Mythology!

Ya-o-gah

by

Tradition / Region: Haudenosaunee Mythology, American Mythology, Canadian Mythology
Alternative names: Ya-oh-gah, Ya-o-gah
Category: Bear

The Myth

Ya-o-gah is the great bear spirit who personifies the North Wind in Haudenosaunee mythology. He serves as one of the four mighty wind spirits governed by Gǎ-oh, the giant master of the winds and the being through whom the Great Spirit moves the elements across the world.

Among the four winds, Ya-o-gah is the most destructive. His breath brings bitter cold and possesses the power to freeze and destroy the world. Despite this terrifying strength, he does not act freely, for Gǎ-oh keeps him under control and commands when the North Wind may blow.

The other winds balance Ya-o-gah’s fierce nature. The South Wind, Ne-o-ga, is gentle and warm like the rays of the sun. The West Wind, Da-jo-ji, takes the form of a panther capable of climbing mountains, tearing down forests, carrying whirlwinds upon his back, and stirring the seas into violent storms. The East Wind, O-yan-do-ne, appears as a moose whose breath chills the young clouds drifting across the sky.

Together, these four spirits maintain the natural order of the world under the guidance of Gǎ-oh, with Ya-o-gah embodying the harsh, relentless power of winter and the frozen north.

Sources

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

ImiEru’jap Inua

by

Tradition / Region: Inuit Mythology, Greenland Mythology, Canadian Mythology
Alternative names: Spirit of the Meteor
Category: Bear

The Myth

ImiEru’jap Inua is the spirit of a meteor that appears in Inuit tradition. It is described as a supernatural being with a body divided between human and bear. One side of its glowing form is that of a bear, while the other is human, and its head is human in shape but bears the tusks of a bear.

The spirit is most closely associated with the shaman Uvavnuk. One winter night, as she stepped outside her home, she saw a brilliant ball of fire descend from the sky. Before she could escape, the meteor struck her and entered her body. She immediately perceived an inner light before losing consciousness. At that moment, the spirit of the meteor entered her, transforming her into a powerful shaman.

When Uvavnuk regained consciousness, she returned to her home singing without understanding why. Filled with supernatural knowledge, she began revealing the hidden wrongdoings of everyone present. Those who confessed their misdeeds cast them away with symbolic gestures, believing themselves cleansed of evil. Whenever the spirit possessed her, she could see, hear, and know things beyond ordinary human perception.

Outside these moments of possession, Uvavnuk was an ordinary woman with no special abilities. Only when the spirit of the meteor illuminated her from within did her extraordinary powers return.

Before her death, Uvavnuk held one final ceremony and declared that humanity should never suffer from hunger. Through her connection with the spirits, she brought forth an abundance of game from beneath the earth. After her passing, her people experienced an exceptionally prosperous year, with plentiful whales, walruses, seals, and caribou, fulfilling her final blessing.

Sources

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

Gumberoo

by

Tradition / Region: American Mythology
Alternative names: –
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Gumberoo is one of the legendary fearsome critters of American lumberjack folklore. It resembles an enormous, fat black bear but is completely hairless except for its thick eyebrows and the bristly hairs on its chin. Instead of fur, it possesses a smooth, coal-black hide as tough as leather.

The creature’s skin is said to be completely impervious to harm. Bullets, arrows, rocks, and other projectiles simply bounce harmlessly from its body, making the Gumberoo nearly impossible to kill by ordinary means.

Its only known weakness is fire. Although nothing can pierce its hide, flames ignite the creature instantly, causing it to burn with explosive force. According to lumberjack tales, the rarity of Gumberoos was often explained by the frequent forest fires that swept through the cedar forests, destroying the creatures in spectacular explosions.

One story tells of a man named S. W. Allen who supposedly managed to photograph a Gumberoo. However, the legend claims that even the photographic negative exploded, adding another impossible feat to the folklore surrounding the indestructible beast.

Sources

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

Kawaguma

by

Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternative names: Kawakuma
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Kawaguma, meaning “river bear,” is an aquatic yōkai said to inhabit the deep rivers of northern Japan, particularly the Omono River in Akita Prefecture and the Shinano River in Niigata Prefecture. Covered in black hair and rarely seen by humans, it spends most of its life hidden beneath the water.

Little is known about the Kawaguma’s habits because it remains at the bottom of deep rivers. It is sometimes curious enough to approach boats, clinging to their sides or stealing objects and dragging them back to its underwater lair. It is also blamed for digging into riverbanks, causing them to collapse and bringing about floods.

One famous legend tells of a lord who was hunting from a boat on the Omono River when a black, hairy hand suddenly reached up from the depths and snatched away his rifle. A skilled diver later recovered the weapon from the deepest part of the river, and it thereafter became known as the “Kawaguma gun,” remaining a treasured possession of the Satake clan.

Another tale recounts how a ferryman had just tied up his boat for the night when he heard a splash behind him. Looking back, he saw a pair of black, hairy hands gripping the side of the boat. Startled, he struck at them with a large knife. The following morning, a severed hand was found inside the boat. It resembled the paw of a cat but was covered in black fur, and everyone who saw it declared that it belonged to a Kawaguma.

Sources

Foster, M. D. (n.d.). Kawaguma. In Yokai.com: The Illustrated Database of Japanese Folklore. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://yokai.com/kawaguma/.

Sasnalkáhi

by

Tradition / Region: Navajo Mythology, American Mythology
Alternative names: The Bear that Pursues
Category: Bear

The Myth

Sasnalkáhi, “The Bear that Pursues,” was a monstrous bear counted among the Anaye, a race of dangerous beings born from unnatural unions. His fathers were said to be a smooth stone and a leg sinew. He lived in a cross-shaped cave within Tse’bahástsit, the “Rock that Frightens,” and once he began hunting, no prey could escape him.

The hero Nayenezgani set out to destroy Sasnalkáhi, carrying yucca fruit in his left hand and hard oak twigs in his right. These sacred medicinal plants protected him from the monster’s supernatural power as he approached the bear’s cave.

Nayenezgani searched each of the cave’s entrances. When he reached the northern opening, Sasnalkáhi withdrew his head and attempted to escape through the southern entrance. Anticipating the monster’s movements, Nayenezgani waited there. As soon as the great bear emerged, the hero struck and severed its head.

After defeating the beast, Nayenezgani declared that although Sasnalkáhi had brought only suffering during its life, it would now become a blessing to the people. He cut the head into three pieces and cast them in different directions. One became tsási (Yucca baccata) in the east, another became tsásitsoz (Yucca angustifolia) in the west, and the third became nóta (mescal) in the south. The creature’s nipples transformed into pinyon nuts, while pieces of fat taken from around its tail became the first bear and the first porcupine. Nayenezgani kept the left forepaw, the gall, and the windpipe as trophies of his victory.

Sources

A Book of Creatures. (2020, June 8). Sasnalkáhi. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://abookofcreatures.com/2020/06/08/sasnalkahi/

Bjarndýrakóngur

by

Tradition / Region: Icelandic Mythology
Alternative names: King of the Bears
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Bjarndýrakóngur, meaning “King of the Bears,” is the legendary ruler of all polar bears in Icelandic folklore. It is said to be born from the union of a female polar bear and either a walrus or a bull. Distinguished by its red cheeks and a single horn upon its forehead, the creature carries this horn as a symbol of its royal authority. The horn ends in a sharp point capped with a shining platinum sphere that radiates light, allowing the king to find its way even through complete darkness.

The King of the Bears is renowned not only for its immense strength but also for its wisdom and justice. It understands human speech and commands absolute loyalty from every other polar bear. Although capable of killing with its horn, it does so only in self-defense or to punish bears that have broken its laws.

One famous legend tells of a Whitsun church service during the eighteenth century, when a procession of twelve or thirteen polar bears emerged from the remote parts of Iceland. At their head walked the majestic Bjarndýrakóngur. The local clergyman and congregation greeted the royal beast with bows, and the king respectfully returned the gesture before continuing its journey across southern Iceland.

During the procession, the last bear in the line killed and ate a sheep at Borgamór. The Bjarndýrakóngur immediately turned upon the offender and pierced it with its horn as punishment for its crime. After restoring order, the royal procession continued until it reached Grenivík, where the bears disappeared into the sea.

According to tradition, the only creature willing to challenge the Bjarndýrakóngur is the Redcheek, an unusually fierce polar bear marked by a patch of reddish-pink fur on one cheek. Aggressive toward every creature it encounters, the Redcheek is nevertheless no match for the wise and powerful King of the Bears.

Sources

A Book of Creatures. (2020, November 13). Bjarndýrakóngur. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://abookofcreatures.com/2020/11/13/bjarndyrakongur/

Loekenbeer

by

Tradition / Region: Belgian Mythology
Alternative names: Lokkenbeer, Lokkeman
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Loekenbeer is a dangerous creature from Flemish folklore said to dwell in cesspits and wells. It is especially feared for luring children who wander too close to these places, dragging them into the water and drowning them.

The creature is also believed to hide in dark cellars, waiting unseen. Stories of the Loekenbeer served as a warning to children to stay away from deep wells, pits, and other hazardous places where the mysterious being was thought to lurk.

Sources

Abe van der Veen. (2014, July 8). Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten. Abe de Verteller. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/

Schuimert

by

Tradition / Region: Dutch Mythology
Alternative names: –
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Schuimert is a fearsome creature from the folklore of Gelderland. It is described as a plague beast that appears to people in the form of either a wolf or a bear.

When taking the shape of a bear, the Schuimert is recognized by the foam covering its mouth. Its sudden appearance is regarded as an ominous encounter, and the creature is remembered as a dangerous being that brings fear and misfortune to those who cross its path.

Sources

Abe van der Veen. (2014, July 8). Van aardmannetje tot zwarte juffer: Een lijst van Nederlandse en Vlaamse elfen en geesten. Abe de Verteller. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://abedeverteller.nl/van-aardmannetje-tot-zwarte-juffer-een-lijst-van-nederlandse-en-vlaamse-elfen-en-geesten/

Ozark Howler

by

Tradition / Region: American Mythology
Alternative names: –
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Ozark Howler is a legendary cryptid said to inhabit the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas and southern Missouri. It is commonly described as a large, bear-like creature with a dark, shaggy coat that roams the remote forests. Although many consider it a myth or a case of mistaken identity, local folklore and reported sightings have kept the legend alive.

Some traditions trace the creature’s origins to the late eighteenth century, when the American frontiersman Daniel Boone reportedly claimed to have killed a large, hairy beast in the region. This account is often cited as one of the earliest stories connected to the Ozark Howler.

Reports of the creature became more common during the twentieth century. Witnesses have described encountering a large, fast-moving animal resembling a bear, though no evidence has confirmed its existence. In one reported incident from 2014, a motorist in Benton County, Arkansas, nearly collided with a large gray animal described as being about the size of a bear, prompting wildlife officials to investigate.

In 2015, photographs claimed to show the Ozark Howler were submitted to a local Arkansas television station. After reviewing the images, state wildlife officials concluded that they were a hoax. Despite the lack of verified evidence, stories of the mysterious bear-like creature continue to be part of the folklore of the Ozark Mountains.

Sources

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

Onikuma

by

Tradition / Region: Japanese Mythology
Alternative names: Demon Bear
Category: Bear

The Myth

The Onikuma, meaning “demon bear,” is a fearsome yōkai said to originate in the mountain forests of Japan, particularly the Kiso Valley in Nagano Prefecture. It is believed that when an ordinary bear lives for many years, it transforms into an Onikuma, growing far larger than any natural bear and gaining immense supernatural strength.

Unlike ordinary bears, an Onikuma is able to walk upright on two legs. It is powerful enough to move enormous boulders that even groups of men cannot shift, and it can crush small animals with a single blow. Although it lives deep within remote mountain forests and is active mainly at night, it occasionally descends into nearby villages in search of food.

When an Onikuma enters human settlements, it is known for carrying away livestock such as horses and cattle before disappearing back into the mountains. Because of its tremendous strength, encounters with the creature are rare but often deadly, leaving villagers with little choice but to organize dangerous hunts.

Traditional accounts describe a special method for killing an Onikuma. Hunters blocked the entrance to its den with a massive wooden frame covered in wisteria vines. They then forced branches and brush through the narrow openings until the beast’s shelter became completely filled. Eventually the trapped Onikuma burst through the entrance, where hunters waited to attack it with long spears and rifles.

According to legend, several Onikuma were slain during the Kyōhō era (1716–1736). Their hides were said to be so enormous that each one could cover an area of more than six tatami mats. Large boulders scattered throughout the Kiso Valley are also known as “Onikuma stones,” as local tradition claims they were hurled down the mountainsides by these mighty demon bears. In Hokkaido, bears that attacked humans were likewise feared and referred to as Onikuma.

Sources

Foster, M. D. (n.d.). Onikuma. In Yokai.com: The Illustrated Database of Japanese Folklore. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://yokai.com/onikuma/.

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