Skunk Ape

What would you do if you were confronted by an eight foot tall, three hundred pound, hairy man that smelled horribly? If you are ever in Florida, quite possibly you could be in that situation.

The skunk ape is a type of cryptid, which is a mysterious creature whose existence has never been proven. It is said to reside mainly in Florida but sightings have been reported from Arkansas to Georgia. The term "skunk ape," which refers to its smell, is credited to David Shealy who is with the Skunk-Ape Research Headquarters in Ochopee, Florida.

The Skunk Ape's most unique characteristic is its smell. The skunk ape, unlike Bigfoot and other similar creatures, has a terrible smell said to be a mix between skunk, rotten eggs, and cow manure.

Besides its horrible smell, the skunk ape can be identified by its large body which has been reported to be "from a small dog to quite possibly the size of a vehicle."

The skunk ape's head is supposedly bald. Its nose is reportedly a small slit. Its lips are rumored to have the color and texture as a dog's paw. It is said to have long claws and often snorts.

Other than the head, the skunk ape is said to be covered in thick two inch long hair. Reports range from its hair color being midnight black to pale white.

Skunk Ape's are supposed to be pretty tough, with one report saying that a skunk ape didn't even notice when attacked by a dog.

The first reported sighting of the skunk ape occurred in 1942 when a Florida man claimed a smelly Bigfoot like creature rode on his running board, which is a small step on the side of some cars that are made to assist people entering or exiting a vehicle, for half a mile. After that sighting a steady stream of skunk ape reports have been filed throughout the years.

In the 1970's a large number of sightings were reported, possibly because many skunk apes could have been displaced by hurricanes in those years.

A possible logical explanation to the skunk ape legend is that a small number of orangutans somehow escaped from an airport and are being mistaken for the skunk ape. Many pictures that are said to be of skunk apes resemble orangutans. Orangutans are supposedly smart enough to elude capture and for the most part avoid civilization.

A doubtful myth said that the U.S. Army was able to capture a skunk ape and is holding it captive in a secret vault in Everglades National Park. That myth is widely believed to be false.

Although several Floridians believe in the Skunk Ape, park rangers are skeptical. To date, there have been no reported sightings of the skunk ape by park rangers.

So, if you're ever in the densely forested areas of Florida I would keep my eyes and ears open and bring a camera just in case.