The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter]
The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter]
The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter]
The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter]
The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter]
The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter]
The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter]
The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter]
The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter]
The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter]
The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter]
The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter]
The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter]
The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter]
The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter]

The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter]

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$6.00
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$6.00

The Wapaloosie. - [Fearsome Critter 1910]

• About this Critter:
A rodent-like Creature about the size of a sausage dog: it has four-toed feet, set like woodpeckers, as such, it's very agile at climbing; moving similarly to how an inchworm does. (its tail has a grip to help it along too.) The Wapaloosie's diet consists of rare shelf mushrooms that grow on the tallest lodge pole trees, in the damp forests along the Pacific coast and eastward as far as the St. Joe River in north Idaho. -- Hunters that made Leather clothing using it's Minky pelt would find that it soon came back to life, and begin to climb all on its own!! 
•History and Early Appearances:

Another Creature of the Lumberwoods, included in William T Cox's 1910s 'Fearsome creatures' - along with it is a short story as follows...

"...A lumber jack in one of the camps on the Humptulips River, Washington, shot a Wapaloosie, and upon examining its velvety coat decided that it would make an attractive and serviceable pair of mittens, which he proceeded to make. The hide was tanned thoroughly and the mittens made with care, fur side out, and as the lumber jack went to work he exhibited them with pride. Imagine his surprise upon talking hold of an ax to find that the mittens immediately worked their way up and off the handle. It was the same with whatever he took hold of, and finding that he could not use the mittens, they were left in a skid road, and were last seen working their way over logs and litter across the slashing."

Basically you can’t hold anything while wearing the gloves, it’s a good thing he didnt try to pick up a sword or make it into a scarf!!!
Apparently shooting a Wapaloosie was a big deal back in the 20's, as it gets a shout out (along with paul bunyan) at one point in sinclair lewis's "main street' novel.

Notably, This critter also shares its name with The 9th-Highest named peak in Washington's Colville National Forest: Wapaloosie Mountain & Trail. - According to some hiking guides about the area a "Wapaloosie" is purportedly an old figure of speech meaning "Any outstanding feature to an early land manager in the region." - like saying "Wow! That's a Wapaloosie of a peak!"  - I've personally also heard this expression used in Canada! used to express something "outstanding, grand or impressive but executed excruciatingly poorly." for example "My friend just got back from one Wapaloosie of a trip--it was an absolute disaster!" I am unsure if they’re from the same root but it feels likely.

Given the time this critter was first named & illustrated, its fairly difficult to say for certain if the creature was named after the mountain, the expression, or vice-versa! (likely a "chicken vs egg" scenario.)

Sticker art by @samkalensky part of my fearsome critters sticker collection check my shop & follow for many more!

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