What kind of beast crashes through the forest, towering like a tree, hairless and monstrous, with legs so rigid it can’t even kneel? On this episode of Creatures Unknown, we explore the chilling legend of the Stiff-Legged Bear—a man-eating giant said to haunt the forests of North America, spanning Native American folklore across tribes like the Cree, Penobscot, Shawnee, and Iroquois.

We’ll examine its terrifying descriptions, from its immense head and razor-sharp teeth to its invulnerability to human attacks—except for one strange weakness. Then, we’ll trace historical sightings that blur the lines between myth and reality and discuss whether this cryptid could be a misremembered mammoth, an ancient bear, or a cautionary tale woven to keep children out of the woods.

Join us as we unravel the mystery behind an enigmatic legend.

Sources

Stiff-Legged Bear Monsters of Native American Legends

Native American Legends: Katshituashku, the Stiff-Jointed Bear

Great Naked Bear (Nyah-Gwaheh), the monster bear of the Iroquois

Stiff-Legged Bear | It's Something Wiki

Ten Native American Legendary Creatures You Need to Know - World History Encyclopedia.

Music attributions

Bent and Broken (intro)

"Bent and Broken" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Awkward Meeting (outro)

"Awkward Meeting" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/