Something is lurking in the forests of Orlando. Perhaps it’s just a Florida Man, but it’s possible that cryptids have decided to call O-Town home. These mysterious creatures have been reported in Florida — have you spotted any nearby?
Skunk Ape
This hairy cryptid is considered Florida’s version of Bigfoot. It’s supposedly been spotted — and smelled — in the Everglades, so we think the lakes in Osceola County could be a homey habitat. Learn more at the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters in Ochopee.
Wampus cat
What has six legs, razor-sharp claws, a 9-ft tail, and a taste for blood? That would be the panther-like creature whose story reaches across the South. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission’s latest official Orlando-area panther sighting was just outside of Kissimmee. Maybe he was on his way to hang with wampus cats at Lake Tohopekaliga?
Moss Man
Since the 1800s, a biped covered in a coat of moss has been stalking the wetlands of north Florida. It has evaded capture for decades, but keep a close eye on Cypress Grove Park — the Spanish moss in the trees by the lakeshore could make for a good hiding spot.
Sewer gators
Have we found the real culprit behind Orlando’s road drainage issues? While it’s been proven that alligators sometimes use Florida sewer systems as their own personal shortcuts, urban legends have exaggerated their sizes to mythic lengths. See your own (real) alligators sunning on the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive.
Do these cryptids really exist in Florida? Take a deeper dive with these episodes of the Central Florida-produced podcast “Florida Men on Florida Man":
- Episode 214 - “Boca Raton Demon Cat”
- Episode 244 - “The Trail of the Skunk Ape”
- Episode 245 - “Guess the Cryptid w/ Oak and Iron”
