The Ohio Grassman Legend Tells Of A Sociable, Bigfoot-Like Creature Lurking In The Buckeye State
The legend of Bigfoot appears in various regions across America. These cryptids may vary in description, traits, and body odors, but they have all captured the collective curiosity of dedicated cryptologists and casual Bigfoot fans alike.
In the Buckeye State, locals whisper about a creature called the Ohio Grassman. The Buckeye Bigfoot is far from the only creepy thing from Ohio, but it is one of the most interesting. Its alleged sociability, stench, and varying accounts of whether or not the Grassman is vicious make this cryptid fascinating.
- Photo: r. nial bradshaw / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Legend Claims The Creature Is Tall, Reddish-Brown, And Often Has Red Eyes
The Ohio Grassman is often physically described in the same manner as Bigfoot: It is large, standing between six and eight feet tall, and weighing anywhere between 500 and 800 pounds. The creature is covered in hair, typically described by alleged witnesses as dark, reddish-brown, or black.
The Ohio Grassman is also known for its eyes, which many who claim to have seen the creature say are menacing and red. An 1869 article in the Hillsdale Standard describes the creature's eyes as "burning and maniac."
- Photo: Mike / Flickr / CC BY-NC 2.0
The Grassman Is Considered More ‘Sociable’ Than Bigfoot
People who claim to have seen Bigfoot typically say they have seen the creature on its own. The Ohio Grassman, however, has been said to travel in packs of up to five creatures.
Enthusiasts believe this means the Grassman is a much more social, pack-like creature than Bigfoot. Some accounts even describe seeing a mother Grassman with child-like Grassmen.
The Grassman Allegedly Cries Like A Baby But Screams Like A Woman
While Bigfoot is known for its fear-inducing howls and roars, the Grassman is known for a different guttural cry.
People who have allegedly seen the Ohio Grassman say that it cries like a baby and screams as if it were a woman. Given that some witnesses have claimed to have seen a mother Grassman with her children, this alleged cry could be coming from different ages and sexes of the cryptid.
The Creature Got Its Name Because It Mostly Eats Tall Grasses
The Ohio Grassman might have a description similar to Bigfoot, but the Ohio creature's diet differentiates it from the most famous cryptid.
According to enthusiasts, the Grassman is partial to eating the tall grasses of its habitat. Some Ohioans have said they spotted the beast at the edges of farms, munching on things like wheat. Roughly 50% of Ohio is considered "prime farmland" by the US Department of Agriculture, which means there are plenty of places for this alleged beast to snack.
The Grassman Is Said To Reek Of Rotten Eggs
Even if you can't see the Grassman, believers say you sure can smell him. The massive creature reportedly reeks of rotten eggs. The Weiser Field Guide to Cryptozoology describes the beast's scent as a "wild odor." The Grassman also might wipe its feces on trees, which only adds to its awful scent.
The creature's stench might be aggressive, but many cryptid enthusiasts believe that the Grassman is anything but when it comes to human interactions.
- Photo: Lofywyn / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Ohio’s Infamous 'Grassman' Was First Reported In 1869
In 1869, the Grassman became one of the first cryptids to get its own newspaper story. The article ran in the Hillsdale Standard, a Michigan newspaper, and was called "Hairy Man Attacks."
The paper referred to the creature as a "wild man" who appeared "naked...[and] covered with hair." The article also alleges that the mysterious creature went after a father and his daughter as they made their way through Gallia County, OH, by carriage. The father and daughter said they had to fight for their lives. Fortunately, the daughter was able to fend off this vicious creature with a bash of a rock to the ear. Reportedly, the beast simply got up and walked away after that, uninterested in pursuing them further.
- Photo: MonsterQuest/History Channel
One Family Claimed To See The Creature Many Times
In 1978, the Caytons had their first encounter with the alleged Grassman. Evelyn and Howe Cayton were sitting inside when their children came inside screaming. The kids said that they saw a monster in a gravel pit nearby. When the parents went out to investigate, Evelyn claims she saw a seven-foot-tall, 300-pound beast with dark hair. According to her account, the creature simply stood there until she ran away.
This wasn't the Cayton's only encounter with the Grassman, though. In fact, the Grassman visited frequently enough that one of the Cayton daughters started referring to him as a "pet." The Caytons said the creature never really bothered them, but they always knew when he was there due to his strong stench.
