One of the mythical fearsome critters, this beast is as elusive as its name suggests. Fond of concealing itself within the woodland environs of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan, the hidebehind has inspired considerable debate about its true appearance. It has been described variously as canine, wraithlike, or humanoid. This diversity of opinion might result from the hidebehind being able to rapidly change its shape, which it does to conceal itself behind tree trunks or beside log piles of different sizes. It is far more likely to be heard than seen, rustling through the underbrush, racing from tree to tree. Yet while difficult to spot, this beast is not shy. To the contrary, the hidebehind is a deadly hunter. The primary reason it avoids being seen is so that it can sneak up on its potential victims. The monster has been linked to the disappearance of many pioneers and loggers, whom it is suspected of devouring.
The first written reports of the hidebehind appear in Henry H. Tryon’s Fearsome Critters (1939), which confirms its aggressive disposition and adds that it can endure for up to seven years without food—although it prefers not to do so. Subsequently the hidebehind receives notice in twentieth-century newspapers and magazines from people who relay how they heard it and, in a few cases, glimpsed the hidebehind as well. More recently, the Grand Haven Tribune in Michigan recounted eyewitness encounters from 2000 and 2007. These contemporary dispatches are consistent with those of the past in suggesting that, while difficult to discern, the hidebehind stalks outdoor wanderers. Both twenty-first-century observers say the beast tracked them. Both also caught brief looks at the hidebehind’s wild black fur and its fiery red eyes.
Like other fearsome critters, the stories of the hidebehind helped those who lived and worked in the woods more than a century ago to explain the mysteries of their surroundings. The creature was credited with making the odd noises commonly heard near campgrounds late at night. The hidebehind also brought to life the anxiety that was all too common in a natural setting fraught with peril. The monster was blamed for the sudden absence of loggers from worksites, when in fact these individuals might have moved along to search for new jobs. At the same time, the hidebehind played an instructive role, reminding woodsmen to remain always vigilant against potential threats.
Despite its relatively low profile in the forest, the hidebehind has drawn the attention of many twenty-first-century artists and made its way into mainstream popular culture. In Charles Snellings’s 2005 novel The Hidebehind, one of the monsters still lurks in central Idaho. Snellings portrays the hidebehind as wrathful, hating all humans who dare to invade its territory, and the creature murders several dozen hikers, sightseers, and kayakers. The Disney animated series Gravity Falls, which debuted in 2012, features an episode that revolves around a far less menacing hidebehind. The Disney show depicts the creature as a sleek, humanoid shadow, which is generally concealed behind trees. This hidebehind makes scary sounds, but it does no harm to adventurers who trail it, trying to prove that it is merely a tall tale.
Noel Sloboda
See also Dwayyo; Fearsome Critters; Rougarou; Yokai
Further Reading
Collier, Kevin. 2014. “Early Loggers Looked Out for Legendary ‘Hidebehind.’” Grand Haven Tribune, May 27. http://www.grandhaventribune.com/article/strange-grand-haven/1015376. Accessed February 14, 2015.
Snellings, Charles. 2006. The Hidebehind. Raleigh, NC: Lulu.
Tyron, Henry H. 1939. Fearsome Critters. Cornwall, NY: Idlewild Press.