Blog | Christopher Packard

Krampus sighting near Bangor, a sure sign of Christmas

BANGOR - Earlier this week in Maine, a wandering Krampus was seen lurking in various neighborhoods throughout Bangor, Brewer, and...

Fur Bearing Trout - Maine's Rarest Fish

This specimen of the rare and elusive fur bearing trout was caught through the ice in Moosehead Lake some decades ago. The deep, cold...

The Cannibals, Wendigo, & Lighthouse Ghosts of York, Maine

York is best known for being a charming historic town with idyllic beaches, lighthouses, and other tourist attractions. But it was once...

The Curious Case of the Mysterious Labrador Duck: Extinct species or misidentified hybrid?

Hardly anyone has ever heard of the Labrador Duck, unlike the Passenger Pigeon or the Carolina Parakeet few mourn its passage into...

Storytelling on The Nite Show!

Check out this awesome clip from my Halloween interview by Danny Cashman on the The Nite Show. I tell the unfortunate (but amusing) story...

Conversations from the Pointed Firs

Had a great time talking to Peter Neill for WERU's radio show Conversations from the Pointed Firs, a show dedicated to the spirit of...

Angel at the Battle of Mons - Veterans Day

Do you know the story of the Angels of the Battle of Mons? I’d like to share a legend to commemorate Veterans Day and all who serve. In...

The Witch's Curse of Colonel Buck, Founder of Bucksport

Have you heard of the Witch’s Curse of Colonel Buck in Bucksport? Colonel Jonathan Buck (1719-1795) was the founder of the Town of...

Happy Indigenous People's Day

Today is Indigenous People’s Day. Let’s remember the original name for Northern New England and Maritime Canada is Wabanakik, or...

An Historic 1929 Map of Maine Legends

I love this 1929 map by Albert Prentice Button. It is definitely my favorite map of the Maine coast - so many great legends and mythical...

What is Maine's Billdad?

One of my favorite mysterious creatures of Maine woods is the Billdad - they have the legs of a kangaroo, the tail of a beaver, and the...

Amazon #1 New Release in Supernaturalism

I was excited to see that earlier today “Mythical Creatures of Maine” was #1 New Release in its category on Amazon. Kinda cool, even if...

Meet Dan Kirchoff, Illustrator

So awesome to finally meet the amazing illustrator who’s beautiful pen and ink drawings brought the Mythical Creatures of Maine to life!...

What is the Lunksoos?

The lunksoos is a mysterious creature in Maine, which is known as the “Indian Devil” or the only creature in the forests that the native...

Researching "Mythical Creatures of Maine"

In case you wonder what went into writing a book like “Mythical Creatures of Maine,” here is a picture of my personal library on the...

The Allagash Ghost Trains

The wilderness can hide a lot of secrets - ghost trains and old rusted steam machines are all that are left of once thriving Lumberwoods...

The Sea Serpent's Lair

“The Sea Serpent’s Lair” by Elihu Vedder is a stunning depiction of the great New England Serpent. From 1638 until the 1970’s, hundreds...

The Wedge Ledge Chomper

The Maine’s Wedge-Legde Chomper is a harmless cousin of the more well known and dangerous Slide-Rock Bolter (pictured) found in the...

Pamola: Beware the Winged Creature of Katahdin

Pamola might be my favorite Maine creature. He’s a dangerous and powerful winged creature who lives atop Mount Katahdin, Maine's tallest...

The Hermit of Manana Island, Maine

“Islander” by Jamie Wyeth is an almost portrait of Ray Phillips, the Hermit of Manana Island (near Monhegan Island, ME). Ray and his...