I’d Like To Introduce You To Florida’s Favorite Cryptid: The Skunk Ape!

I’ve always had a fascination with the eerie and mysterious. I was obsessed with The X-Files and all things sci-fi and horror as a kid (still am), and consumed any media I could find about aliens, cryptids, ghosts, and other strange phenomena.

I wrote a little while ago about how desperately I want to see a UFO—and highlighted some destinations for fellow travelers looking to the skies—and today I’d like to bring you closer to Earth and introduce you to my favorite cryptid and Florida’s answer to Bigfoot: the Skunk Ape!

What Are Cryptids?

The term “cryptid” comes from the field of cryptozoology—a type of pseudoscience that searches for and studies creatures that are claimed to exist based on anecdotal evidence, folklore, or alleged sightings, but that lack scientific proof of their existence.

There are stories of cryptids all over the world, and you might even be familiar with some of them, like the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, or the Chupacabra. Cryptozoologists usually have to rely on eyewitness accounts, photos, and limited physical evidence as the basis for their investigations. Because tangible, reliable evidence of cryptids doesn’t exist, mainstream science dismisses these creatures as myths or misidentifications, even when they’re described in great detail.

However!

Some animals that were thought to be fantastical or extinct have been discovered and are now well-known, actual living creatures—like the komodo dragon (thought to be a myth until the early 1900s, when explorers were able to capture a couple of live ones in Indonesia), or the giant squid (which, as a deep-sea creature, has been almost impossible to observe in its natural habitat until recently). And the coelacanth was thought to have gone extinct millions of years ago, until 1938, when a live one was discovered off of the coast of South Africa.

So what about the Skunk Ape?

What is the Skunk Ape?

The Skunk Ape is our local cryptid here in Florida, though he’s also been seen in Georgia and Alabama. He’s said to live in swampy, forested areas like the Everglades, and he has a few distinctive traits that make him particularly memorable.

Descriptions of the Skunk Ape paint him as a large, ape-like being standing around five to six feet tall—smaller than Bigfoot, and allowing him to easily hide in the marshes and mangroves—and covered in long, dark reddish-brown hair, though some witnesses have said his hair is more like that of a golden retriever. He’s bipedal, but can scramble on all fours.

His most notorious characteristic, however, is an eggy, skunky, foul odor, which could be due to his diet, the swamp environment, or a natural defense mechanism.

The first published sightings of the Skunk Ape were in 1818, when Florida newspapers reported that a man-sized monkey stole food from local groceries and stalked fishermen along the water. There were a couple more sightings in the early- to mid-1900s, with stories picking up in frequency from the 50s through the 70s in particular. Witnesses claim to have seen the Skunk Ape peering in windows, stalking cars and hikers, and killing livestock.

One of the most famous photos allegedly taken of the Skunk Ape was captured by Ochopee Fire Chief Vince Doerr, who described the creature as shaggy and quite tall. He claims the cryptid ran in front of his car, and he was just able to get a quick picture before it disappeared into the swamp. And in 1998, David Shealy—arguably the foremost expert on the Skunk Ape—snapped several photos and even took a concrete cast of its footprint after the creature moved on. In 2000, he was able to get a short video as well.

Mainstream scientists are skeptical about the existence of the Skunk Ape, with most explanations being that he’s a misidentified animal, like a bear or possibly an unreported, escaped chimpanzee or other type of ape from an exotic animal collector.

A Visit to the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters

My husband and I love our National Parks and State Parks, and a little while ago, we had the wonderful opportunity to visit Big Cypress National Preserve for an astronomy presentation and stargazing. On the way, we stopped at the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters, which was quite close to our Dark Sky spot for the evening. We only had about 15 minutes to look around before closing, but it was everything you’d want from a roadside tourist attraction.

Located in Ochopee, Florida, the quirky Skunk Ape outpost was created by the aforementioned David Shealy, who is one of the most vocal proponents of the creature’s existence. He became enthralled by the Skunk Ape as a 10-year-old child, when he and his brother saw what they believe was one of these elusive creatures, and he’s been collecting evidence of them ever since.

The Skunk Ape Research Headquarters is a museum and research center dedicated to the legend of the Skunk Ape, documenting sightings and sharing stories about the cryptid, while also playing into its celebrity by selling fun souvenirs with a distinctive Floridian flair. There’s also a campground and an animal exhibit with pythons, alligators, turtles, and other local critters. And if you’re interested in a guided tour into the Everglades, you can book one here and learn not only about the Skunk Ape, but also about South Florida’s plants and wildlife, plus some local history and fun stories.

I picked up a few souvenirs and the book On the Tracks of the Skunk Ape, by Ron Milione and David Shealy. The book is a self-published delight, with articles and clippings from interviews with Mr. Shealy and others involved in the cryptozoological research of the Skunk Ape. It’s also filled with firsthand accounts from witnesses as well as information about the Everglades and Florida State Parks from the National Park Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, journals and periodicals, blogs, and more. If you love the outdoors and can’t get enough cryptid stories, I highly recommend picking it up.

And if you happen to be in the area and have the chance to visit the Skunk Ape HQ, get some Key Lime pie and a couple of beers—it’s the best way to wrap up a trip to the Florida swamps.

Over to You!

So, do you think the Skunk Ape is real? Or are you more of the mindset that it’s a misidentified animal—or even a hoax? Or might you be more on the fence?

Share your thoughts (and your favorite cryptids!) with the Frayed Passport community!

About the Author

As the editor-in-chief of Frayed Passport, my goal is to help you build a lifestyle that lets you travel the world whenever you want and however long you want, and not worry about where your next paycheck will come from. I've been to 20+ countries and five continents, lived for years as a full-time digital nomad, and have worked completely remotely since 2015. If you would like to share your story with our community, or partner with Frayed Passport, get in touch with me at sarah@frayedpassport.com!