The Jersey Devil is real. That’s what I believed as someone living in New Jersey and specifically near the Pine Barrens; the woods that the Devil supposedly roams.
Within the borders of every state awaits a monster. Some states have multiple. While all are dangerous, some will not let you escape. We have each been ranked on a survivability index. The higher the number, the greater your chance of making it home. In other words, 10 = safest, and 1 = dead meat.
Alabama – The White Thang is a humorously named, white-furred cryptid with glowing red eyes that is said to prowl Alabama’s forests. It has a Survivability Index of 7/10. So spooky, yet elusive, that you’ve got a decent shot of making it home.
Alaska – The Qalupalik is an evil Inuit mermaid spirit that inhabits the frigid waters off Alaska and drags victims to their deaths, earning it a chilling 1/10 survival rating. If you avoid going into frozen waters off Alaska, you should be good.
Arizona – The Mogollon Monster is a reported Bigfoot-like creature said to stalk the mountains and forests of central and eastern Arizona, earning a low 2/10 survival rating against this massive and elusive beast. He’d be a good match for the Boggy Creek monster.
Arkansas – The Boggy Creek Monster is a hairy, swamp-dwelling Sasquatch relative that has been spotted near Fouke, Arkansas, and is said to emit a creepy, nocturnal howl, resulting in a meager 3/10 chance of survival. You can see it on weekends selling RVs off 71.
California – Freddy Krueger is the dream-stalking killer with a clawed glove who murders teens in their sleep, earning a 3/10 survival rating against this nightmare slayer.
Colorado – The Tommyknockers are mischievous mine-dwelling creatures from Colorado folklore who inhabit old mines and play tricks on miners. However, their pranks can turn dangerous, giving them a moderately threatening 5/10 survival rating. I’m more into a dry humor than pranks tbh.
Connecticut – Annabelle is a supposedly haunted doll kept in an occult museum that is said to be possessed by a demonic entity, able to move on its own and cause harm, giving it a 3/10 survival rating. The only cryptid with a lower survivability index is Michael Skakel
Delaware – The home of many credit card companies (13 % Human – with a 1/10 survivability). If this creates a sink its teeth into you, you’re done.
Florida – The Skunk Ape is a foul-smelling Sasquatch-like cryptid said to roam the swamps of Florida, giving it a low 2/10% survival chance.
Georgia – The Altamaha-ha is a Loch Ness-style river monster inhabiting Georgia’s Altamaha River, earning a moderate 5/10 survival rating.
Pele is the Hawaiian volcano goddess known for her fiery temper, which gives her a very low 2/10 survival rating. (not pictured. The photographer made her angry.”
Idaho – The Idaho Water Babies are a legendary group of tiny, fish-like humanoids said to inhabit Payette Lake in Idaho, who allegedly grab swimmers to drown them in revenge, earning them a threatening 2/10 survival rating.
Illinois – The Enfield Monster is a bizarre, orangutan-like creature with glowing red eyes reportedly sighted in Enfield, Illinois, in 1973 that attacked a young boy before disappearing into the night, earning an ominous 2/10 survival rating.
The Beast of Busco is a giant snapping-turtle creature first sighted in Indiana in 1949, earning it a 5/10 chance of survival.
Iowa – The Van Meter Visitor is a mysterious, horned, man-bat creature covered in armor that terrorized the town of Van Meter, Iowa, in 1903, earning a moderate 5/10 survival rating due to its terrifying appearance and unknown capabilities.
Kansas – Sinkhole Sam is a worm-like creature said to inhabit a portion of Inman Lake in Kansas known as “The Sinkhole” — it is also known as the “Foopengerkle” though there’s no solid explanation of what that might have meant, giving it a mysterious yet moderately threatening 5/10 survival rating.
Kentucky – The Hopkinsville Goblins are small extraterrestrial creatures with glowing yellow eyes who supposedly terrorized a Kentucky family in 1955, earning a moderate 5/10 survival rating against their reported cosmic weaponry.
Louisiana – The Rougarou is a cursed, ravenous werewolf creature from Cajun folklore that prowls the swamps of Louisiana in search of human prey, earning a spine-chilling 2/10 chance of survival against this monstrous beast.
Maine – Pennywise the Clown is a shape-shifting entity that takes the form of a sinister clown to lure victims, resulting in a 1 in 10 chance of survival.
Maryland – The Goatman of Maryland is an axe-wielding cryptid with the body of a man and head of a goat, giving it a 4/10 survival rating.
Massachusetts – The Salem witches were persecuted women accused of witchcraft during the infamous Salem witch trials in 1692, whose vengeful spirits are said to still haunt the town, earning them a moderate 5/10 survival rating.
Michigan – The Dogman of Michigan is a cryptid described as an upright, wolf-like creature spotted in northern Michigan, earning it a low 2/10 chance of survival.
Minnesota – The Wendigo is a mythical man-eating creature from Native American folklore, giving it a chilling 1/10 survival rating.
Mississippi – The Pascagoula River Aliens are aquatic extraterrestrials reported in Mississippi, earning them a moderate 5/10 survival rating.
Missouri – Momo is an internet urban legend about a creepy bird woman, but as a digital hoax, it has an 8/10 chance of survival.
Montana – The Vampire Stalker of Circle, Montana, is an undead blood-drinking cowboy, giving him a low 3/10 survival rating.
Nebraska – The Children of the Corn are murderous children led by a demonic entity in the town of Gatlin, Nebraska, who ritually sacrifice adults to ensure a successful corn harvest, with a spine-chilling 1/10 chance of survivability.
Nevada – Area 51 Aliens (Captured extraterrestrials with a 7/10 survivability)
New Hampshire – The Wood Devils (Hairy wild men of the forest with a 4/10 survivability)
New Jersey – The Jersey Devil (Winged demonic cryptid with a 3/10 survivability)
New Mexico – The Dulce Base Aliens (Grays underground at the Dulce Base with an 8/10 survivability)
New York – Sewer alligators are the stuff of urban legend in New York, with claims that baby alligators brought home as pets were dumped down sewer drains, where they survived and multiplied in the dark tunnels, earning them a moderately threatening 5/10 survival rating.
North Carolina – The Beast of Bladenboro (Blood-sucking wolf-cat hybrid with a 3/10 survivability)
North Dakota – The Miniwashitu is a small, 1-foot-tall horned water monster from Native American mythology that inhabits the waters near Minnesota and Wisconsin, and is said to attack fishermen, with a survivability rating of 4/10.
Ohio – The Loveland Frogman (Bipedal frog humanoid with a 4/10 survivability)
Oklahoma – The Oklahoma Octopus (Freshwater cephalopod monster with a 6/10 survivability)
Oregon – Colossal Claude is the name given to a sea monster spotted near the Columbia River in Oregon, with a 5/10 chance of survival.
Pennsylvania – Squanok (mythical creature said to live in the Hemlock forests of northern Pennsylvania, and is so hideously ugly that it hides from plain sight and dissolves into a pool of tears when cornered, with a 10 /10 survivability)
Rhode Island – Mercy Brown (Undead vampire woman with a 3/10 survivability)
South Carolina – Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp (Reptilian humanoid swamp beast with a 2/10 survivability)
South Dakota – The Little Devils of Spirit Mound (Mischievous 2-foot-tall childlike creatures with reddish faces and long brown hair that inhabit the Spirit Mound area near Vermillion, South Dakota, and were first spotted by the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804. 2/10 survivability)
Tennessee – The Bell Witch (Spiteful ghost haunting a family with a 3/10 survivability)
Texas – The Chupacabra is a Spine-draining cryptid with a 4/10 survivability and not a taco wrapped in a pizza.
Utah – The Skinwalker Ranch Phenomena refers to paranormal activity and cryptid sightings, such as UFOs and shapeshifting creatures, reported on a ranch in northeastern Utah, earning a frightening 2/10 survival rating against the unknown entities.
Vermont – Champ (Lake Champlain sea creature with a 5/10 survivability)
Virginia – The Bunny Man (Axe murderer in a bunny costume with a 4/10 survivability)
Washington – Bigfoot (Legendary ape-man with a 3/10 survivability)
West Virginia – The Mothman (Ominous winged humanoid with a 4/10 survivability)
Wisconsin – The Beast of Bray Road is a werewolf-like creature seen in Wisconsin, earning it a low 2/10 survival chance.
Wyoming – The Jackalope (Horned rabbit oddity with a 6/10 survivability)
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Christopher lives in Vermont with his wife, twin boys, border collie and corgi. He has owned a film production company, sold slot machines, and worked for Tony Robbins. He writes in his magical tiny house and sometimes writes in his blog at chrisrodgers.blog
Visit his author’s page.
I’ve falllen on love with your blog this morning and am so excited to pour through it beginning to end. SQUEAL!!
But uh-oh. All the images are missing for this article of the monsters in your backyard. 🙁
Just wanted to let you know in case you hadn’t noticed.
Cheers! Finding your writing this morning totally made my day!!!!
Hi Lee Anne. Thank you for the kind words! You’ve made my day. I need to post more for sure. I’ll check on the monster story. I may have moved a folder maybe. I’ll see if I can make a quick update.
Thanks again!