Scattered reports today reveal once again the surfacing
of the Bear Lake Monster. The monster, which was first
mentioned by Native Americans via oral tradition, supposedly
inhabits Bear Lake on the Utah – Idaho border.
The monster made the top Google Trends this morning as well
as any number of media and blog outlets world wide.
Our investigation of the story did not turn up any new video or image evidence, but we did uncover some facts.
The Bear Lake monster, like many other legendary creatures, has been reported as being anything from an over sized walrus, to a giant beaver, to a serpent not unlike the Lock Ness Monster. Most sightings, and the general folk tales describe the creature as more like the latter – a 60 to 90 foot long dinosaur basically. Video from Animal Planet speaks of the creature being a leftover from the ice age, which seems logical given the high mountain lake, a remnant of the last Ice Age itself.
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SOME FACTS...
POSSIBLY A FEW MYTHS...
The Bear Lake area has developed into a year-round destination, with several thriving communities and plenty of great recreational venues.
Bear Lake itself is a major draw. During summer its beautiful, turquoise waters attract people interested in boating, fishing, sailing and other water sports. Campgrounds on the lake and in the nearby mountains are popular spots for family getaways and reunions.
The lake is also a popular winter fishery. Some years it freezes solid and provides ice fishing opportunities. Even when it doesn't freeze, fishermen ply its waters year-round. It usually offers good fishing for cutthroat trout and lake trout. It is home to several endemic fish, including cisco, which attract considerable attention as they spawn in mid-January.
Great downhill skiing at nearby Beaver Mountain, and great snowmobile trails make the Bear Lake area a popular winter playground.
Because of its beautiful scenery and year-round recreational activities, the area has become a popular place for recreational cabins, condos and shared-ownership resorts. There are plenty of camping and lodging opportunities for groups of all sizes, from couples to families to reunions and large retreats.
BEAR LAKE MONSTER ON ANIMAL PLANET
THE BEAR LAKE MONSTER
The description of the Monster was the following: A creature with a brown-colored body, somewhat bigger in circumference than a man, anywhere from 40 to 200 feet long. Its head was shaped like a walrus without tusks or like an alligator's, and the eyes were very large and about a foot apart. It had ears like bunches, about the size of a pint cup. It had an unknown number of legs, approximately eighteen inches long, and it was awkward on land, but swam with a serpent-like motion at a speed of at least sixty miles an hour. No one ever described the back part of the animal since the head and forepart was all that was ever seen. The rest was always under water. Make believe? No one knows for sure.
The Deseret News ran the story July 31, 1868. Great excitement followed. A news staff member during the next month quizzed many Bear Lake people and found hardly a person who doubted it.
However, the inevitable skeptics did appear on the scene. The Indians had taken a great deal of interest in stories of the monster and claimed that their ancestors told them about a monster. They were telling some pretty good-sized stories about the creatures.
In 1874, a traveler named John Goodman came through the Bear Lake Valley. He described an Indian legend about two lovers whom, upon being pursued by some of their fellow tribesmen, plunged into the lake and were changed by the Great Spirit into two large serpents. However, this is just a legend.
