Tradition: American Mythology
Alternative Names: —
Category: River dweller
The Myth
The Billdad is a reclusive creature found around Boundary Pond in northwestern Maine. It is described as being about the size of a beaver, with long, kangaroo-like hind legs, short front legs, webbed feet, a heavy hawk-like beak, and a strong tail. It is capable of jumping with great speed and power, reportedly leaping distances of up to 60 yards.
The Billdad hunts fish by waiting near grassy areas where insects are plentiful. When a fish surfaces to catch an insect, the Billdad leaps over it and strikes it with its tail, stunning the fish before eating it. The impact sounds similar to paddling, sometimes leading canoeists to mistake the creature for a person paddling, or vice versa.
Lumberjacks once considered Billdad meat a delicacy, although the creature’s shyness made it difficult to obtain. One local story tells of a man named Bill Murphy who became ill after eating its meat and began imitating the creature. Later accounts describe the meat as poisonous and claim that anyone who eats it transforms into a Billdad.
Sources
A Book of Creatures. (2021, April 12). Billdad. https://abookofcreatures.com/2021/04/12/billdad/