Robert Todd Carroll
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Psychic Gala adds a new dimension to Mothman fest
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Mothman
Mothman refers to a night-flying monster that
resembled a giant moth and frightened some people near Point Pleasant, West
Virginia, in 1966-1967. The lore around the story magnified in 1975 when John
Keel published
The Mothman Prophecies.
The story was legendary by the time the movie came out in 2002, starring
Richard Gere; it's now available on
DVD.
Paranormal investigator
Joe Nickell looked into the Mothman
reports and concluded:
At this point it seems relevant to consider a real
West Virginia winged creature—one that has "nocturnal habits" and "large,
staring eyes" of the type that yield crimson eyeshine, plus "facial discs"
that can make the eyes appear even larger. It has a large head and (unbirdlike)
is "monkey-faced," but looks "quite neckless" (its very short neck sloping
into its body so it could seem headless in silhouette). It has "oversized
wings and long legs," the latter being "powerful" and (unlike the spindly
legs of many birds) covered with feathers, making them look relatively
thick. Its flight is "noiseless" and indeed "mothlike," although during
flight it may vocalize a "loud, trailing 'khree-i.'" Its broad range
includes West Virginia, and it is a "widespread nester in human
habitations"; in fact it "hides in old buildings" ... as well as barns.
Because it is active only at night, it is "seldom disturbed or even seen by
humans," so when it is encountered it has an unfamiliar as well as "sinister
appearance" Its name is Tyto alba, the common barn owl. (Nickell
2002).
The folks in
Point Pleasant have made
the best of the situation and now celebrate their mythical monster with an
annual festival and a small
Mothman Museum where
souvenirs may be purchased. A statue of the "monster" adorns a city street
to commemorate the visitation.
See also Men in Black.
further reading
Joe Nickell.
(2002). Mothman Solved.
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