Buzz
Centuries before Bigfoot and Yeti entered Western folklore, Vermont's Green Mountains were said to be inhabited by another mythical creature. Likely related to the rackabore, a swine-like entity, and closely tied to the enigmatic whangdoodle, the wampahoofus was a peculiar mammal with uneven leg lengths. This unique adaptation allowed it to move swiftly across mountainous terrain—but only in a single direction, either clockwise or counterclockwise. (Some tales suggest males moved clockwise, while females went the opposite way.) Tragically, if it ever turned the wrong way, its imbalance could send it tumbling down slopes to its demise.
Descriptions of the wampahoofus (sometimes referred to as the gyascutus or gouger) depict it as a hybrid of a deer and a wild boar. Vermont's versions were furry, though scaled variants reportedly existed in other regions. Its coloration ranged from deep green to vibrant orange, and it had either three or five toes. Some accounts even mention a cloven-hoofed wampahoofus and one with a tail that produced a whistling sound.
Male and female wampahoofuses typically kept to themselves, only interacting during mating seasons. Once this period ended, they would roam the mountains, feeding on plants and taking in the scenic views. Despite their peaceful, plant-based diet, their lives were not without danger.
Despite rare accounts of hunting, the wampahoofus remained highly vigilant. Their unusual leg anatomy restricted their movement to specific terrains—they avoided valleys and never ascended beyond certain heights. Only female wampahoofuses occasionally ventured higher, primarily to nurse their young. In an article for Nature Compass, a Green Mountain Club publication, writer Maeve Kim recounted her father’s great-grandfather encountering five of these “awkward cows [wampahoofuses], each tending to a nursing calf," describing it as “a remarkable sight.”
Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 3.0The origins of the wampahoofus remain hotly contested. Similar creatures appear in historical records spanning centuries and continents. For instance, 17th-century scholar Sir Thomas Browne noted that British badgers, or “Brocks,” were believed to have uneven leg lengths. “That a Brock or Badger hath the legs on one side shorter than the other, though an opinion perhaps not very ancient, is yet very general; received not only by Theorists and unexperienced believers, but assented unto by most who have the opportunity to behold and hunt them daily," he wrote.
Most agree, however, that this peculiar hybrid emerged in the 1800s prior to the Civil War. While Vermont is often considered its likely “birthplace,” some argue it was first sighted in northern Maine. Experts (using the term loosely) suggest the wampahoofus legend originated in the lumber camps of the northern forests.
During that era, logging was the most lucrative and expansive industry in Vermont and much of New England. Before railroads and proper roads, logs were transported via lakes, rivers, and other waterways. Lumberjacks spent months in remote forests, felling trees and sending them for processing. At night, gathered around roaring campfires, these men passed the time by spinning tall tales and inventing mythical creatures. Their boundless creativity likely gave rise to the wampahoofus and similar legends found elsewhere.
In Fearsome Critters, a compilation of lumberjack folklore, author Henry Tyron detailed the migration of the wampahoofus, which he called gougers, from east to west. “Typical Gougers must, of course, traverse hillsides, and their daily search for food creates the distinctive, partially gouged paths familiar to woodsmen. These trails were once widespread in New England but are now believed to be more common in the partially wooded areas of the West,” he wrote. One informant mentioned that the gouger population had become “overcrowded” in New England, leading to a food shortage that forced some to relocate.
Other tales suggest that two enterprising New Englanders showcased a wampahoofus (referred to as a gyascutus) in a traveling circus. However, audiences only saw furry feet beneath an ornate curtain. The showman would prod the curtain, eliciting loud cries from the creature. Amid the commotion, an alarm would sound, and the beast would seemingly escape. A Midwestern newspaper alerted locals about this “fearsome animal" on the loose, cautioning that “its mischief could be boundless as it roams freely, unsettling the peace of unsuspecting communities.” Yet, the crafty Yankees always managed to recapture it in time for the next town’s performance.
Whether real or mythical, evolution was unkind to the wampahoofus. While a left-leaning wampahoofus could pair with a right-leaning one, their offspring often had severely mismatched legs, rendering them immobile and leading to early death. Over time, the legs of both left- and right-leaning wampahoofuses grew shorter, making reproduction impossible and ultimately leading to the species' extinction.
Today, remnants of this mysterious creature linger along Vermont’s Mount Mansfield, the state’s highest peak, where the Wampahoofus Trail leads hikers toward the summit. (The trail was allegedly named by a professor who thought a nearby rock formation resembled the legendary beast.) Modern hikers might chuckle at the trail’s name or take a photo, but few realize they tread where a peculiar, lopsided creature once wandered.
