‘Cryptid creatures’ greet visitors to Penitentiary Glen
Published by: The News-Herald
By Bryson Durst
Original article found here
Families braved cold temperatures and snowy weather to learn about Bigfoot, the Lake Erie Monster and other legendary creatures at Lake Metroparks’ recent Cryptid Creatures event.
Cryptid Creatures was held at Penitentiary Glen Reservation on Jan. 19, when many local students were off for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Visitors interacted with a costumed “Bigfoot” and “Mothman” and completed activities about the creatures, but they also learned about more common wildlife found in Ohio.
“Cryptids is something we haven’t really touched on in our events lately and we have so many cool cryptids around here in Ohio,” said Metroparks naturalist Abby Mossbruger.
Mossbruger said that clues were scattered throughout the park’s Nature Center, and visitors could pick up field guides and learn more about the creatures. Displays showed more information about the creatures and where they have been spotted in Lake County and surrounding counties.
The park’s Forest Hall also highlighted Mothman, Bigfoot and the Lake Erie Monster, or “Bessie.”
According to the displays, Mothman was first found in West Virginia in 1966, and is described as a “large black creature with glowing red eyes.” Some connected the sightings to the 1967 collapse of the Silver Bridge, which linked Point Pleasant, West Virginia, with Gallipolis, Ohio.
Bessie was first reported near Sandusky in 1793, while Bigfoot sightings have been reported in every state except Hawaii, including two sightings in Lake County, the displays stated.
“Many sightings in wildlife could either be a cryptid or it could be some native wildlife that we’re not familiar with as well,” Mossbruger said.
Over in the park’s classroom, naturalist Kyla Heck led kids in a “Cryptid Clues” activity. A table laid out “identifying factors” for different living, extinct and legendary creatures, and kids could see which items belonged to which creatures.
Other classroom activities asked visitors to determine if a sound was made by Bigfoot or an animal, and if silhouettes belonged to Bessie or an animal, said naturalist Jessica Volkert.
Inside, visitors could also watch animal chats to learn about the animals that are cared for at the neighboring Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center.
Visitors willing to brave the wind, snow and cold could also go outside for s’mores or one of the scheduled Cryptid Exhibitions.
Naturalist Nick Gaye led the Cryptid Exhibitions. On a small trail around the Nature Center, visitors could see tracks left by animals like deer, as well as those “left” by legendary creatures like the Loveland Frog, Bessie and Bigfoot. “We’ve got some cool cryptids, but we also have some cool wildlife that we are trying to figure out with some of our activities this year,” Mossbruger said.
More holiday events
Lake Metroparks also held a Wild Weather Open House at Jordan Creek Park on Jan. 19.
The park district has more events planned for Presidents Day on Feb. 16, according to its website:
• The Farmpark will hold its annual Farmer Monday event with activities and games showing what farmers do in the winter. The Farmpark will also display lamb acrobatics in its arena. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 8800 Euclid-Chardon Road, Kirtland, and Farmpark admission or membership costs will apply.
• Jordan Creek Park will hold a Rock Around the Park Open House to teach visitors about geology and “cool rocks in Ohio and beyond.” The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 7250 Alexander Road, Concord Township.
• Penitentiary Glen Reservation will hold a Pocket Monsters event, focusing on the real animals that inspired the creatures found in “pocket monster” games. Admission is free and the event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 8668 Kirtland-Chardon Road, Kirtland.
