Abbagoochie

imageThe abbagoochie (pronounced abba-GOO-cheez) is a fierce little creature resembling a cross between an owl, a fox, and a deer. It is indigenous to Costa Rica, where people refer to it as a "dryland piranha" because it will eat anything, including creatures far larger than itself such as horses and cows. If cornered, an abbagoochie will consume itself "in a devilish whirlwind" rather than allow itself to be captured. They mate only once every 6 ½ years.

In 1999, in an ill-considered move, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) introduced thirteen baby Abbagoochies from Costa Rica into West Virginia in order to keep down the population of overpopulated predators such as coyotes and rattlesnakes. But soon, as reported by Jim Wilson of the Webster Echo in February 2001, the abbagoochie itself multiplied out of control and began attacking livestock. Soon after Wilson's article appeared, sightings of Abbagoochies began occurring throughout the region. Some farmers began carrying shotguns in order to protect their livestock. Concerned parents walked their kids to the schoolbus to make sure they were safe. And one man reported that he had accidentally run over an abbagoochie.



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Comments

OMG people, get a life and stop making up funny stories like those on page 1. I am writing from Costa Rica and there are no Abbagoochies here.... I have never heard of such a creature in my entire life!! If it does exist, I am certain it is not from this country. I searched for pictures and the only ones I found looked similar to someone in a costume hiding behind a tree.....(hmmmm).
Posted by Ol  on  Wed Feb 03, 2010  at  05:17 AM
It is an amazing creature! It started out as a hoax, but not anymore.
Posted by Moose  on  Sat Feb 27, 2010  at  06:59 PM
THE ABBAGOOCHIE TALE
By Jim Wilson (the son)


From the jungles of Costa Rica to the mountains of West Virginia,
They came in a dozen and one;

Their very existence was discovered by Jim Wilson,
Who was only trying to have a little fun;

Pitched by Rich, this spoof was so cleverly spun,
That it had many citizens, across the counties, on the run;

The original 13 were so bad, according to my Dad,
That people really panicked, and for this he was glad;

A true hoax, it was believed by all,
Until 2008, when the son got the call;

The truth is disclosed after many a year,
And this gives so many, so much to fear;

Daughter by his side, the son must now act,
He and his father make a pact;

I promise you Dad, your truth will be known,
On the fabric of all, it shall be sewn;

I promise you son, I will help as I can,
To find these beasts, before they eat more man
Posted by Moose  on  Sat Feb 27, 2010  at  07:01 PM
2 years ago I was bow hunting white tail deer deep in the woods of Wirt County. While in my tree stand I spotted a creature that looked very much like the images on this page. The noise this animal makes is something to give you nightmares. Something like the combination of an irritated badger and a hog in distress. When I saw it I froze, but it sensed my presence. It approached the base of my tree and began to climb. The only thing I could find while I fumbled for something to defend myself with was a bottle of fox urine I had with me to cover my scent. I quickly unscrewed the cap and dumped it in it's general direction as a panicked scream was already streaming from my mouth. I must have gotten lucky because I heard it land on the dried leaves of the forest floor and then saw it shaking it's head and making a noise that was something like "yungk, inck, yungky" and it 'trotted' off back into the deep woods and out of site. I waited about 15 minutes, trying to digest what I had just experienced and also making sure it did not return. I then slid down my tree and ran back to our hunting cabin. When my friends returned from their hunt, I mistakenly told them the story of what I had encountered. As I should have expected, they did not believe me and accused me of hitting our stock of alcohol early. I have been ridiculed and made fun of ever since. I have never gone back to that area again.
Posted by Bocephus  on  Sun Feb 28, 2010  at  06:09 PM
I knew I had shot him point blank in the chest. But I must have hit my head because I woke up just as the sun began rising. I was supprised to be alive and when I came to my senses I looked for the Abbagoochies body and there was nothing there.
Posted by Stainless steel range hoods  on  Sat Mar 13, 2010  at  03:39 AM
This little creature looks amazing. I am new to this thing. Interesting
Posted by Top Rated  on  Thu Jun 03, 2010  at  11:24 AM
Glad you all survived! These encounters can be frightening. I've personally interviewed many who have claimed such experiences and have always found their accounts fascinating- thanks for telling us about them!
Posted by Moose  on  Fri Jul 23, 2010  at  05:13 AM
I live in Costa Rivca and have never ever heard of such thing, neither my parents, family or friends, until today I would have never known such thing supposedly exists in my country
Posted by Cris  on  Fri Dec 17, 2010  at  03:46 PM
If they only mate every 6 years, how could they have spread so fast?
Posted by anonymus  on  Sun Apr 29, 2012  at  04:58 AM
i'd like to have one as a pet, only i would actualy remember to keep it away from water and not feed it after mid-night
Posted by internet troll  on  Tue May 29, 2012  at  05:23 AM
move over taz, you have a competitor now !
Posted by leupgaru  on  Fri Jun 29, 2012  at  04:13 PM
Laugh all you want, my friends. The Abbagoochie is real. The '99 hoax was just a revamp of the '91 - '92 events that took place in and around Upshur County. It was described as a badger type creature the size of a small car. Livestock and pets WERE slaughtered by the dozens and plenty of daytime sightings occurred. The DNR was evolved as well as the panther research people. Plenty of folks saw it, described it, and compared it to the Sago monster and the Stonecoal monster from the '60s. The Weston Wal-mart, the only one here at the time, even made a makeshift Abbagoochie from a stuffed animal's behind with eyes and a nose glued to it. It was on the wall above the sporting goods counter, right beside the Jackalope. Non-witnesses of the period joked that it was a cross between a panther, monkey, and a turkey. The '99 hoax was a parody of a well established cryptid from 1992. This infuriates me because I was a senior in high school in Upshur County at the time and had the privilege of interviewing many of the eyewitnesses in 1992. More than ten of them drew basically the same picture when asked to draw what they saw. 1999 was a hoax. 1992 was not.
Posted by James Hitt  on  Tue Mar 26, 2013  at  02:37 PM
Can they kill people?
Posted by No one  on  Sat May 10, 2014  at  06:58 AM
I always hate it when Im pooping in my shanty and a vicious abbagoochie attacks it. It seems like its the same three every time. One night it was an extended period of time where I was in my shanty because I ate tacos. The wild abbagoochies snuck up on me and beat me with the bucket of poop that he was clenching on to. I woke up in my shanty and was so confused. All of a sudden I was wearing a Mountaineers jersey and was covered in abbagoochie bites. It was the scariest experience of my life!!!!!
Posted by Abbagoochie Hunter  on  Mon Jun 09, 2014  at  11:13 AM
This is fake as shit, nothing in this this is true. Its a bigger lie than Taylor Swifts love life. Its a dumbass doll. Sorry, but this is stupid.
Posted by Mr.Steal Your Girl  on  Tue Mar 03, 2015  at  10:20 AM
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