In Iroquois folklore, the nyagwaiheogwa, tagesho, or yagesho ("naked bear") was a monstrous bear-like animal of northern New York said to have been wiped by the Indians out in the 17th Century.
Description[]
The naked bear was said to have been "remarkably long-bodied, broad down by his shoulders, but thin or narrow just at its hind legs," with a large head and a "fearful look". Its legs were described as short and thick, with widely-spread paws armed with claws almost the length of a human finger. Its name was in reference to its almost totally hairless body, except on the hindlegs, where the hair was very long. It had a terrifying, loud roar.
It was regarded as very dangerous, and they supposedly killed many Indians, especially women and children working outdoors. The only way to escape from it was to leap into water. It also killed, and supposedly ate, other animals including bears and livestock.
Sightings[]
Undated[]
According to Iroquois myth, the naked bears were driven to extinction around the 17th Century. In one story, a particular naked bear which had escaped this persecution was greatly feared for roaming the woods and killing hunters, leading the Indians to station themselves on a high rock, lure the monster to them, and kill it with arrows and pelted stones. The hunters cut off the animal's head and brought it back to their village on the North River, where people from other tribes came to see it. The Mohicans claimed the credit for the killing.
Similar cryptids[]
Another large, dangerous "bear" in Native American myth is the so-called "stiff-legged bear".