The Legend of the Wampus Cat in Appalachia

The Appalachian Mountains are home to a variety of cultural identities, resulting in a wonderful mix of traditions. Many people within and outside of Appalachia are familiar with the folklore of the mountains; but where do these mysteries originate?

Migration to the Appalachian Mountains happened over time, with individuals travelling from across the world. However, before all of the travellers arrived in the mountains, the Indigenous Cherokee people had their own traditions.Today, many Cherokee people have been displaced from their native land, but their traditions are not lost. Included in these traditions are legendary cryptids known across Appalachia.

One of these Appalachian Legends is the Wampus Cat, described as a half-dog, half-cat creature that roams on all fours. It is generally agreed to be an evil creature with glowing eyes.

The Legend

While there are many iterations of the legend, one of the most consistent follows an evil spirit within a Cherokee town called Etowah. The evil demon, called Ew’ah, represented the spirit of madness. Ew’ah fed on the nightmares of the village’s children, and so they sent their bravest warrior into the woods to defeat the demon once and for all. The bravest warrior in the Cherokee nation was called Standing Bear, and so he was sent alone so as to preserve the rest of the village’s great men.

Standing Bear stayed in the woods for weeks, until one day he emerged. However, he had not been successful in defeating Ew’ah. His wife, Running Deer, watched him return from the woods in a panic, screaming and clawing his eyes in defeat. Running Deer knew that her husband would never be the same again, and in grief she sought revenge on the evil spirit. The wife came to the Shamans, or spirit healers and religious specialists, and asked for help in defeating Ew’ah. The Shamans believed that the spirit of the mountain lion could defeat Ew’ah, but that Running Deer must be the one to take the demon by surprise. The warrior chiefs then gave the wife special weapons and camouflage in order to surprise and attack the evil demon.

Running Deer was familiar with the woods, surviving for many days on berries. At last, the wife found Ew’ah at the edge of a creek. She followed the evil demon upstream, until finally striking Ew’ah and taking the demon by surprise. The spirit of the mountain lion was with Running Deer, and when the wife faced Ew’ah, the demon’s magic was reflected right back into its face! Ew’ah tumbled backwards into the creek, maddened by its own magic, and Running Deer returned home to her village a hero. Some believe that the spirit of Running Deer still inhabits the Wampus Cat, seeking to protect the people of her nation.

The Meaning Behind The Legend

Again, there are many iterations of this story, but generally this version of the legend of the Wampus Cat communicates the dangers of the untamed wild. At the time, apex predators like cougars roamed the region. The legend of the Wampus Cat warns to protect community members and livestock from being preyed upon, and also reminds us that the wilderness commands deep respect and cannot be tamed.

In our own lives, we can examine how we interact with the wilderness around us. Regardless of which iteration of the legend we’ve heard, they all call on us. The next time you’re hiking, try to leave the woods cleaner than you found them. When you’re camping, beware of the wildlife that surround you; do not try to tame what is not yours.