Cryptozoology: Fearsome Critters

Splintercat: The splintercat is a nocturnal feline animal of great ferocity. It flies through the air with terrific speed and when it hits a large tree, it knocks the branches off, withers the trunk and leaves it standing like a silvery ghost. You can see these dead snags in many parts of the Pacific Northwest. The splinter cat performs this feat that it is named after to expose bees and honey to eat. However, the act of breaking open trees with its head leaves it with a constant headache, which causes it always to be in a foul mood. Accordingly, one is advised to never approach a splintercat.

Axehandle Hound: Overall, it resembles a dog with a roughly axelike shape. Its head is shaped like an axe blade, while its body, carried on short stubby legs, resembles an axe handle. It eats axe handles which have been left unattended.

Hoop Snake: The distinguishing feature of a hoop snake is that it can grasp its tail in its jaws and roll after its prey like a wheel. The snake straightens out at the last second, skewering its victim with its venomous tail. The only escape is to hide behind a tree which receives the deadly blow instead and promptly dies from the poison.

Hidebound: Hidebound is a creature that a human may spot in the corner of their eye, but disappears upon further inspection.

Argopelter: The Argopelter is rarely seen, and no distinct description exists. However, it is said to inhabit hollow tree trunks in the forest. From this vantage point the creature will await any unwary person and hurl wooden splinters and branches at him or her. Although the human could sustain serious injury, there is no record of assault past this initial bombardment.

Drop Bear: Drop Bears are unusually large, vicious, carnivorous koalas that inhabit treetops and attack their prey by dropping onto their heads from above.

Giant Penguin: This huge bird is over 15 feet tall and has alligator-like feet.

Hodag: It is covered with black fur, and has spikes along its back and two horns on its head. News reports from the time of its discovery claimed the hodag had "the head of a bull, the grinning face of a giant man, thick short legs set off by huge claws, the back of a dinosaur, and a long tail with a spear at the end". A variety, the Cave Hodag, has at least three glowing eyes.