The Moth Man of West Virginia




The first Mothman sighting was reported in 1966. As the fervor over the sightings mounted on November 16th, 1966, Mrs. Mary Hyre, editor of the Point Pleasant register, had it put on the Associated Press wire. The copy editor who sent out the article is reportedly now a professor at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Since 'Batman' was a popular series at the time, he dubbed the creature 'moth-man.'"

"It had two big eyes like automobile reflectors. They were hypnotic. For a minute, we could only stare at it. I couldn't take my eyes off it."

Description:: "Approximately seven feet tall; has a wingspan over 10 feet wide; gray, scaly skin; large, red, glowing, and hypnotic eyes; able to take off straight up in flight; travels up to 100 miles an hour; likes to mutilate or eat large dogs; screeches or squeals like a rodent or electric motor; likes to chase cars; likes to 'nest' in remote, unpopulated areas; causes radio and television interference; drawn to, and protective of, small children; has some mind control powers."

Encounter: "It was shaped like a man, but bigger. Maybe six and a half or seven feet tall. And it had big wings folded against its back. But it was those eyes that got us. It had two big eyes like automobile reflectors. They were hypnotic. For a minute, we could only stare at it. I couldn't take my eyes off it."


Story by Stephen Wagner for About.com