What kind of beast crashes through the forest, towering like a tree, hairless and monstrous, with legs so rigid it can’t even kneel? On this episode of Creatures Unknown, we explore the chilling legend of the Stiff-Legged Bear—a man-eating giant said to haunt the forests of North America, spanning Native American folklore across tribes like the Cree, Penobscot, Shawnee, and Iroquois.
We’ll examine its terrifying descriptions, from its immense head and razor-sharp teeth to its invulnerability to human attacks—except for one strange weakness. Then, we’ll trace historical sightings that blur the lines between myth and reality and discuss whether this cryptid could be a misremembered mammoth, an ancient bear, or a cautionary tale woven to keep children out of the woods.
Join us as we unravel the mystery behind an enigmatic legend.
Sources
Stiff-Legged Bear Monsters of Native American Legends
Native American Legends: Katshituashku, the Stiff-Jointed Bear
Great Naked Bear (Nyah-Gwaheh), the monster bear of the Iroquois
Stiff-Legged Bear | It's Something Wiki
Ten Native American Legendary Creatures You Need to Know - World History Encyclopedia.
Music attributions
Bent and Broken (intro)
"Bent and Broken" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Awkward Meeting (outro)
"Awkward Meeting" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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