Boogeymen: Monsters Among Us

Since 1735, legend has it that a demonic creature has stalked the woods of one of America's oldest states. There are two images of the monster: one, a terrifying creature that has haunted New Jersey for centuries; the other, an invention of marketers to sell merchandise. The Devil has given its name not just to hockey teams but to shops, wine, musical bands and a dizzying array of memorabilia.

The Sasquatch, sometimes referred to as Bigfoot, has haunted the forests of North America's West Coast for centuries. It's imposing silhouette was seen by dozens of people over the years, but to this day we are still wondering if it's a figment of the imagination. The most detailed theory traces its roosts to Asia during the Ice Age, followed by a migration to America across the Bering Strait.

Westmoreland County, in western Pennsylvania, is a region rife with reports of paranormal sightings and occurrences. A number of witnesses have seen a flying creature that resembles no known bird in existence. Some who say they saw the giant bird are hunters with intimate knowledge of wilderness and wildlife. Others are local residents who swear they've seen small dogs snatched by a giant bird.

In the 1990s, the Chupacabra spread fear into the hearts of rural Texans. According to some reports, it has dark grey, leathery skin and fearsome red eyes. But while some people debate whether it walks on two or four legs, everyone agrees its long fangs, thorny spine and claws. There was no physical evidence supporting its existence - until a resident of Dewitt County made a gruesome discovery.

The natural beauty of Australia's Byron Bay attract over one million visitors per year. These tourists probably don't suspect the presence of a mysterious creature known locally as the Devil Dog. It could well be a species of animal long thought extinct in the region: the thylacine, better known as the Tasmanian tiger. This half-dog, half-kangaroo with fangs has been extinct since the 1930s.

In the dense forests of the Appalachians, there lives a rare and still unidentified class of creature. Physically imposing, with traits characteristic of wolves, bears and even gorillas, this strange monster strikes fear into anyone who wanders into his presence, especially since it has a reputation of attacking small farm animals and human beings. Some see it as a Dog-Man or American werewolf.

For almost two centuries, tourists have been flocking to the waters of Lake Champlain hoping against the odds to glimpse the lake monster they've affectionately dubbed Champ. Learn about one of the oldest monster legends in the world.

The Mothman legend captivates tourists from all over the world, who pilgrimage to Point Pleasant, West Virginia, to visit sighting locations, question locals and tour the Mothman museum or buy Mothman memorabilia. The monster is now a local celebrity.

What is it about sleepy Adams, Tennessee, that attracts tourists eager to visit graveyards, haunted caves and cabins, swap scary stories and try to summon the spirits of the dead? The legend of the Bell Witch and a 200-year old haunting are they key.

A 19th century legend has put the town of Rhinelander, Wisconsin on the map, a must-visit location for those interested in American folklore and the supernatural, as Rhinelander is the home of the Hodag, a mythical beast transformed into a town mascot.

Each year, tourists with no interest in skiing or scenic views flock to the Austrian town of Klagenfurt to do a different kind of sightseeing: they're after a glimpse of the legendary Tatzelwurm creature, or the chance to drink a beer and discuss it.

In the town of Willow Creek in northern California, the legend of Bigfoot, an ape-like monster believed to be a missing link between man's evolutionary leap from monkeys, is taken more seriously than anywhere else in the world, with organized hunting expeditions, statues and even a museum - but is there any substance to the mythology?

The city of Kelowna in British Columbia's beautiful Okanagan Valley, one of Canada's most fertile swaths of land, is home to a legend nearly two centuries old. In the depths of Okanagan Lake, a monster known as Ogopogo, described as a 10-15 meter long serpent, has been sighted on and off since the 19th century. Discover one of Canada's oldest and most enduring legends.

Lake Windermere, England's largest natural lake and a popular holiday destination for those who enjoy water sports and activities, is said to be the home of Bownessie, a prehistoric snake-like creature akin to Scotland's Loch Ness Monster. Is there any truth to the legend? We endeavor to find out.

Since the 14th century, sightings of a worm-like creature in and around the Lagarfljot lake in Iceland have captivated locals and frightened foreigners, but the creature known as Lagarfljotsormur, or the Lagarfljot Worm, has been given new popularity when two major sightings from last year reignited suspicions that the lake's murky depths have not relinquished all their secrets.

Stories of strange creatures inhabiting the murky depths of lakes and landlocked bodies of water are as old as civilization, but North Carolina's Lake Norman is the youngest and first manmade lake to gain the monster reputation. Is the nearby nuclear power plant responsible, or is it the introduction of strange fish populations to the lake?

In the Swedish province of Jamtland, a local legend of a lake monster dating back centuries has found new life as eyewitness accounts continue to describe strange sights in the chilly waters of Lake Storsjön. The creature, described as having the body of a snake and a "cat-like" head, is known as Storsie, and researchers claim to have found compelling evidence for its existence.

Minnesota's famous lakes have always drawn tourists interested in boating, fishing and watersports, but a resurgence of strange sightings have attracted a different breed of enthusiast on the quest for evidence of Pepie, a lake monster whose legend dates back centuries. Join us as we interview witnesses and try to separate fact from fiction.

For just over a century, strange sightings in Patagonia, Argentina, have captivated the imaginations of locals, scientists, zoologists and amateur explorers alike, all seeking to discover if the creature with the face of a serpent and the neck of a swan is more than just local legend. Join us as we pick up the trail and interview locals who claim to have seen the monster known as Nahuelito.

Louisiana's Honey Island Swamp Monster has terrorized the inhabitants of the bayou for more than 30 years. This bipedal monster with piercing yellow eyes is estimated to stand over two meters tall, and weigh more than 300 pounds. Rumor has it that the beast is a cross between an alligator and a baboon, and terrifying stories are attached to its lore, including children said to have snatched up.

A mythical snake-like creature lives in the waters of Lake Seljordsvalnet in Norway. The monster measures some 20 meters in length, with a greenish tint and a raised back, and has been terrifying residents of the lake since the 18th century. Recently, an Oslo family sighted the serpent, known as Selma. It fascinates Swedish cryptozoologist Jan Sunberg, who has been using a giant trap to catch it.

In a lake just a hundred miles from Loch Ness, you may find the monster of Loch Morar. Known as Morag, it has avoided the limelight and tourists partly because no road goes around the lake. Locals are often reluctant to talk about Morag sightings, as superstition has it that seeing the monster is an omen of death. Texts dating back over a hundred years describe what many of these witnesses saw.

The Dobhar Chu is a mythical monster that has inhabited British lakes since ancient times. Thought to be a cross between a giant otter and a hound, the Dobhar Chu is about seven feet long, or about the size of a crocodile. As recently as 2003, Irish artist Sean Corcoran and his wife Miranda had a surprise encounter with a similar creature while camping on Omey Island in Ireland's County Galway.

On the coast of Queensland, Australia, rumors of something extraordinary have haunted locals for centuries. Aboriginal cave paintings depict a large and furry bipedal monster. European colonists reported a similar creature stalking the woods. These rumors and reports have become local legend, and sightings of the mysterious animal show no signs of slowing down. Where do myth and reality mingle?

A hairy, aggressive monster is said to haunt northern New Zealand. The Maori named it Moehau, in honor of the highest peak in a nearby mountain range. This half-man, half-gorilla is a true New Zealand legend, just as Bigfoot is for North Americans. The monster first terrorized colonists who settled in the north of the archipelago. After that, it was gold rush miners who feared it like the plague.