Ohio Grassman

The Ohio Grassman is a cryptid that is said to inhabit the forests of Ohio, particularly in the rural and wooded areas. Descriptions of the creature vary, but it is generally described as a large, ape-like creature covered in hair, resembling the legendary Bigfoot or Sasquatch.

Witnesses often report seeing the Ohio Grassman in or near areas with dense vegetation, such as forests and swamps. Like many cryptids, there is limited scientific evidence to support the existence of the Ohio Grassman. Most of the information comes from anecdotal reports, eyewitness accounts, and local folklore. The creature is often mentioned in the context of other regional cryptids and Bigfoot sightings.

The first prominent sighting of the Grassman occurred in the small village of Minerva, Ohio^[1], in August of 1978 when the grandchildren of Minerva residents Evelyn and Howe Clayton, along with their friends, ran inside screaming about a hairy monster they saw in the gravel pit outside. When the couple went out to investigate, they saw what the crying children had described. It was covered in dark matted hair, sitting in the pit and fiddling with discarded trash.

It was estimated to be around 300 pounds. The Claytons fled, but this would not be their last encounter with Ohio’s ape-man. Later they would see something peering through their kitchen window and another atop a hill near the strip mine at night. The couple observed two hairy bipeds on the same hill in broad daylight. Only after these reports by the Claytons were made were a startling connection made.

Days before the gravel pit incident, the Claytons’ German Shepherd was found dead, its neck broken, presumably killed by the hairy beast. This was not the first sighting in Ohio, in the 1700s, Indians native to the Ohio grasslands spoke of a race of bipedal ape-men, referred to as “Wild Ones of the Woods,” that lived nearby. The Native Americans would leave out food for the creatures to keep peace. In the 1800’s there were reports of a hairy biped throwing a man from a carriage, but retreating when his daughter threw rocks at it.

The height of reported Grassmen has ranged from 5 to 10 feet, with most about 6 to 7 feet. Their footprints are 10-20 long, some with claws, pigeon-toes, or flat feet, and some prints are three-toed. The weight estimates range dramatically but the average is between 300 and 500 pounds. They emit a strong odor, like the odor of rot, that lingers in the area even days after it is vacated. The Ohio Grassmen are very aggressive and are unimaginably strong, according to eyewitnesses. They have been known to kill dogs, and numerous unusual deer kills have been reported with just deer’s liver taken and legs twisted off.

Mothers with babies have been observed, feces found on tree limbs and wood fibers, and a hair strand, 16 inches long, has been analyzed by Ohio State University but wasn’t identifiable.

Some stories about the Ohio Grassman date back to Native American legends, where similar creatures were believed to inhabit the wilderness. The legend has persisted through generations, with modern sightings and encounters contributing to its continued popularity.