Author Lillian Stone's fascination with the Ozark Howler began in her childhood, when she stumbled upon a book of local legends in her elementary school library. The mysterious cryptid, known for its haunting cry, captured her imagination and led her on a lifelong quest to uncover the truth behind its existence. In her essay "Beware the Howler," featured in her book Everybody's Favorite, Stone delves into the enigmatic nature of this creature.
The Ozark Howler is said to roam the region between Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, where conflicting political views and blurred geographical boundaries create a unique and complex environment. Stone describes the Howler as a massive cougar-like creature or a hybrid of a wolf, goat, and cat, while envisioning it as a shaggy, giant hyena with glowing red eyes and curly horns reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast.
While skeptics may question the validity of these encounters due to the creature's ambiguous description, Stone believes that the mystery surrounding the Howler adds to its allure. The legend of the Howler dates back to the late 1700s or early 1800s, with some attributing its origins to Indigenous folklore or Irish immigrants who settled in the region in the nineteenth century.
Despite the lack of concrete evidence, alleged sightings of the Howler have persisted over the years, with clusters of reports emerging in Northeast Arkansas in the early 2000s. In 2015, the Springfield News-Leader received a photograph that some claimed depicted the elusive creature, resembling more of a German shepherd puppy with horns than a fearsome beast.
Keith Stephens of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission advises treating a potential Howler encounter as you would with a bear: back away slowly and give the creature space. Stone emphasizes that there are no reports of the Howler causing harm to humans, suggesting that it may serve as a guardian of the Ozarkian landscape, rather than a malevolent entity.
Freelance writer Helen Bradshaw, a native Floridian with a knack for encountering alligators, finds herself drawn to stories of cryptic creature encounters. The allure of these mysterious beings, whether they be the Howler of the Ozarks or the legendary Skunk Ape of the Florida swamps, speaks to a primal fascination with the unknown.
As stories of cryptic creatures continue to captivate imaginations and spark debates among believers and skeptics alike, one thing remains certain: the allure of the unknown will always beckon to those who dare to explore the hidden corners of our world.