Buzz
Why do we, as humans, have a tendency to believe in things that lack solid evidence or proof? And what is it about the legendary Mothman that has captivated our attention since it was first spotted in the 1960s? This bat-like creature has embedded itself into American folklore, becoming one of the most notable modern-day myths. The story began in 1966 with a reported sighting of the Mothman in West Virginia, which was widely reported in the Point Pleasant Register.
In this list, we take a closer look at the Mothman myth, exploring its origins—some of which may be more ancient than you might expect.
10. Mothman in the Headlines
The Mothman first made its appearance in the press following the initial reported sighting. On Wednesday, November 16, 1966, the Point Pleasant Register ran a headline that read, “Couples see man-sized bird…creature…something!” This marked the Mothman's debut in the media, though it certainly wouldn't be its last.
The article recounts an unusual experience shared by two young couples. They reported to the police that something had chased them near Point Pleasant, West Virginia. According to the witnesses, it was a man-like figure, standing about two meters (six to seven feet) tall, with a wingspan of three meters (10 feet). They claimed the creature followed them, soaring above their car, and when they shined their lights on it, its red eyes glowed back at them.
Just days before this encounter, gravediggers in Clendenin, West Virginia, had reported seeing a similar man-like figure perched in the trees above them. The sightings persisted for 13 months, ceasing only after the catastrophic collapse of the Silver Bridge.
9. Malevolent Presence or a Forewarning?
The sightings of the winged, man-like creature persisted in West Virginia until the tragic collapse of the Silver Bridge in December 1967, which claimed the lives of 46 people. Given the surge of Mothman sightings that appeared to end after the disaster, a belief spread that the Mothman was either warning the community of the upcoming catastrophe or that it had caused the event. Regardless, the Mothman legend became deeply entwined with disaster lore.
It is important to note that a government investigation concluded that the collapse was due to a structural fracture, not the Mothman. The fracture was caused by “the development of a critical-size flaw over the 40-year life of the structure as a result of the joint action of stress corrosion and corrosion fatigue.” The bridge fell into the river in under 20 seconds, taking 32 vehicles and 46 people with it.
8. Chicago's Very Own Mothman
Chicago might be home to its own mysterious Mothman, with reports of sightings dating back to 2011. Witnesses describe a human-like figure flying through the city, often noting its glowing red eyes that instill a deep sense of dread upon seeing it.
The majority of the Chicago Mothman sightings occur at night and near bodies of water. While many media outlets have approached the reports with skepticism, the sightings keep coming in. One of the most bizarre sightings involved a man who saw a human-like figure perched atop the Willis Tower during the day. Allegedly, the figure leapt off the skyscraper and flew away.
7. Was Mothman Present at Chernobyl Before the Devastating Explosion?
In 1986, a reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine exploded. The explosion claimed 30 lives in the immediate aftermath and left a vast contamination zone of 150,000 square kilometers (57,915 square miles) spanning Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. The ‘exclusion zone’ around the power plant, which remains uninhabitable, stretches over 2,600 square kilometers (1,000 square miles). The number of casualties far exceeds the initial 30, with thyroid cancer affecting 1,800 children in the years following the disaster.
It is said that just days before the reactor malfunctioned, workers at the Chernobyl power plant reported seeing a strange creature near the plant. They referred to it as the “Blackbird of Chernobyl.” This creature shared similarities with the Mothman, leading some to believe it could indeed have been the Mothman itself.
Much like the Mothman, witnesses described the Blackbird of Chernobyl as appearing just before a disaster, possessing glowing red eyes and a large wingspan. However, like many Mothman sightings, these reports are difficult to verify.
6. Could a Sandhill Crane Be Mistaken for the Mothman?
What other creature, besides a harbinger of doom, shares many of the Mothman’s traits, including a vast wingspan, glowing red eyes, and a tendency to appear near bodies of water? The answer might just be… a sandhill crane.
Sandhill cranes are quite large, with wingspans reaching nearly two meters (five to six feet). When they fly, they extend their necks, spread their wings, and trail their feet behind them, creating an unusual silhouette in the sky. This odd shape can seem even more unsettling when viewed at night, especially with thoughts of the Mothman lingering.
Not everyone agrees with the sandhill crane theory. Other theories persist, including ideas of an alien presence, a barn owl, or even a Native American myth—the Thunderbird.
5. Should Mothman Statues Replace Confederate Monuments?
A petition on Change.org, with nearly 21,000 signatures and a goal of 25,000, calls for replacing every Confederate statue in West Virginia with one of the Mothman.
The petition, directed at the West Virginia State Senate, argues, “Confederate statues should not represent our country. The Robert E. Lee statue is already being removed. Why not fill that space with a statue of Mothman? Mothman is the first urban legend to denounce racism and oppression. Mothman is the perfect candidate to replace Robert E. Lee and any other Confederate statues.”
Considering the tourism appeal Mothman brings to West Virginia, the petitioners may have a valid point. And this smoothly leads us into the next topic…
4. Mothman Draws in the Tourists
The Mothman legend brings significant tourist revenue to West Virginia. In Point Pleasant, you'll find a Mothman statue, a Mothman museum, and even a Mothman store. The town is capitalizing on its legendary past, having erected the statue in 2003 and renamed a popular park Mothman Park.
The museum showcases props and memorabilia from the movie that helped catapult Mothman into the public eye, “The Mothman Prophecies.” It also features press clippings, eyewitness accounts, and photos documenting the Silver Bridge tragedy. After learning all about the Mothman in the museum, visitors can head to the shop to pick up exclusive Mothman merchandise, including baby-sized onesies for the littlest Mothman enthusiasts.
3. Could Mothman Be a Scottish Banshee?
The banshee, a mythical spirit from Ireland and Scotland, is often described as having glowing red eyes and is said to forewarn of impending death. Interestingly, West Virginia was primarily settled by immigrants from Scotland and Ireland.
Filmmaker Seth Breedlove delved into the connection between the banshee and the Mothman, speculating that the folklore may have been brought to West Virginia by immigrants. The legend of the banshee itself can be traced back to ancient Gaelic oral traditions passed down for centuries.
It’s possible that the Mothman is far older than we realize. The creature could be an ancient version of a folk tale that has been embedded in our collective subconscious for much longer than we might think.
2. What Is the TNT Area in West Virginia?
While the Mothman’s existence remains debatable, the “TNT Area” in West Virginia is undeniably real. During World War II, this vast area housed a huge ammunition manufacturing facility that once employed thousands of people. Due to the high volume of explosives produced, they were stored in bunkers scattered across the 32.5 square kilometers (12.5 square miles) of land that became known as the “TNT Area.”
After the war, the ammunition plant was decommissioned and the land was abandoned. Over time, it was discovered that the area had become heavily contaminated by the toxic byproducts from the manufacturing process.
It was in this very area that the Mothman was first sighted in West Virginia. The notoriety of the contaminated land led some to speculate that the Mothman could be a creature born from the polluted earth itself.
1. What’s the Link Between Sleep Paralysis and the Mothman?
Sleep paralysis is a temporary inability to move when waking up or falling asleep, often accompanied by vivid hallucinations. Scientists attribute sleep paralysis to a brain malfunction that occurs between waking and still being in a REM sleep state. Many who experience it report seeing demon-like figures that instill a deep sense of dread.
Eyewitness accounts of the Mothman often resemble common depictions of demonic figures seen during sleep paralysis episodes. Could the Mothman sightings actually be of a large bird darting across a darkened sky, tapping into subconscious fears and anxieties?
