The Wapaloosie (Latin, Geometrigradus cilioretractus) is a creature which originated in turn-of-the-century North American oral tradition.
Description[]
Ranging from the Pacific Northwest Coast all the way east to Idaho, the Wapaloosie grows no larger than a small dog and is known to be a particularly adroit at scaling trees. It has feet like that of a woodpecker, a soft, velvety fur, and a spiked tail which it uses as a climbing aid. It has been reported to move in the manner of a worm or caterpillar, though it resembles neither of these, crawling along in measured steps. The Wapaloosie’s diet consists entirely of fungus, much of which grows on the highest of boughs, though the critter has no problem reaching its dinner due to its superior climbing ability.
In one story, a lumberjack shot a Wapaloosie then decided to have its beautiful soft pelt made into mittens. When first he put the mittens on and hefted his axe he got the fright of his life as they crawled the length of the haft and off the top. Finding he had a similar problem with everything that he picked up, the lumberjack eventually threw the mitts away. They were last seen making their way across the timber and other detritus that littered the camp’s logging ground.
Further reading[]
"The Wampaloosie" from Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods (1910) by William T. Cox