The Mothman: Mysterious Creature That Haunted West Virginia

Mothman is a humanoid creature with wings and glowing red eyes that was reportedly seen in West Virginia in the 1960s. Some people believe it was a harbinger of doom, while others think it was just a misidentified bird or a hoax. In this blog post, I will explore the history, sightings, and theories of the Mothman, and provide some references for further reading.

History

The Mothman legend began on November 12, 1966, when five men in Clendenin, West Virginia, were digging a grave and saw a large figure flying over their heads. They described it as a “brown human being”.

Three days later, on November 15, two young couples from Point Pleasant, West Virginia, Roger and Linda Scarberry, and Steve and Mary Mallette, encountered a white-winged creature about seven feet tall near an abandoned munitions plant. They said it had bright red eyes that hypnotized them, and that it chased their car at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. They also said it was clumsy on the ground and made a screeching sound. They reported their sighting to the local police and newspaper.

After these incidents, more sightings of the Mothman were reported in the Point Pleasant area over the next year. Some witnesses were credible, such as two volunteer firefighters who saw “a very large bird with large red eyes”. Others were more dubious, such as a woman who claimed the Mothman visited her at home and spoke to her telepathically.

The Mothman became a national sensation, attracting media attention and curiosity seekers. Some people speculated that it was an alien, a mutant, or a supernatural being. Others suggested that it was a sandhill crane or a heron that had wandered out of its natural habitat.

The Mothman sightings came to an abrupt end on December 15, 1967, when the Silver Bridge collapsed into the Ohio River, killing 46 people. Some people believed that the Mothman was somehow connected to the tragedy, either as a cause or a warning. Others saw it as a coincidence or a distraction from the real causes of the bridge failure.

Theories

The Mothman has inspired many books, films, documentaries, and festivals over the years. It has also generated many theories and explanations for its origin and nature. Here are some of the most popular ones:

• The Mothman was a sandhill crane or a heron that had migrated to West Virginia due to environmental changes or human interference. These birds can grow up to six feet tall and have red patches around their eyes. They can also make loud noises and fly fast. However, this theory does not account for the size, shape, behavior, and intelligence of the Mothman reported by some witnesses.
• The Mothman was an experimental military aircraft or a secret government project that was tested in the area near the munitions plant. Some people have suggested that it was a drone, a balloon, or a glider that had lights or reflectors attached to it. However, this theory does not explain why the Mothman would chase cars or communicate with people.
• The Mothman was a paranormal entity or an interdimensional being that manifested itself in West Virginia for unknown reasons. Some people have linked it to UFOs, Men in Black, psychic phenomena, ancient prophecies, or occult rituals. However, this theory lacks any scientific evidence or logical consistency.
• The Mothman was a hoax or a mass hysteria that was fueled by media hype and public imagination. Some people have claimed that they fabricated or exaggerated their sightings of the Mothman for fame or fun. Others have suggested that they were influenced by psychological factors such as fear, stress, or suggestion. However, this theory does not account for the sincerity and credibility of some witnesses or the physical traces left by the Mothman.

Cool Merch!

If you feel like supporting us and want a cool cryptid shirt, grab one from our collection below. We sell through Amazon under the brand FunWearVm.

References

• https://nerdist.com/article/mothman-why-we-are-so-obsessed/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothman