Flittericks - [Fearsome Critter]

Flittericks. - [Fearsome Critter] - aka "Frittericks" "Flitterbicks" "Giant Flying Squirrels"

• About this Critter: A subspecies of massive flying squirrel found mainly in the woods near the Great Lakes area, especially numerous around the old logging camps & cook shanties, attracted by the Flapjacks and Fritters that were feasted on frequently in that neck of the woods. -- Incredibly dangerous, they fly so quickly that it's impossible to dodge them, they dive with such searing force that the impact blows anything it hits into smithereens. Such was the fate of the poor Oxen that got in their line of flight.

• History: "Flittericks" are one of several fearsome critters described in "Paul Bunyans Natural History" [C.E.Brown 1935] - Yet another critter that frequented the lumbercamps set up by Paul Bunyan, especially near Minnesota & Michigan in North America. – The entry goes as follows:

"FLITTERICKS: The variety of flying squirrels which frequented the vicinity of the lumber camps were very dangerous because of the great rapidity of their flight. It was impossible to dodge them. One struck an ox between the eyes with such force as to kill the animal."

[This same description has been reused in "Treasury of American Folklore" [1944] and most other bestiaries after are pretty much identical to it. -Despite the fact that Flittericks does not seem to appear by name in any of the earlier paul bunyan stories.- There are however instances where in a flying squirrel pelts paul's "saw toothed dog" in between the eyes. [see: paul bunyan and tony beaver tales, 1930.]

In general Bunyan doing battle with giant squirrels or keeping one as a pet (affectionately named Henry) is also seemingly a common place oral yarn. [Notably the Flittericks size can vary and is largely left up to debate & interpretation how big they might be. They are quite similar to the camp chipmunks. ]

[1955 Newspaper Clipping of Paul Bunyan with a giant squirrel gun.] 

According to the above AND the "Bakers Dictionary" it can also mean "Small pancakes" - which coincidentally(?) was also a favourite food of lumberjacks. (Hence the "pancake" color scheme I gave it.)

• See also: Zigmaul, Camp Chipmunk, Comeatabody, Gumberoo.

[Art Sticker by @Samkalensky part of my "fearsome critters" collection of stickers! check my shop and follow for many more!]