Historian answers questions about the origins and meanings of mysterious creatures
A historian/folklorist answers questions posed to Reddit and Quora regarding monsters and myths – worth a look!
Category Archives: PopCryptid
The crazy mixed-up meaning of Mothman
From its origins in 1966, Mothman has been viewed as a cryptid, an alien, a spirit, an angel and a demon. Mothman has since continued to evolve in popular culture and lore.
Cryptid town festivals still going strong
Family-friendly, small town cryptid festivals are a growing trend with new events appearing every year across the US.
What happened in the effort to make Bigfoot the state cryptid of California?
Legislation to make Bigfoot the official state cryptid of California has stalled.
The Carolina pale crawler tale that got my attention
A terrifying tale from North Carolina is making the rounds on social media and causing a huge stir in the paranormal community. This one comes with a genuine 911 distress call and police reports.
Mothman Festival organizers say it was the biggest crowd yet
The 2025 Mothman Festival is the template for modern cryptid festivals, this year drawing possibly 15,000 visitors.
Pop Cryptid Spectator 20
In this final edition: Nessie, Jr. -Another cute cryptid movie, Faking Bigfoot, Champ at the Museum, Mothman says, “You Matter”, Cryptids overexposed, A current wrap-up of trends
Bigfoot remains a moneymaking hoax
Once again, someone has rather uncreatively posed a hairy man prop as an amazing find and put it on display for all the rubes to pay to see. This time, it’s at the New York State Fair.
Pop cryptid in the News: Jackalope
An outbreak of Shope papillomavirus in Colorado is in the news and the internet is exploding with exaggerated ideas about Frankenbunnies and Jackalopes.
Pop Cryptid Spectator 19
In this edition: Cryptids are the new coal, Build a Mothman XL, The Naga of Golden Gate Park, Delta academic symposium chooses cryptid theme,
Bigfoot gets its own emoji, Rochester Lion has Disappeared,
Encyclopedia of Confused Cryptids
Pop Cryptid Spectator 18
In this edition: Jersey Devil is a Cryptid of the Moment, Cryptid AI vlogs, SpiracyCon goes heavy on cryptids and Christian commentators, What’s with the “archiness” of water monsters?,
Monster Festivals Season – Thank the Mothman, In Research Of… The Mothman Prophecies deep dive, Pop Cryptid trivia.
Pop Cryptid Spectator 17
In this edition: Bear Lake monster marker, Join the cryptid crawl, Cryptids as sports icons, NYT Monster Quest Strands puzzle, Blue Ridge Hunting game features Appalachian cryptids, Seeking Mothgirl, Another fake Bigfoot promo video, Nessie Quest 2025 is a bust
The mythical world of Safari Ltd cryptids
Cryptids created by Safari, Ltd. lean towards the supernatural and creative depictions. The new Jersey Devil offering is top-notch.
Pop Cryptid Spectator 16
In this edition: Pop cryptid mainstreamification, Cryptid Cafes, Cryptid festivals near you, Social media feed of cryptids, Zoos with cryptid content, Chaneque video debunked
Pop Cryptid Spectator 15
In this edition: Florida Bigfoot Conference review, Sasquatch heads around town, AI cryptids: Faked Nessie sightings, AI cryptids: Fake Yeti photo circulating, AI Fake Coelacanth News, Mokele-mbembe and Creationists’ corruption, Cryptid media: The Cryptid Factor podcast
Pop Cryptid Spectator 14
In this edition: Cryptid Check on Big Picture Science, Update on Pueblo mystery creature, Bigfoot museum spared from fire damage, Faking a fake nightcrawler, Nahuelito represents!
Pop Cryptid Spectator 13
In this edition: The crypt-illogical slip into the irrational, News people don’t know their animals, AI cryptid articles – It’s how stuff works, Cryptid merch: Squishables Mothman series, The Hebridean Mermaid, Ogopogo float may sink, Cryptid Media: More podcasts
Pop Cryptid Spectator 12
In this edition: New cryptid alert- North American Pine Squid, Bigfoot in the Backyard, Be the Bigfoot, Cryptid media – Nessie, the Musical, Big little cat makes headlines in UK, Fiji mermaid seen at Margate beach in Kent, The mokele-mbembandwagon
Pop Cryptid Spectator 11
In this edition: Digital hoaxes flooding social media, Questioning the assumptions we make about supernatural cryptids, Cryptid media – The Sasqualogist, Blurry feral Florida cat causes a stir, Loch Ness Quest 3, Royal Mail mythical stamps, Cryptids are “hot”, particularly in WV
Pop Cryptid Spectator 10
In this edition: California’s Bigfoot law – Spot the Sasquatch, The British Bigfoot, Wisconsin’s New Cryptid and Paranormal Convention, Mothman-flavored chips, First Nessie sighting of the year