{"id":266,"date":"2011-05-26T17:19:57","date_gmt":"2011-05-26T17:19:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deathcookie.com\/home\/monster-of-the-week-the-snallygaster\/"},"modified":"2023-03-05T00:25:27","modified_gmt":"2023-03-05T00:25:27","slug":"monster-of-the-week-the-snallygaster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deathcookie.com\/home\/monster-of-the-week-the-snallygaster\/","title":{"rendered":"Monster of the Week: The Snallygaster"},"content":{"rendered":"

Also Known As:<\/strong> <\/span>Schneller Geist<\/em> (German for \u201cquick spirit\u201d), Schnellegeister<\/p>\n

Description:<\/strong> The snallygaster is a large flying reptile with feathered wings and seven octopus-like tentacles hanging from its neck just below the beak. The creature\u2019s beak, which is full of razor-sharp teeth is often described as metallic in appearance, but is actually made of bone and keratin just like a bird\u2019s. The snallygaster has a single large eye in the center of its forehead, four legs ending in sharp talons, and a tail that measures nearly 20 feet long. The snallygaster\u2019s leathery skin ranges from dark brown to yellow and sometimes has darker stripes or other markings. It\u2019s screech sounds like \u201ca cross between a tiger and a vampire,\u201d according to one witness.<\/p>\n

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BMA Classification:<\/strong> The snallygaster is classified as monster by the Bureau of Monster Affairs.<\/p>\n

Powers:<\/strong> Despite its large size, the snallygaster is capable of almost silent and extremely fast flight, which often allows it to ambush prey before the victim is even aware of potential danger.<\/p>\n

Vulnerabilities:<\/strong> Though the snallygaster is a very powerful opponent, it can be killed with conventional weapons.<\/p>\n

Biology and Habitat:<\/strong> Very few specifics are known about the snallygaster\u2019s habits and life cycle. They seem inhabit heavily forested mountain regions. While there have been snallygaster reports throughout the U.S., nearly all confirmed sightings have been in and around the Blue Ridge Mountains, mostly in Maryland. Most experts suspect that this is the home to the United States\u2019 only breeding population of the creatures, and that reports from elsewhere represent incorrectly identified creatures or individual snallygasters who have strayed from their traditional stomping grounds.<\/p>\n

Some reports indicate that snallygasters are vampiric, but more reliable research suggests that, although they start by drinking the blood of their kills, they eventually devour the entire body. snallygasters are carnivorous and are said to be especially fond of human flesh and chickens. Numerous tales exist of people finding snallygaster eggs (and the creature\u2019s avian and reptilian traits suggest that this is likely), but reputable researchers have yet to get their hands on one. snallygasters are estimated to live between 20 and 30 years on average. However, since the estimate comes from researchers attempting to use potentially unique traits (such as scars and unusual coloration patterns) to match specific snallygasters to specific sightings, its reliability is very much in question.<\/p>\n

Sightings:<\/strong> There have been hundreds of snallygaster sightings in Maryland since the 1700s, so we\u2019ll only list the most well-documented and interesting, as well as the most reliable sightings from other parts of the country.<\/p>\n