This beastly tale is how legends and folklore get started. This article states that a women from Kent, Virginia was in a “state of nervous prostration” when she came across a wild beastie in her backyard. When her family went out to find it, it was gone and believed to have disappeared into the Chickahominy Swamp.
She described it as having eyes of light brown, ears like a sheep, body like a large snake with scales. You get the idea, a very scary creature or possibly even a future cryptid if we go by this description.
When the “mystery monster” that they called “The Thing that Thumped” and “Elmer the Elusive” was caught, it was found to be the most elusive and cutest Cryptid ever, the Virginia Opossum!
If you follow me at all, then you know my most favorite things are beasties large and small. And of all the wild beasties out there, I absolutely adore the Virginia Opossum. Such a sweet and gentle creature. They aren’t dangerous and their defense is well…playing possum. The don’t carry rabies ever and they rid your yards of evil ticks!
When the townspeople finally found the Opossum and family, they thought they were so cute that they decided to keep them as pets!
And the legend of Elmer the Elusive lives on today….
Sasysquatchgirl 