Bear

Tulorialik

by

Tradition / Region: Inuit Mythology, Canadian Mythology
Alternative names: Nanoq Tulorialik (“The Bear with the Fangs”)
Category: Bear

The Myth

Tulorialik, the Bear with the Fangs, is a giant bear spirit and the most powerful helping spirit of the Inuit shaman Unaleq. Among his ten spirit helpers, Tulorialik was regarded as the strongest and most influential, answering whenever the shaman called upon him.

During a shamanic séance, Unaleq invoked Tulorialik in complete darkness. Hidden beneath a table covered with skins, he called the great bear spirit to enter his body. As Tulorialik arrived, those present heard the scraping of enormous claws, deep growls, the sounds of wind and rushing water, and the snorting of walruses. Through the power of the spirit, Unaleq claimed he could transform into a bear or a walrus.

On one occasion, Tulorialik was summoned to ensure the safety of a long sled journey. The bear spirit was said to travel ahead along the route, removing dangers and protecting the travelers from sickness, accidents, and death. After the séance, the shaman declared that Tulorialik had cleared the path and that the entire expedition would return safely.

Tulorialik was believed to possess immense supernatural power, and Unaleq regarded him not merely as a spirit, but as a faithful helper who came whenever he was called.

Sources

Rasmussen, K. (1930). Intellectual culture of the Hudson Bay Eskimos (Vols. 1–3). Gyldendal.

Mizuguma

by

Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternative names: Water Beast of Mizushima
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Mizuguma, or Water Bear, is a mysterious black beast said to have lived in the depths beneath Mount Hakusan. It was believed to be responsible for the devastating floods that repeatedly struck the Tedori River during the 18th century.

During one of these floods, people noticed a huge black object protruding from the river. It resembled neither stone, wood, nor the body of a dead animal. Covered in black, leather-like skin, it had no visible eyes, nose, or head, only several branch-like limbs. Hoes and bamboo poles could not pierce its hide.

When a coconut floated downstream, the creature suddenly extended one of its limbs, seized the fruit, pressed it against its mouthless body, and drained the oil from within before letting the empty shell drift away. Realizing it was alive, the villagers tried to burn it with flaming straw. The fire finally split its hide, drawing black blood.

The wounded beast responded with a tremendous roar. Towering waves crashed onto the riverbanks, embankments burst apart, and floodwaters surged across the countryside. Wherever the creature rolled, deep pools formed, and the flooding continued to devastate the surrounding villages.

Unable to defeat it, the people prayed daily by reciting the Kannon Sutra for one hundred days. One night, a faint light appeared, and the black creature was seen swimming upstream toward the mountains. After its departure, the floodwaters receded, the river returned to normal, and the Water Bear was never seen again. It was thereafter believed to dwell once more in the deep abyss beneath Mount Hakusan.

Sources

TYZ. (n.d.). 水熊 (Mizuguma). In 新版TYZ 妖怪図鑑. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://tyz-yokai.blog.jp/archives/1071303462.html

Ungnyeo

by

Tradition / Region: Korean Mythology
Alternative names: Bear Woman
Category: Bear

The Myth

Ungnyeo was originally a bear who lived in a cave alongside a tiger. Both prayed to Hwanung, the divine ruler, asking to become human. He gave them twenty cloves of garlic and a bundle of mugwort, commanding them to remain inside the cave for one hundred days and eat nothing else.

The tiger abandoned the trial after about twenty days, unable to endure the hardship. The bear remained in the cave, and after twenty-one days was transformed into a woman.

Grateful for her new life, Ungnyeo made offerings to Hwanung. However, she had no husband and prayed beneath a sacred tree for a child. Moved by her devotion, Hwanung took Ungnyeo as his wife.

Their son was Dangun, the legendary founder of the Korean nation.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Ungnyeo. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ungnyeo

Gandlora Cave Bear

by

Tradition / Region: Maltese Mythology
Alternative names: Ors tal-Gandlora
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Gandlora Cave Bear is a gigantic cave bear said to roam the underworld beyond the great cities, guarding the steep rocky valleys that lead to the land of Buġibda.

One enormous bear is said to climb through a hidden tunnel that emerges from a cave on the side of Gelmus Hill. Because of its thick fur, it comes to the surface only during the coldest nights of midwinter, usually around Candlemas in early February.

It prowls the countryside in search of prey, wandering along lonely roads, silent village streets, and deserted alleys in the middle of the night. Children are warned to keep their doors and windows tightly shut during Candlemas, for the beast is said to reach into homes with its long hooked claws and snatch away unsuspecting children.

Sources

Mifsud, S. D. (2014). The Maltese bestiary: An illustrated guide to the mythical flora and fauna of the Maltese Islands.

Nandi Bear

by

Tradition / Region: Kenyan Mythology
Alternative names: Chemosit, Kerit, Koddoelo, Ngoloko, Duba
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Nandi Bear is a fearsome beast said to roam the forests and plains of East Africa, particularly the lands of the Nandi people in western Kenya. It is described as a massive, powerfully built carnivore with high front shoulders, a sloping back, and reddish hair. Some traditions claim it can stand on its hind legs and is active only at night.

The creature is regarded as extremely fierce and capable of killing both livestock and wild animals. Among the Nandi, it is known as Kerit, and legends say it has unusually long feet and is feared for scalping its human victims.

For generations, people reported encounters with the Nandi Bear throughout Kenya, but no specimen was ever captured or identified. Over time, sightings became increasingly rare, and the creature remains one of East Africa’s most enduring legendary beasts.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Nandi bear. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nandi_bear

Qupqugiaq

by

Tradition / Region: Inuit Mythology, American Mythology, Russian Mythology
Alternative names: Kochatko (Chukchi), K’ok’satkut (Siberian Yupik)
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Qupqugiaq is a gigantic bear-like creature from the folklore of the Inuit of western Alaska and the Indigenous peoples of eastern Russia. It resembles an enormous polar bear but is said to be vastly larger and stronger than any ordinary bear. Most traditions describe it as having six, eight, or even ten legs, although some accounts attribute only four legs to the beast.

Living among the sea ice, the Qupqugiaq is a powerful semi-aquatic predator capable of smashing through ice thicker than the height of a man. Its immense head is said to reach lengths of up to five feet, and its strength makes it one of the most feared creatures of the Arctic.

The beast is notorious for ambushing hunters and attacking boats. According to tradition, it sometimes lies on its back upon the ice, waving its many legs in the air while crying out as though in distress. Curious hunters who approach to investigate risk falling into its deadly trap. It is also said to imitate the call of a raven.

Stories of encounters with the Qupqugiaq have circulated among Arctic peoples for generations. One witness claimed the distance between the creature’s ears was as wide as a man’s fully outstretched arms. Another account tells of travelers who saw its enormous head rise through the sea ice before they hurried away, fearing that no ordinary ice could support such a colossal bear.

Sources

Cryptid Archives contributors. (n.d.). Qupqugiaq. In Encyclopaedia of Cryptozoology. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://cryptidarchives.fandom.com/wiki/Qupqugiaq

Ucumar

by

Tradition / Region: Bolivian Mythology, Argentine Mythology
Alternative names: Ucumarí, Jucumari, Ucumare
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Ucumar is a fearsome creature of Argentine and Andean folklore, particularly associated with northwestern Argentina and neighboring Bolivia. Its name means “bear” in Aymara, and it is commonly described as a bear-man whose appearance varies from a squat, shaggy bear with human features to a wild, hairy man with a long beard and a narrow forehead.

The creature is said to dwell in caves deep within ravines, although it frequently wanders along rivers and springs, where it bathes. Its large footprints, resembling those of a bear, are often said to reveal its presence. Traditions also describe it as immensely strong and agile enough to climb the tallest trees.

The Ucumar is most feared for kidnapping people. According to many legends, the male abducts women and fathers children with them, while other traditions tell of a female Ucumar that captures young men. It is also said to steal children, making it a common figure used to frighten youngsters into obedience.

Those who encounter the Ucumar describe it as appearing suddenly and inspiring overwhelming terror. If someone shouts at the creature, it is said to answer from a distance with voices that sound eerily human. When attacked by dogs, it defends itself by striking them with a heavy club.

Among the Colla people, the Ucumar is instead portrayed as a gigantic ape-like being that walks upright through the forests. In this tradition, the male pursues women while the female hunts men, carrying their victims into remote wilderness where they are beaten to death. Some later writers have suggested that stories of the Ucumar may have been inspired by encounters with the spectacled bear of the Andean forests, though the legendary creature itself is regarded as a supernatural being rather than an ordinary animal.

Sources

Pueblos Originarios. (n.d.). Ucumar. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://pueblosoriginarios.com/sur/andina/colla/ucumar.html

Malebête

by

Tradition / Region: French Mythology
Alternative names: Malbête, Malebàete, Malebeste, Beast of Angles, Troussepoil
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Malebête, meaning the “Evil Beast,” is a monstrous bear from the folklore of Angles in the Vendée region of France. It was described as a gigantic black bear with shaggy, matted fur that terrorized the countryside by preying almost exclusively upon young women. After feeding, it washed itself in a nearby river, whose waters became stained with blood and whose tangled reeds gave rise to the name Troussepoil, or “Hair-Raiser.”

The beast’s strength exceeded that of any knight, and it was believed to be an incarnation of the Devil. Several holy men attempted to confront it, including the abbots of Fontaines and Talmont and even a papal envoy. Despite prayers and fasting, each fled in terror when the Malebête charged.

The monster was finally faced by Father Martin, an elderly monk from the monastery at Angles who devoted his life to prayer and contemplation. Carrying only a walking stick and wearing his religious robes, he approached the fearsome beast. Instead of attacking, the Malebête lowered its head before him. Father Martin simply ordered it to follow, and the obedient creature walked behind him as the people of Angles watched in astonishment.

The procession ended at the church of Notre-Dame-des-Anges. Father Martin commanded the Malebête to climb to the top of the bell tower. As soon as it reached the summit, the beast turned to stone, ending its reign of terror.

According to the legend, several young women mocked Father Martin after his victory, accusing him of becoming the Devil’s shepherd. Smiling, the monk looked up at the petrified Malebête and declared that from that day onward it would feed only upon the beauty of the women of Angles. Instantly, every woman present lost her beauty, and ever since, tradition says that the women of Angles avoid passing beneath the stone bear’s gaze by entering the church through a rear entrance. The petrified Malebête remains atop the bell tower, where it continues to watch over the town.

Sources

A Book of Creatures. (2015, July 13). Malebête. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://abookofcreatures.com/2015/07/13/malebete/

Blutschink

by

Tradition / Region: Austrian Mythology
Alternative names: Bluatschink, Bluetschinke, Plutschinke
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Blutschink is a fearsome demonic water spirit from the folklore of Tyrol and South Tyrol. Its name is often interpreted as “Blood Foot,” although some traditions suggest it ultimately derives from an older Slavic water demon. It is known as a dangerous creature that dwells near rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water, where it preys upon unsuspecting humans.

The Blutschink has the upper body of a shaggy, coal-black bear, while its lower body consists of powerful human legs. Its bare legs are stained blood-red and are said to drip constantly with blood, giving the creature its terrifying appearance.

According to tradition, the Blutschink attacks people by first draining the blood from its victims before devouring them. Because of this gruesome habit, it was greatly feared by those living near rivers and streams.

In South Tyrol, the legend expanded beyond waterways. There, the Blutschink was also believed to lurk among bean fields and poppy fields, waiting to seize and eat children who wandered too far from home. As a result, stories of the Blutschink were often told as warnings to keep children away from dangerous places where the monster was thought to hide.

Sources

Wikipedia-Autoren. (o. D.). Blutschink. In Wikipedia. Abgerufen am 29. Juni 2026, von https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blutschink

Ghost Bear of Old Martin

by

Tradition / Region: English Mythology
Alternative names: Old Martin’s Ghost
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Ghost Bear of Old Martin is a legendary apparition associated with the Tower of London. The tale centers on Old Martin, a massive grizzly bear presented to King George III by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1811. Already fully grown when he arrived in England, Old Martin was kept in the Royal Menagerie at the Tower of London, where he became famous for his enormous size and fierce temperament. Despite years in captivity, he never became tame and remained feared even by his keepers.

According to the legend, a Yeoman Warder standing watch at the Tower in 1816 encountered a ghostly bear near the Martin Tower during the night. Believing it to be a real animal, he thrust his bayonet at the apparition. The weapon passed straight through the spectral bear and struck the wooden door behind it, revealing that the creature was no living beast.

The terrifying encounter is said to have so shocked the guard that he died only a few hours later. The apparition thereafter became one of the many ghost stories connected with the Tower of London, and the phantom bear was remembered as the restless spirit of Old Martin.

Old Martin himself was later transferred to the newly established London Zoo after the Royal Menagerie closed, where he died in 1838. More than a century later, his preserved skin and feet were rediscovered in the collections of the Natural History Museum and temporarily returned to the Tower of London for a special exhibition, further reviving interest in the legend of the ghostly bear.

Sources

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Old Martin. In Wikipedia. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Martin