By Natalie Pearce
The Skinwalker is known as such in Navajo culture. It’s a kind of evil witch type creature that can shape shift into animal form. Translated directly from the Navajo language it means “by means of it, it goes on all fours”. Legend has it that hundreds of years ago the two major tribes in the Utah basin area fell out, resulting in the Ute tribe being convinced that the Navajo had cursed the land they now occupied.
Located in Utah basin is a huge 512 acre piece of land named ‘Skin Walker Ranch’, popularised by its presence on many television documentaries. The ranch has been made famous over the years due to reports of Skinwalkers, UFO phenomenon and paranormal activity. Reports dating back over a century have detailed sightings of Skinwalkers in and around this area.
One such example was Terry Sherman, who owned the ranch in 1994 at the time of his experience. Terry spotted something heading towards his cattle in their pen. He ran towards the cattle and came face to face with a wolf-like creature; only it was 3 times bigger than a normal wolf. The creature was biting off the head of a calf through the railings of the pen. Shooting the beast at least 3 times, it didn’t flinch and simply lifted its head and looked at him. It then walked away leaving a stench of rotting flesh in the air.
Sometimes the creatures are seen on 2 legs, sometimes on 4. In 1997, a new owner, Robert Bigelow had taken ownership of the Ranch. He describes seeing a humanoid beast up in the tree, watching him with large yellow eyes. He shot at it and it disappeared from view but left behind a footprint like that of a giant raptor in the snow below the tree.
Some Navajo believe that Skinwalkers can be good creatures, sent to protect people from evil and danger, however most believe that over the years they went rogue and began to develop dangerous traits and a distinct dislike for humans. They are known to hunt individuals and groups, often stalking them in the process. Reports have been made that people can often pass out at the mere sight of a Skinwalker, and that this often results in the Skinwalker stowing them in nearby caves or wooded areas.
Sightings are often in grave yards. It is thought that Skinwalkers dig up bodies, and can do this with speed. They extract powder from the corpses that they use to kill people. Skinwalkers have also been seen in ripped clothes as if they have just transformed.
Encounters
Montana, U.S.
One report tells the tale of the witnesses visit to their relative’s house, most of which was uneventful. One evening their Grandma kept looking out of the curtains and when asked what she was doing she said the Skinwalker was watching her.
Laughing it off, one evening the brother was with his younger sibling helping Grandma plant some flowers at the front of the house. He recalls hearing her scream “Get away from the creature!” The family came out to see what was happening and all witnessed a huge wolf-like creature standing staring straight at their Grandma. It was stood on 2 hind legs and had bright yellow eyes. It looked around at the gathered crowd, huffed and ran off.
New Mexico, U.S.
Reported in 2004, this witness had always had the ‘I will believe it when I see it‘ approach to anything left field. The witness walked towards his front door with his son when he noticed something move behind his neighbours car and went behind a tree. The porch lights gently illuminated the figure which looked as if it wanted to avoid detection. It was approximately 15ft away. What he did notice was that it was neither human nor animal. He recalls it looked a bit like the creature from Beauty and the Beast. He said it was tall as it walked on hind legs and was completely covered in very thick dark hair. Getting quickly back in their car, the witness never again encountered the beast but its image is burned in his memory.
Arizona, U.S.
The witness went to stay with his college friend’s family during the holidays. One of the family said that there was a stray dog outside that wouldn’t leave, describing it as a cross between a German Shepard and Labrador dog, dishevelled .
That evening, they witnessed the dog looking at them through the window, standing on a box outside. Thinking it was a little strange, one of the family opened the door and shouted at it and it ran off. Some hours later, now dusk outside, the family hear very strange noises. Looking out of the window, they saw the same dog, on its back legs trying to turn the door knob with its paws. Banging on the window in fright, the dog again ran away.
Settling into bed that night, sounds again came this time from the roof of the house. They could hear the tapping of feet then what sounded like a crash as if something had jumped off the roof and knocked the water butt over in the yard.
Then came some loud barking noises, with what sounded like the same bark being echoed in the distance. Suddenly, the bark changed to a human imitating a bark in a deep male voice, going around the outside of the house. Wanting to check if the creature had gone, the family opened a crack in the bedroom curtain to see the dog on its hind legs looking directly at them. This time it was close enough to see it had two sets of eyes, resembling that of a spider. The paws were hands with deformed thick nails. They could smell an awful stench even through the window. They quickly closed the curtain and the creature wasn’t seen again.
Wisconsin, U.S.
In 1991, a woman was driving along a road just after 8.30 in the evening when she felt like her truck tyre hit something. She stopped the car and racing towards her at speed was a hairy dog like creature, with a bulked out human torso. Retreating into the truck she began to drive off, but the creature jumped onto the back of her truck. Scared for her life she drove as fast as she could and saw the figure slip off the truck as it was wet from the rain.
In the same area, further along the road some weeks later, a hunched up person was noticed at the side of the road by a passing motorist. Slowing down, she was about six foot away from the person when she couldn’t believe what she saw. Though not in the headlights, the creatures eyes glowed yellow and was a grey/brown colour of thick hair. It had large ears and even larger fangs with a long wolf like snout. The lady noticed it had “odd” arms, with palms facing upward and jointed like a human but very muscular. The encounter lasted no more than 45 seconds before the creature vanished.
The Skinwalker, especially those associated with the Skinwalker Ranch, bring with them tales of other phenomenon. For centuries, lights have been seen in the sky around the ranch, dating as far back as 1776.
UFO sightings have been plentiful, including several reports of cattle mutilation or strange cattle deaths. In the 1950’s the Sherman family who lived there, along with other local ranchers, noticed cattle were simply disappearing off their properties. Those that were found had organs removed with surgical precision, similar to other mutilations recorded around the world. These events remain ongoing even today.
Many people have tried to conduct experiments and research around the Skinwalker legend and the namesake ranch, but many experience unusual electrical malfunctions to equipment and even spikes of radiation in the area. Teams experience things such as mobile phones that go fuzzy, batteries that drain totally, even when new, and dizzy feelings in some locations around the ranch.
One ranch worker claimed he got significant headaches whilst working in specific areas, resulting in him even having to attend the emergency department. Doctors found that his scalp had started to pull away from his skull, something only very rarely seen after significant bouts of radiation therapy.
Commonality of reports
Sound and Smell
Nearly all reports of Skinwalker encounters mention the putrid smell, often so bad it makes individuals physically vomit. Some have described the smell as like blood mixed with a metallic smell.
There is also a distinct sound associated with the beasts. They mimic the sounds of humans whitening and crying, sometimes mimicking small children. They are believed to be able to mimic the sound of whatever animal they are attempting to emulate.
People have reported that Skinwalkers will often make scraping or banging noises on windows of people they stalk. Some even claim the Skinwalkers have mimicked the voice of a loved one asking for help as a way to lure victims.
Locations
Reports have been made all over the world, however the Navajo Skinwalker has the vast majority of sightings reported in Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and in parts of Canada. Recently, sightings have spiked in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, usually in thick pine forests..
Appearance
Sightings have reported Skinwalkers that have had tails, massive ears, sharp protruding teeth and even disfigured faces. They are usually seen in the shape of a dog, owl, coyote, deer, wolf or crow.
It is reported that you can also summon a Skinwalker if you want to (PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT ADVISED!). Navajo elders believe that if for some reason, you decide to do this, you will need to ensure a ‘medicine man’ is close by to offer protection. They also recommend a sage cleansing, blessing on your home or property and making sure that all sins are repented before summoning begins. It is said you then;
- Embark on the ritual at night between 2 and 4am.
- Summoning should be done in a wooded area or desert
- Rub sage across your bare chest and face
- Speaking outload, ask the Skinwalker to show themselves to you, saying “Yee Naaldlooshii” three times and wait for it/them to appear.
Supposedly, and I guess a useful bit of information, is how to kill one. Legend says that the only way this can be done is to know the true name of the Skinwalker and to say this out loud three times. It will then die within three days. I am sure not many people who encounter the beasts know this information!
The history of the Skinwalker is long and it is hard to ignore the multiple encounters that have been recorded over the years. Whatever it is that people are seeing, it is certainly scary and certainly doesn’t appear to be just a big dog, but as I have never seen one, it’s hard to say for sure.
