Cry Me a Squonk- A Pennsylvania Cryptid

 

North-central Pennsylvania is a haven for all sorts of wildlife, from the majestic bull elk bugling from the hollows to the shy songbirds that call from the tree tops. Few places can top such diversity and natural beauty. However, there is one species that few people, save the most seasoned sportsmen, have probably seen. More elusive than an old whitetail buck or cagey fisher, this animal has never been successfully captured  and probably never will....

 

First described in 1910 by William T. Cox, Lacrimacorpus dissolvens, commonly called squonk, were native to the dense hemlock forests of the region. Described as a creature with "misfitting skin which is covered with warts and moles" squonks are self-aware of their hideous appearance. As a result, they weep continuously and only move about after sun-set and before sun-rise to hide themselves behind the darkness. When not moving about, squonks take cover within the boughs of low hanging hemlock branches. 

Those trying to find a squonk are most successful on cold moonlit nights when their tears are shed more slowly and squonks are hesitant to move about. Little is known about the squonk's diet or social behavior, however the creature possesses a unique adaptation. When feeling threatened or surprised, the squonk is able to completely dissolve itself into tears.

This ability was exemplified when Professor John P. Wentling, formerly of Penn State University and later the University of Minnesota, was able to successfully lure a squonk into a sack by mimicking its cries. As John carried the creature home, he found that the bag suddenly got lighter and the cries ceased. He stopped to check the squonk. When he opened the bag, all he found was "tears and bubbles" at the bottom. 

How many squonks still inhabit the region remains a unknown. When Cox first wrote about the creature, logging was in full swing across the state and the once dense hemlock forests were quickly disappearing. A few may have sought refuge in the most rugged corners of the Northern Tier where even the most determined loggers could not follow. Old growth hemlock forests that were spared, such as Heart's Content, Cook's Forest, and Duttlinger Natural Area, may have been the last bastions for squonks following the conclusion of logging. 

Over a century later, much of the region has been reforested and dark hemlock forests once again carpet the ridges and hollows. With preferred habitat available once again in their home range, conditions are prime for a resurgence of squonks.

So the next time you are out in the woods of the Pennsylvania Wilds, keep your eyes peeled for a trail of tears leading off into the depths of the forest. If you're brave enough to follow it, you may very well come across an elusive squonk. 

Information Retrieved From:

Cox,W.(1910). Fearsome creatures of the lumberwoods: with a few desert and mountain beasts. Press of Judd & Detweiler Inc.Retrieved from: https://books.google.com/books?id=t0zPAAAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=fearsome+creatures+of+the+lumberwoods&source=gbs_navlinks_s