New Jersey is the most densely populated state in America, but something has been terrifying its residents both on the ground and in the air for centuries. As the story goes, in 1735, a woman named Mother Leeds was set to give birth to her 13th child. Obviously overwhelmed, a small utterance she made could have jinxed the area and continues to do so today. Not wanting to experience bringing another baby into the world, she vowed that she didn’t care if this one was the Devil. After a seemingly normal birth, the newborn swiftly transformed into a hooved flying monster with a blood-curdling shriek. Then, it allegedly flew out the window of the house and has said to terrorize much of the state ever since. Mass hysteria has run rampant many times through the years. Nobody knew what to believe and greatly feared becoming a victim of what became known as “The Jersey Devil”. Even some of the most famous politicians in history have been freaked out by such an eerie tale. Bounties have placed on this creature, and areas of the vast forest around the region remain largely unexplored. Those who do venture there are warned to stay on the trails and/or in their vehicles, for fear that the Devil will grab them. Children have long been warned to stay close to home by their worried parents. Many people have spoken of hunting down the menace with their own weapons. Even the local NHL hockey team is named after the notorious cryptid. So what’s really going on in South Jersey? Is that just a cautionary tale to frighten the helpless to stay within sight? Or could their really be a dangerous animal lurking, just waiting to strike?
What’s flying around the Pine Barrens?
