Tradition: Ozark folklore, American Mythology
Alternative Names: Snawfus
Category: Deer

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The Myth

The Snawfus is a supernatural albino deer from the folklore of the Ozarks in Arkansas and Missouri. Although it possesses supernatural powers, it is not considered dangerous.

According to some accounts, the Snawfus can leap effortlessly into the treetops. Other accounts describe it as having feathery wings, allowing it to fly silently through the air like an owl. Some traditions also give the creature flowering branches instead of ordinary antlers.

Leila A. Wade of Republic, Missouri, extensively studied the Snawfus and reported that the creature emitted spirals of blue smoke. The smoke drifted away from the deer and spread across the Ozark hills, covering them in a magical blue haze.

According to the tradition, this blue haze can still be seen over the Ozarks during autumn.

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Sources

“Snawfus.” A Book of Creatures. July 2, 2021. https://abookofcreatures.com/2021/07/02/snawfus/

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