether you saw creature leave the scene, any interactions between you and the creature, whether you returned to check for evidence such as footprints or hair, and whether you have seen other unusual phenomena such as ghosts or UFOs. If you can make a simple sketch of the beast, this would be very helpful.
Source: Linda Godfrey, The Beast of Bray Road.