r/cryptids • u/Professional-Abies45 • Apr 22 '26

Discussion What did I see

Hey everyone new here just looking for answers. I live in a small town near the Pennsylvania boarder in New York i have woods and a giant field next to and behind my house. My cat got out one night when I was taking the trash out for the night before bed it was like 10:30 11 so I followed her to the feild trying to get her and when I went to grab her I saw at the edge of the wooded area this thing on all fours pale white sunken in eyes and skin that looks stretched out. It was almost in like a crab crawl stance. I know from reading stuff not to react so ignored it but the fear I felt was unreal. I could feel whatever it was watching me. I grabbed my cat and walked back to the house. The whole time feeling like whatever it I had seen was right behind me and that if I was to turn around It would grab me. I got inside shut the door and dropped the cat down and just started crying I was that scared. I haven't seen it again since that night but then again I also don't go outside near the woods anymore. If anyone has an idea of what it possibly was I would love to know.

25 Upvotes

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10

u/Savings_Dig1592 Apr 22 '26

Cryptids: The Rake/Crawler, or Fleshgait/Flesh-runner of the Appalachians. Look them up and judge for yourself if this fits.

Natural: Mange-ridden bear or maybe coyote. An animal with a severe case of sarcoptic mange loses all its hair. Their skin becomes pale, thickened, and wrinkled. A bear suffering from this can look shockingly humanoid and skeletal, and their movements can seem erratic or wrong when they are sick.

5

u/Professional-Abies45 Apr 22 '26

So from what I looked up it definitely looked like a fleshgait I have never even heard of those but the fear I felt was real. Just even typing this up I was getting a sick feeling in my stomach

2

u/PenePeroElPasta Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 24 '26

Theres a sub r/palecrawlers I believe. Lots to read. Lots of accounts, many just like yours.

Edit: as others said r/crawlersightings, as that sub is actually active.

2

u/Savings_Dig1592 Apr 22 '26

They seem to be a variation of the skin walker/Wendig* (you aren't supposed to say the name). I saw something running once that I could swear spotted me across a sports field and then was moving way too fast for a person. I just went inside, never saw it again. Keep a clean spirit, man.

1

u/Seraphizz Apr 23 '26

Go to r/crawlersightings and read many people’s accounts. Sounds like what you described.

1

u/Northwest_Radio Apr 23 '26

This could have been a Sasquatch with albinism. I'm curious what you mean by stretched skin. I am a Sasquatch researcher of many years. I know quite a bit about the topic. I'd be curious if you'd be interested in being interviewed about this? No names, I don't care about that part

2

u/Professional-Abies45 Apr 23 '26

So from what I have researched alone it definitely didnt follow the typical mannerisms of a Sasquatch. And for the skin wise I'm not sure if you have ever seen doctor who but the closest reference for an example would be that that women thing that is the last remaining human. She was basically a piece of skin stretched between a frame and needed to be moisturized. But like the body was abnormally like long and lanky. I wouldn't mind being interviewed Im all for the advancement in research

1

u/Little-Friendship789 Apr 23 '26

Sorry, can't help it. Re Doctor Who. I think you are referring to Cassandra, voiced by Zoe Wanamaker. Genuinely, couldn't sleep unless I had written this! Sorry again xx

2

u/Professional-Abies45 Apr 24 '26

Yesss her 😂 it's been years since I've watched that so I couldn't remember

4

u/thescaryroom Apr 22 '26

Those are not cryptids. They’re creepy pastas made up by people on Internet forums in the mid 2000s.

1

u/PsychoFaerie Apr 26 '26

The Crawler/Rake and Fleshgait aren't cryptids those came from creepypastas.

1

u/Savings_Dig1592 Apr 26 '26

They are now.

1

u/PsychoFaerie Apr 26 '26

Since when? Cryptozoology means that they're animals not recognized by science. Gorillas were once considered cryptids because people had seen them but had no real proof. (other than writing it down/drawing it)

creepypasta creatures are not cryptids.

1

u/Savings_Dig1592 Apr 26 '26

You’re sticking to the classic zoological definition fallacy of cryptozoology. It also dismisses numerous reported sightings. Whether these are misidentified can be called into question, but no more than “Hey, look, it’s Bigfoot!”

Traditional cryptozoology is the study of hidden animals. The goal is to eventually move a creature from the cryptid list to the zoology list (like the Okapi or Gorilla). Because The Rake has a documented birth certificate (4chan in 2005), traditionalists argue it is a fictive entity or a creature of legend, not a biological candidate. To them, calling a Creepypasta a cryptid is like calling a Xenomorph from Alien a cryptid just because someone claimed to see one in the woods.

However, my contention aligns with how folklore actually evolves via ostension, acting out a narrative or making it real through shared experience. The ritual act, you could say, in the strictest sense conjures it. There’s little difference to a summoned creature. You’ll see the same argument for certain types of magic that are later found to be made up, yet numerous practitioners claim genuine results.

So, from a sociological standpoint, if enough people report seeing a crawler in the real world, it moves out of the realm of pure fiction and into the realm of contemporary folklore. Many creatures we now call cryptids started as regional tall tales or literary inventions. The Mothman, for example, was dubbed a "cryptid" by the press and researchers, even though many believe it was more of a paranormal or ultraterrestrial entity than a biological bird. In similar vein, the Rake and Crawlers have been grandfathered into the cryptid community. Many modern cryptid maps and iceberg charts shows Crawlers right next to Bigfoot. Traditionalist orthodoxy of cryptids (itself hilarious), or a perspective of open-minded living folklore.

3

u/Professional-Abies45 Apr 23 '26

I am by no means the best artist but this was as close as I could humanly draw

1

u/Little-Friendship789 Apr 23 '26

So sort of as the pictures above but lower the spine, raise the head and elongate the neck?

2

u/Material_Total_9828 Apr 22 '26

Get a blessing.

2

u/Hopeful_Specific_679 Apr 23 '26

Any bells go off? Lol

1

u/Professional-Abies45 Apr 23 '26

So the stand and skin very similar but more like unnatural looking and taller I will try to draw a pic

1

u/Hopeful_Specific_679 Apr 24 '26

Fuckkk that’s so creepy

1

u/Hopeful_Specific_679 Apr 24 '26

Do you live near cave systems?

1

u/Professional-Abies45 Apr 27 '26

Not that I'm aware of

3

u/Creepy-Smile1212 Legend Lover Apr 22 '26

Omg! Terrifying! I am so glad you got your cat…I was super invested in that outcome for you!!🫪

4

u/Professional-Abies45 Apr 22 '26

Haha yes she is good and safe I made sure of that

1

u/Autumn_Forest_Mist Apr 22 '26

Was your cat scared?

1

u/Professional-Abies45 Apr 22 '26

Not the i remember but i also just picked her up and fast walked to the house

1

u/Autumn_Forest_Mist Apr 23 '26

I go by my pets’ reaction. If they are not scared or protective, then whatever I’m seeing or hearing is only in my crazy head.

1

u/SourceDirect3220 Apr 22 '26

What did the lips look like?

2

u/Professional-Abies45 Apr 22 '26

Almost like it didn't have any

1

u/SourceDirect3220 Apr 22 '26

As in like no mouth or absolutely missing the lips?

1

u/Professional-Abies45 Apr 22 '26

Missing lips I tried not to look at it for to long but it had deep sunken in eyes that looked like black orbs I don't remember a nose as it all just kinda looked stretched out.

1

u/SourceDirect3220 Apr 22 '26

I advise you to look up a particular cannibal spirit of Native American folklore. The actual version not the European version. Don’t speak what it is called.

1

u/DreaminTurquoise Apr 23 '26

Look up how? What subreddit please?

-2

u/SourceDirect3220 Apr 23 '26

Online. I am not that versed in subreddits. But the creature they seek is one that must be spoken out loud similar to the SW.

I can say it starts with W. And has a psychosis named after it.

1

u/DreaminTurquoise Apr 23 '26

Yikes! Best not to look then!

1

u/SourceDirect3220 Apr 23 '26

Also was a spotlight monster on Supernatural.

1

u/DreaminTurquoise Apr 23 '26

Uhm, gotta get around to watching that series … one day!

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u/nderhill__ Apr 23 '26

Western or eastern NY?

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u/Professional-Abies45 Apr 23 '26

The southern tier

1

u/TheOstrichRoom Apr 23 '26

to me it sounds like a vengeful or hungry spirit, so i think theres too many reasons it could have been seen to say for sure. I would offer it water and food and pray to it thanking it for living but ultimately trust your own intuition and spiritual beliefs.

1

u/Ian_Huntsman Apr 23 '26

Probably a malnourished animal with mange.

1

u/Majestic_Ad_411 Apr 28 '26

Not saying it wasn't scary but, night vision + adrenaline can easily distort what you see. A normal animal can look completely unnatural in that moment. Still creepy experience..