The legend of the Bear Lake Monster has roots that date back further than many realize, with the first stories of its existence handed down by the Native Americans who inhabited the land around Bear Lake. The monster might not gain the attention that Loch Ness or Champ, Lake Champlain's resident monster, has, but the belief in its existence was enough to deter Native peoples from nearing the water's edge.
Original stories read like breaking news headlines regarding proof of the monster's existence, which makes many wonder if there may have been some validity to it. It's not often that myths and legends seep into the lure surrounding a place's history but when it comes to Bear Lake, the mystery still remains unsolved. Once referred to as the 'water devil' by Native Americans, it's said that the monster was seen by many - not just a few - thus furthering the potential for something massive to be dwelling in these lake waters. With that being said, what could this alleged monster, who moves at a rapid pace and resembles no other marine creature, actually be? That remains to be seen, even by those who currently live near Bear Lake today.
The Earliest Reports Of The Bear Lake Monster
According to a story that was written by Joseph C. Rich and sent into the Deseret News Newspaper back in 1868, tales of a 'serpent-like' monster were not uncommon. It was said that this creature was responsible for tearing people from the edge of the lake as well as plucking swimmers straight from the water, thus many would not dare enter its depths. It's said that people wouldn't even risk setting up camp or sleeping near the lake for fear of the monster surfacing, the fear was that deeply instilled with the earliest civilizations to inhabit the land.
Soon, settlers also began witnessing the monster - or what the presumed to be it - in the form of something that was massive enough to touch the bottom of the lake, at the very least, with a serpent-like head and ears the size of 'pint cups.' The creature observed in the water was seemingly unmovable, according to reports, as some witnessed waves cascading over the animal without it flinching or moving along the current. On one account, the witness was so fearful of the creature that he fled without providing any further details.
Eventually, more and more people began to witness that great monster, many claiming it traveled at a speed that couldn't possibly match that of any known marine animal. Specifically, it would move 'faster than a horse could run.' The most descriptive account of the monster was actually by a group of people, who reported that the creature must have been nearly 90 feet long, with a speed - again - more rapid than that of any known animal. The wake alone that came off of the creature's tail was estimated to be roughly the size of a horse and it was said that the sighting couldn't have been more than three miles out, meaning the monster was relatively close to the shoreline, with a body that was brown in color.
Modern-Day Sightings
Sightings of the Bear Lake Monster continued to happen sporadically over the following century, with one man, Mike Havertz, having a particularly interesting story to share about the creature. According to his eyewitness account, one part of the lake began to move and gave off waves that were roughly 20 feet in length. He witnessed it from the boat he and a group had taken out onto the lake - to do some investigative searching, interestingly enough - and could only watch as waves from the wake made it into their boat. The next thing Havertz saw were three smooth humps emerging from the water, and no head, tail, or fins, but it was enough to spook the group quite a bit.
Havertz happened to also be the uncle of Matthew Havertz, who is responsible for the documentary on the Bear Lake Monster that came out in October of 2019. According to Havertz, there have been other strange phenomena surrounding the lake that are seemingly unexplained, such as unusual water motions or entire groups or elk or fish swimming haphazardly. Since Bear Lake is one of the oldest lakes in the world, it's tough to discredit that something could be lurking in its depths, especially since it's a known fact that there are many species of animals out there which have not yet been discovered. Is this enough to confirm the existence of a strange creature, however? We may never know.