Zigmaul - [fearsome critter]

Zigmaul - [Fearsome Critter] - aka: 'Zigmall' 

• About this Critter: Another varmint of the lumber camps: often mistakenly described as variety of flying squirrel (Though it might resemble one at a distance, it is not!) most flying squirrels glide from tree to tree, this small animal has a cue-ball-sized rubbery mallet at the end of its thick rat-like tail, it has the profound strength to swirl it over its head it and then wack it hard against a stump, allowing it to launch itself in a further direction, the bound of the mallet carries it high into the air & then it glides for miles!!

Unlike similar lumbercamp varmints (such as: Flittericks, Tigermunks & Will-am-alone.) Old Lumbermen spoke fondly of watching the creature fling itself through the air and would "follow the bouncing ball" in amusement. (its also described as 'not being seen as often today as they 'were so tasty!') The tail ball is inedible but where once used to make rebounding rubber boot heels. 

• History: The earliest published mention (which I could find) of the "Zigmaul" story was in Nebraskan Papers in 1937: "Lumberjack Criss does research, Discovers some humor in city hall" [1937] –

Howard "Paul" Criss Jr, (who was affectionately nicknamed "Paul Bunyan Criss.") was A Famous Lumberjack known for his burly attitude and strength for his feats at the Mountain State Forest Festival. - Criss describes the Zigmaul (and a few other yarns) to the city's mayor describing a Zigmaul as such:

"a funny animal with a rubber mallet on the end of its tail and skin flaps like a flying squirrel, anytime it wants to go someplace it swings the mallet round and round then slaps it on a stump real hard, the rebound carries it high into the air and then it glides for miles..."

It's hard to say if Chris invented the yarn in question or if it was just another tall tale passed around camps (the critter does not appear in any other earlier north american bestiarys that I've come across) but it does seems to be wide spread around the Northern part of America. - Whats more, there is a very small trout lake in Michigan called "Zigmaul pond." No clue if it's at all related (or really how one would go about finding out why it was actually named that, maybe someone local can answer this?)) but given that similar landmarks are named after critters (See also: 'Axe Handle Hound' campsite, Washingtons "dingmaul" rock and the Vermont "Wampahoofus trail" - it seems quite likely to me!

Nearly 60 Years later in 1991, The Zigmaul story was again recounted in "Snakebites: Lives and Legends of Central Pennsylvania " [James York Glimm, 1991] credited to Billy Wolfe, Slate-run Pennsylvania, – but it was perhaps miss-titled as "Zigmall" [it could also be a regional spelling?] They added that:

"...a lumberjack from the Sinnemahoning lumber-camp caught one of the critters, skinned it and made himself a pair of boot heels from a Zigmall’s tail. When he jumped off the cookhouse, he bounced so high and so long that the lumberjacks had to shoot sourdough biscuits to him so he wouldn’t starve to death."

 (The same story is also listed in the Appalachian bestiary by Gary Carden [2012]) - Another well spoken & performed version of the Glimms story can be watched on YouTube performed by Sean Miller [2010] (In Seans version, he further embellishes that the Zigmall "tastes amazing" (which is why we don't see as many today.) The cook in question also bounces so high that he winds up on the moon!!

– Glimms addition to the story seems to be a mix, which parallels both the Billdad & Wapaloosies stories & lore [Putting this one among other 'insatiably edible' critters.] it's one of a few critters where a lumberman tries to use (or consume) a critters parts and it quickly backfires [its also my personal favourite story-type; makes me wonder how they'd all taste together in a stew and what the effects might be.. 🤤]  --*AHEM*

...In general The Zigmaul is also another critter that could be considered parallel to the "Dingmaul' , "Sliver cat" and other similar "ball &/or club-tailed" fearsome critters.

• see similar critters: Dingmaul ,Rubberado, Gumberoo, Flittericks, Tigermunks, Willamalone,