Draft:North Island Devil

In Midwestern American folklore, the North Island Devil refers to a mysterious cryptid believed to inhabit the forest known as Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve, located in Oak Brook, Illinois. The forest preserve includes a 3.2 mile walking and biking trail and follows Salt Creek, where it eventually converges with Graue Mill and Museum in the more popularly visited southern portion of the preserve.

Geography

In the northern part of the preserve, a thicker forest and more difficult hiking trails lessen the amount of visitors, especially on the infamous North Island where the creature is said to reside. North Island is accessible via the North Island Loop Trail, which diverges from the preserve's Riverbend Trail. The island is nearly perfectly circular, with a mere 500 foot diameter. It is home to a small hut in the center area, though most of the island is covered in a deep forest.

Appearance

The North Island Devil is commonly described as a humanoid creature with dark brown hair covering the entirety of its body. It is most often referred to as resembling a gorilla or an abnormally tall human, said to be approximately 7 feet tall. Eyewitness reports detail the creature as being bipedal with a strangely elongated body and large claws emerging from the ends of its arms. Common descriptions of the cryptid also allude to its incredible speed and camouflage abilities. Some sources describe the creature having a tail and glowing red eyes, though experts cannot agree on the existence of these traits due to a lack of evidence and heavy speculation.

Reported sightings

Though there have been very few reports of encounters with the North Island Devil, enough sightings have come together in order to classify the creature as a cryptid.

Sightings and encounters with the creature are regularly reported during the late summer through early winter. Because of the common timing of the sightings, experts warn against visiting the area during the fall season and during the night.

According to common hikers in the area, the creature is most often present during dusk and night. Strange knocking and growling sounds have been reported along with hair samples which have been collected in the forest on the island.

In 2023, a sighting of a large, hair-covered shadow creature was reported by local teenager Phillip Aarons. In a disturbing explanation, Aarons described the creature as a, "terrifyingly large beast." Aarons was reportedly hiking through the forest preserve during sundown for a school project when he encountered what he said was a, "seven foot tall human-like creature with hair covering its entire body. It stomped loudly and walked like a human with a limp. It had giant claws which had to be at least 6 inches long." After spotting the cryptid, Aarons said that the creature glanced at him, after which he ran away quickly. When questioned by experts, Aarons said, "I can't deny what I saw was strange, but I know I saw something."

Wave of sightings, 2015–2023

In recent years, certain photos and reports of abnormally large footprints have surfaced. These footprints are said to measure around 12–16 inches in length, with 4 similarly sized appendages at the end of the foot and one larger appendage emerging on the interior side of the foot.

In late 2019, 18 sightings of large humanoid figures were reported on the island. Multiple pictures of shadow-like creatures, footprints, and clumps of hair have been commonly spotted throughout the last 9 years.

Skepticism and explanations

Many skeptics have come to question or deny the existence of the North Island Devil. They claim that the reports are too similar to other famous American cryptids, pointing to similarities with Bigfoot and the Yeti. Experts point to the fact that hairy, human-like bipedal creatures are all too common in global folklore, and that certain reports have been fabricated for the purpose of spreading mystery and false claims.

Other experts have attempted to explain reports of the North Island Devil. Sounds of knocking and growling can be attributed to certain local birds, they say, while shadow figures and apparitions can simply be explained by the disorientation of senses during the night.

Though there is much skepticism, locals hold firmly that the North Island Devil is a truly mysterious cryptid which haunts the area.

External links

"Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve - Oak Brook". EnjoyIllinois. Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
"Graue Mill and Museum at Fullersburg Woods". Forest Preserve District of Dupage County. Retrieved July 23, 2024.