Mothman

|Region = [[Point Pleasant, West Virginia]], US

|Region = [[Point Pleasant, West Virginia]], US

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In [[American folklore]], '''Mothman''' is the name given to a humanoid creature that was reportedly seen around [[Point Pleasant, West Virginia]], from November 15, 1966, to December 15, 1967. Despite its name, the original sightings of the creature described avian features. The first newspaper report was published in the ''[[Point Pleasant Register]]'', dated November 16, 1966, titled "Couples See Man-Sized Bird ... Creature ... Something".{{cite web|title=Couples See Man-Sized Bird...Creature...Something|url=http://www.westva.net/mothman/1966-11-16.htm|work=[[Point Pleasant Register]] |location=Point Pleasant, WV |date=November 16, 1966 |publisher=WestVA.Net, Mark Turner|access-date=January 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011230219/http://www.westva.net/mothman/1966-11-16.htm|archive-date=October 11, 2007}} The national press soon picked up the reports and helped spread the story across the United States. The source of the legend is believed to have originated from sightings of out-of-migration [[sandhill crane]]s or [[heron]]s.

In [[American folklore]], '''Mothman''' is the name given to a humanoid creature that was reportedly seen around [[Point Pleasant, West Virginia]], from November 15, 1966, to December 15, 1967. Despite its name, the original sightings of the creature described avian features. The first newspaper report was published in the ''[[Point Pleasant Register]]'', dated November 16, 1966, titled "Couples See Man-Sized Bird ... Creature ... Something".{{cite web|title=Couples See Man-Sized Bird...Creature...Something|url=http://www.westva.net/mothman/1966-11-16.htm|work=[[Point Pleasant Register]] |location=Point Pleasant, WV |date=November 16, 1966 |publisher=WestVA.Net, Mark Turner|access-date=January 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011230219/http://www.westva.net/mothman/1966-11-16.htm|archive-date=October 11, 2007|url-status=usurped}} The national press soon picked up the reports and helped spread the story across the United States. The source of the legend is believed to have originated from sightings of out-of-migration [[sandhill crane]]s or [[heron]]s.

The creature was introduced to a wider audience by [[Gray Barker]] in 1970,''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]'', Volume 33 (Pennsylvania State University, Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. 2009)Gray Barker, ''The Silver Bridge'' (Saucerian Books, 1970). Reprinted in 2008 entitled ''The Silver Bridge: The Classic Mothman Tale'' (BookSurge Publishing). {{ISBN|1-4392-0427-6}} and was later popularized by [[John Keel]] in his 1975 book ''[[The Mothman Prophecies]]'',Keel, John A. ''The Mothman Prophecies'' (2002). {{ISBN|0-7653-4197-2}} (Originally published in 1975 by Saturday Review Press) claiming that there were paranormal events related to the sightings, and a connection to the collapse of the [[Silver Bridge]]. The book was later adapted into [[The Mothman Prophecies (film)|a 2002 film]] starring [[Richard Gere]].Meehan, Paul (2009). ''Cinema of the Psychic Realm: A Critical Survey'', p. 130. McFarland & Company, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-3966-9}}

The creature was introduced to a wider audience by [[Gray Barker]] in 1970,''[[Skeptical Inquirer]]'', Volume 33 (Pennsylvania State University, Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. 2009)Gray Barker, ''The Silver Bridge'' (Saucerian Books, 1970). Reprinted in 2008 entitled ''The Silver Bridge: The Classic Mothman Tale'' (BookSurge Publishing). {{ISBN|1-4392-0427-6}} and was later popularized by [[John Keel]] in his 1975 book ''[[The Mothman Prophecies]]'',Keel, John A. ''The Mothman Prophecies'' (2002). {{ISBN|0-7653-4197-2}} (Originally published in 1975 by Saturday Review Press) claiming that there were paranormal events related to the sightings, and a connection to the collapse of the [[Silver Bridge]]. The book was later adapted into [[The Mothman Prophecies (film)|a 2002 film]] starring [[Richard Gere]].Meehan, Paul (2009). ''Cinema of the Psychic Realm: A Critical Survey'', p. 130. McFarland & Company, Inc. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-3966-9}}