The Bear Lake Monster is a cryptid appearing in local folklore near Bear Lake, on the Utah–Idaho border. The myth originally grew from articles written in the 19th century by Joseph C. Rich, a Mormon colonizer in the area, purporting to report second-hand accounts of sightings of the creature. However, he later recanted the stories. In recent years the monster has been considered a tourist attraction. The last reported sighting was in 2007.
Description[]
The Beast of Bear Lake is often described as being at least 40 feet long and with short, but powerful legs. The beast was known to wait for its victims by the shores and then pull them in. It is also known to attack unlucky swimmers in the lake. It is reported as grayish greenish with the head of an alligator. A man, who appeared on Monsters and Mysteries in America, claims to have seen this monster in 2007.
Sightings[]
It goes that he was riding in his boat to go check some fishing lines at night when he heard a growl like sound. He looked to his right and saw it looking at him. It just went in the water. There is the chance that people could confuse the monster with a large alligator. However, this is unlikely due to the fact that Utah and Idaho are too cold for an alligator.
Showings[]
The Bear Lake monster also appears in Animal Planet's Lost Tapes drama series, in which it is depicted as similar to a crocodile or a mosasaur. Lost Tapes also states that in one legend Pecos Bill fought the monster for days until he finally defeated the creature. The show also included a group of girls who were staying over in tents beside the lake being attacked.
In Monsters and Mysteries in America, it shows the latest account in 2007.
Possible Suspects[]
Paddlefish - Paddlefish are one of the largest fishes in America. A population may have made it into this lake and people mistakenly thought it was a monster. Someone may have turned paddlefish out into the lake, which has suitable temperatures for a paddlefish to survive in.[1]
Sturgeon - Sturgeon can also get to a large size and are reptilian in appearance. Someone may have turned one out into the lake, where it could get very large. Sturgeon could also survive in the lake's conditions[2] and they can live for over 100 years.
Elk - A herd of elk swimming through a section of the lake could possibly be mistaken for a sea monster.
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