Creature Feature Friday: The Snallygaster
Maryland, home to the majestic Chesapeake Bay, delicious crab cakes, and a fearsome winged creature. Enter the Snallygaster, a cryptid that has captured the imagination and fear of Marylanders for centuries. Like a creature out of Lewis Carroll literature, the Snallygaster is part dragon, part bird, and 100% legendary cryptid.
1) The Original Mix and Match: The Snallygaster is what happens when a designer gets carried away with the "combine animals" feature. With a beak equipped with razor-sharp teeth, tentacles that could give an octopus a run for its money, and wings that suggest it could be a distant relative of the dragon, this creature is nature’s own version of a Swiss Army knife. Legends say it swooped down from the skies to snatch up the unsuspecting. Children, pets, and even the odd tipsy tavern-goer – no one was safe. The lesson here? Maybe don't wander around Maryland's more scenic spots alone, and always be prepared to duck and cover.
2) The Fear Factor: Prohibition's Unlikely Ally The Snallygaster's heyday in the 19th and early 20th centuries coincided with a time when Maryland was rife with moonshiners. Local lore suggests that the creature had a particular taste for alcohol, making it either the worst enemy or best friend of bootleggers, depending on who you ask. Some say the legend was encouraged by them to keep nosy neighbors and law enforcement at bay. "Sorry, officer, I can't show you around the property. Snallygaster might get you." Effective? Absolutely. Ethical? Debatable.
3) The Snallygaster's Arch-Nemesis - The Dwayyo: Every hero (or anti-hero) needs an arch-nemesis, and for the Snallygaster, it's the Dwayyo, another cryptid said to roam the forests of Maryland. Reports describe the Dwayyo as a werewolf-like creature, making it a classic case of aerial vs. terrestrial supremacy. Think of it as Maryland's version of Godzilla vs. Kong, but with more fur and feathers and less Tokyo destruction. Local legend has it that their battles were epic – or at least as epic as undocumented skirmishes can be.
Image from Blue Ridge Country.
4) Teddy Roosevelt: The Presidential Hunter The Snallygaster legend even caught the attention of President Theodore Roosevelt, who, according to some accounts, considered postponing an African safari to hunt the beast. That's right, the Bull Moose himself supposedly thought that tracking down a winged monster in Maryland was on par with facing lions in Africa. While he never did embark on this particular monster hunt, it's amusing to consider how American history might have changed if he had. Imagine the headlines: "President Bags Beaked Beast: Peace in Maryland Restored."
5) A Victim of the Modern Age As with many cryptids, sightings of the Snallygaster have decreased over the years. Skeptics say it's due to the rise of smartphones and the internet – it's harder for a giant monster to go unnoticed when everyone has a camera in their pocket. Others believe the Snallygaster has simply gone into hiding, biding its time until the world is ready to believe again. Perhaps it's out there, somewhere, sipping on stolen moonshine and reminiscing about the good old days of stealing children and battling the Dwayyo.
The Snallygaster legend is a fascinating reminder of the rich tapestry of American folklore, especially Maryland's unique contribution. Whether it's a cautionary tale to keep folks out of the woods at night or a humorous anecdote to share over crab cakes, the legend of the Snallygaster endures. So next time you're in Maryland, keep one eye on the sky. You never know what might be looking back.
