Slipperyskin is a legendary creature from the folklore of Vermont, particularly associated with the remote woodlands of the Northeast Kingdom. Described as a giant, black, bipedal bear-like monster, Slipperyskin is said to have terrorized settlers, eluded hunters, and caused mischief in the forests and villages of northern Vermont from the mid-18th through the 19th centuries. Whether considered a cryptid, a supernatural trickster, or a misidentified animal, Slipperyskin remains one of Vermont’s most enduring mythical figures.
Origins[]
The name Slipperyskin derives from the creature's reputed ability to evade every trap set for it. According to early European settlers and Indigenous accounts, the animal possessed unusual cunning and agility, slipping through snares and eluding rifle fire with ease. The local Wabanaki people referred to the creature as Wejuk or Wet Skin, a name which also emphasized its elusive and untouchable nature.
One of the earliest written accounts of the creature appears in a journal by a scout named Duluth, who accompanied Roger’s Rangers during their retreat from a 1759 raid on Odanak. Duluth described being “ever being annoid, for naught reason, by a large black bear” which pelted the group with pinecones and nuts. He noted that local Native guides were familiar with the creature and called it Wejuk.
Behavior[]
Slipperyskin was reportedly much larger than a typical black bear and was almost always seen walking upright, leading some to speculate that it was more akin to Bigfoot or another unknown hominid. Eyewitnesses claimed the creature left tracks as large as wagon wheels, moved with unnatural silence, and demonstrated a mischievous intelligence.
Commonly attributed behaviors included:
- Terrorizing livestock
- Knocking over stacked firewood and haystacks
- Throwing rocks into farming equipment
- Interfering with maple sap collection
- Evading capture through deceptive tracking tactics
The creature was often blamed for destruction in rural towns across Vermont and appeared to enjoy frustrating human efforts to catch or outwit it.
Encounters[]
Maidstone: Governor Jonas Galusha attempted to lure and hunt Slipperyskin using a scent-based ruse involving bear musk. Instead, he fled from the creature in panic, reportedly shouting, “Outta my way, boys—I’m bringin’ him back alive!” The plan failed, and the governor later lost the election.
Morgan: A hunting party poised to ambush Slipperyskin was instead greeted by a massive tree stump hurtling down the mountain road, supposedly thrown by the creature. The men abandoned their pursuit.
Westmore: A group of German clergymen picnicking at Lake Willoughby was frightened off by Slipperyskin. One was reported missing but was later found alive; the only "victim" was a batch of trampled cheese strudels.
Victory: Slipperyskin was said to have stampeded cattle, disrupted schoolyards, and confused pursuers by walking backward in its own tracks. Organized hunts failed to capture or kill the creature.
Theories[]
Explanations for Slipperyskin vary. Some suggest it was a particularly clever black bear or a group of such animals whose behaviors were mythologized over time. Others believe the creature fits into the broader category of North American cryptids like Bigfoot.
There is also speculation that Slipperyskin may have been a human—possibly a Wabanaki individual—employing fear tactics to discourage settler encroachment on Indigenous hunting grounds.
A black bear on it's hind legs, a likely explanation
The most logical explination is that slipperyskin is most likely an oversized American Black Bear, which are common in the state of Vermont. Black bears can also stand on its hind legs, which may explain why the creature is reported to be bipedal.
Legacy[]
Though never captured or conclusively identified, Slipperyskin remains an iconic figure in Vermont folklore. Its tales continue to be retold in local histories, cultural festivals, and storytelling circles, symbolizing the wild mystery of the Northeast Kingdom and the thin line between nature and myth.