Creature Feature Friday: The Oklahoma Octopus
You’ve heard of Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster but lesser-known cryptids need some glory too! Dive into the murky depths of the intriguing mythos of the Oklahoma Octopus, the mysterious aquatic creature of the Sooner State. Is it a real live monster, or a man-made legend?
1) Origins of the Legend: Ultimately the Oklahoma Octopus is a fairly “new” cryptid, but it may have roots in Native American folklore, where tales of water-dwelling monsters were passed down through generations. Early settlers in Oklahoma also reported encountering strange aquatic creatures, fueling speculation about the existence of a freshwater octopus. In 1927, the Democrat-American published the story of three men who witnessed a boiling disturbance in the water at Lee Creek — located mostly in Arkansas but also part of Oklahoma — and determined they had seen an octopus inking the creek. The elusive beast gained some additional fame when it was featured on the fictionalized TV series Lost Tapes in 2009.
2) Eyewitness Encounters: Over the years, there have been some reported sightings of the Oklahoma Octopus (or at least some kind of water monster) in Lake Thunderbird, Lake Oolagah, and Lake Tenkiller. The cryptid is said to be reddish-brown in color so that it can easily blend into the murky waters, large as a horse, and powerful enough to attack fully grown humans. Some alleged testimonies of the Oklahoma Octopus include an unidentified fisherman who claimed to have been dragged underwater by a tentacled creature while fishing on Lake Thunderbird. Another witness reportedly saw a large, shadowy figure moving swiftly beneath the surface of Lake Tenkiller. Despite sightings and tales, there is no existing footage of the Oklahoma Octopus.
3) Scientific Skepticism: Despite historical anecdotes, scientists remain skeptical of the Oklahoma Octopus's existence. Marine biologists argue that the region's freshwater ecosystems lack the necessary conditions to support an octopus population, citing factors such as water temperature, salinity, and prey availability. If real, the Oklahoma Octopus would be the only known cephalopod species to live at length in freshwater. Additionally, the lakes where the cryptid is most frequently spotted are all landlocked and were manmade between the 1940s to 1960s, raising the question of how the Oklahoma Octopus even came to exist in these bodies of water.
Lake Thunderbird from Wikimedia Commons.
4) Swim at Your Own Risk: The legend of the Oklahoma Octopus may be less true story and more cautionary tale. According to local lore, the octopus is dangerous and capable of drowning swimmers. The creature is allegedly responsible for numerous unexplained drownings in the lakes it inhabits. The local lore suggests that these drownings, often attributed to accidents or natural causes, might be the work of the Oklahoma Octopus, although there is no concrete evidence that suggests an enormous octopus was responsible for the lives lost. Water monster or not, the murky waters and deep depths of Oklahoma’s many lakes should be approached with caution!
Despite its dubious origins, the Oklahoma Octopus legends remains as buoyant as ever. Whether you're a staunch skeptic or a fervent believer, the presence of the Oklahoma Octopus adds a splash of mystery and charm to the state's folklore, making the fine line between fact and fable as elusive as the Oklahoma Octopus itself!