Tradition: American Mythology
Alternative Names: Wapaloosies
Category: Marten
The Myth
Wapaloosies are unusual mammals that inhabit the forests of the Pacific Coast. About the size of a dachshund, they have velvety fur, woodpecker-like feet, and a tail tipped with a sharp spike. Their bodies and movements resemble those of inchworms, allowing them to climb effortlessly up the tallest trees. They seek out bracket fungi growing on tree trunks and branches, using their specialized feet and spike-tipped tails to aid their ascent.
The wapaloosie’s climbing ability supposedly persists even after death. One lumberjack in Washington shot a wapaloosie and turned its fur into a pair of mittens. However, whenever he tried to grasp an axe or another object, the mittens began shimmying up whatever he held, climbing toward the top of its handle. Unable to use them without the strange behavior recurring, the lumberjack eventually discarded the mittens. They were last seen scrambling over piles of lumber slash, continuing their peculiar climbing long after the animal itself had died.
Sources
“Wapaloosie.” A Book of Creatures, May 27, 2019. https://abookofcreatures.com/2019/05/27/wapaloosie/