Riverside Monster | |
---|---|
An artist's depiction, as seen in Weird California | |
Background | |
Type | Cryptid |
Continent | North America |
Country | United States |
One-Time? | No |
Theories | · Alien |
The Riverside Monster, also known as the Riverside Bridge Monster and the Brain Tickler of Riverside, is a bizarre lanky cryptid that was first encountered by Charles Wetzel on November 8, 1958. The creature was described as tall and lanky, with a "protuberant mouth" and glowing green eyes.
It is very similar to the Landsborough Gangle.
Appearance[]
The creature was described later by Charles Wetzel as having a "round, scarecrow-ish head" and lacking ears. Its body was very tall and lanky. He also described how the creature's eyes were "shining like something fluorescent" and that it possessed a protuberant mouth. He later recalled that the thing’s legs stuck out sideways from the “body” and the skin looked “scaly, like leaves.”
Possible Explanations[]
There are several explanations as to what the creature could be. Theories include:
- An undiscovered species (a Cryptid)
- Extraterrestrial
- Vulture
Trivia[]
- In his book Mysterious America, researcher Loren Coleman has pointed out the preponderance of weird things associated with place and personal names. “Wetzel” was high on the list, along with Fayette, Hobbs, and of course, anything associated with the Devil. Coleman also discovered that another Charles Wetzel, this one in Nebraska, had seen something that resembled a kangaroo hopping around his farm in July of the same year.
- As the creature clawed at his windshield and screeched, Wetzel reached for a .22 caliber pistol he kept under the seat. Quickly changing his mind about opening the window or shooting through the one thing that separated him from the monster, he floored it. The thing tumbled off the hood to the ground. Not caring what the thing was, or particularly concerned for its safety, Wetzel ran it over. He felt the scraping underneath, and heard more screaming and gurgling from the creature. He hightailed it to the nearest Riverside Police station.
- Officers noted scratches on the hood and windshield, and smears along the oil-covered underside, but retuning later to the scene with bloodhounds, they found nothing. The next night, another spooked driver reported a similar experience. If anyone else saw the pumpkin-headed ghoul, they kept it to themselves, and the Santa Ana river basin has been quiet since then—except in the 1970s when bigfoot-like tracks were discovered nearby.