Hugag: Fearsome Critter

Image vialumberwoods.com

Not to be confused with the similarly named Hodag of the same region, the Hugag is a large beast in the folklore of American fearsome critters, said to resemble a prehistoric moose.

Despite its similarities to the modern day moose, the Hugag is alleged to have an oversized upper lip, making it impossible for the animal to graze upon the grasses of the woods in which it inhabits. Instead it moves it’s large lips along trees, eating small protruding twigs and removing and consuming the bark.

Along with the absurdly large lips, the Hugag has floppy ears, a bushy tail, and a coat of shaggy, long hair, with the exception of its neck and head, which are completely hairless with rough skin. The most notable feature of the Hugag is his unjointed legs, which prevent him from lying down. In order to rest, a Hugag takes advantage of his environment, leaning up against a tree.

Because of the sleeping habits of the Hugag, experienced hunters of the fearsome critters know to notch frequented by this creature, until it is just about to fall. Once the Hugag leans up against the tree, both the tree and the animal are felled, leaving the Hugag helpless and unable to right itself on its unbendable limbs.