| STRANGE CREATURES SELDOM SEEN |
This life-sized replica of a giant beaver
stands on the grounds of the Beringia
Museum in Whitehorse, Yukon. Although
it is thought to have been extinct "for over
ten thousand years", I have encountered
people in northern Manitoba and along
the Alaska Highway who claim to have
seen the bear-sized creature.
The Natives in northern Manitoba who
are well aware of them say that they
generally live in tunnels that lead up into
banks from under the water. Ancient
tunnels matching their size have been
discovered in southern Manitoba along
the western shorelines of Lake Agassiz
where sandy soils are predominant.
stands on the grounds of the Beringia
Museum in Whitehorse, Yukon. Although
it is thought to have been extinct "for over
ten thousand years", I have encountered
people in northern Manitoba and along
the Alaska Highway who claim to have
seen the bear-sized creature.
The Natives in northern Manitoba who
are well aware of them say that they
generally live in tunnels that lead up into
banks from under the water. Ancient
tunnels matching their size have been
discovered in southern Manitoba along
the western shorelines of Lake Agassiz
where sandy soils are predominant.
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Hi - and welcome to my website. Ready for some surprises? You may find some of the
following information difficult to believe. I did. Every so often I hear of another "new" creature
that is either thought to be extinct, lives on another continent, or is altogether unheard of. I too
experience the skepticism (although I am not surprised any more),and refuse to believe until
corroborating stories force me to consider the evidence. And, the evidence does not come
from witnesses that seek me out. I go looking for them.
I have been doing this in my spare time for about a dozen years now, ever since I heard my
first big snake story. Investigation soon yielded stories of creatures other than the big
snakes, so further research became irresistible. I have criss-crossed Manitoba, my home
province, frequently, and I revisit the hot spots regularly. I travelled through western Canada
and Alaska, and plan to cover the east shortly. I have already come to the conclusion that
some of the more than two dozen strange creatures I hear about here in Manitoba are also
found elsewhere in the country.
WHAT IS MY PLAN?
I am beginning to write an introductory book "Strange Creatures Seldom Seen" in response
to the widespread curiosity about the subject. I am hoping that a good deal of research will
result, providing new insights and discoveries on an on-going basis. It is now December
2005, and I hope to have the book available within two years.
To date I have not a shred of hard evidence to substantiate the hundreds of accounts I have
received, but with the increased awareness , I hope that skulls, skeletons, carcasses, snake
sheds, tunnels, dung piles, footprints, etc. will be reported from now on.
Who knows. You may now have, or may someday have, information that could expedite the
research. Together we can work on the mysteries and uncover the secrets.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STRANGE CREATURES?
Let's work from the known towards the unknown. Water monsters, for instance. Almost every
big lake seems to have them. The manipogo that allegedly lives in Lake Manitoba and Lake
Winnipegosis...is not alone! The name is used for anything unusual that moves in these
waters, and since descriptions vary widely, it is obvious that there are a number of different
water creatures that get to be called "manipogo". Some of these same monsters are seen in
Lake Winnipeg and elsewhere. So the likes of Nessie and Champ, Ogopogo and Manipogo,
may be relatives, but they seem to have distant cousins that cohabit their waters.
Then there are the land-dwelling monster-men that we have become quite familiar with. The
sasquatches, or bigfoot. Enigmas par excellence, and elusive to a fault. But why? Just wait.
One of these days...
Now let's choose an amphibian--a creature that is supposed to be extinct! For ten thousand
years! Lived from Alaska all the way down to Florida. Big as a black bear, this big beaver is
seldom seen in its northern retreats. But, the odd trapper has claimed it as his prize. Just
don't tell the "experts". Not just yet.
SO, WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE?
Plenty. And I have no reason to disbelieve the sincere witnesses, or even the second or
third-hand story tellers. They had more to lose than to gain in the telling. They talk to me
because they can see that I'm sincere and interested too.
The first man who told me about his attempts to shoot an "underwater moose"...I didn't tell
him he was crazy, even though I thought it. But after hearing the same story from a number of
others, I knew there had to be something to it. So I went back to the first man and got more
details.
You don't have to be a fool to believe the stories-- but it helps! And this fool is going to keep
digging until he unearths a whole bunch of critters to match the stories.
The book I am writing recounts the sightings or knowledge of hundreds of ordinary folk, many
of whom are not at all aware that what they see is supposed to be extinct, on a different
continent, or non-existent.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
So, if you know of someone who has information about unusual creatures on the North
American Continent, please put them in touch with me.
I will try to finish this book as quickly as I possibly can. During the summer I hope to intensify
my search for some of the creatures so that more evidence of their existence can be obtained.
If you are interested in assisting with the financing of the project, you might wish to purchase
my first book entitled "Over the Prison Wall". It is a fact-based, award winning story of
the spectacular, record-breaking escape in 1960 from Manitoba's Stony Mountain
Penitentiary by an inmate whose shoot-outs with police and escape attempts spanned over
thirty years in two of Canada's maximum security prisons. He grew up in Manitoba's north
Interlake region where I reside.
For more information about the book, click on "My Book"
The book is available in some Chapters bookstores for $22.95, or, I can mail one to you for
$20 plus whatever the shipping charge might be. If you mail or email me your address, then I
can determine the postage.
following information difficult to believe. I did. Every so often I hear of another "new" creature
that is either thought to be extinct, lives on another continent, or is altogether unheard of. I too
experience the skepticism (although I am not surprised any more),and refuse to believe until
corroborating stories force me to consider the evidence. And, the evidence does not come
from witnesses that seek me out. I go looking for them.
I have been doing this in my spare time for about a dozen years now, ever since I heard my
first big snake story. Investigation soon yielded stories of creatures other than the big
snakes, so further research became irresistible. I have criss-crossed Manitoba, my home
province, frequently, and I revisit the hot spots regularly. I travelled through western Canada
and Alaska, and plan to cover the east shortly. I have already come to the conclusion that
some of the more than two dozen strange creatures I hear about here in Manitoba are also
found elsewhere in the country.
WHAT IS MY PLAN?
I am beginning to write an introductory book "Strange Creatures Seldom Seen" in response
to the widespread curiosity about the subject. I am hoping that a good deal of research will
result, providing new insights and discoveries on an on-going basis. It is now December
2005, and I hope to have the book available within two years.
To date I have not a shred of hard evidence to substantiate the hundreds of accounts I have
received, but with the increased awareness , I hope that skulls, skeletons, carcasses, snake
sheds, tunnels, dung piles, footprints, etc. will be reported from now on.
Who knows. You may now have, or may someday have, information that could expedite the
research. Together we can work on the mysteries and uncover the secrets.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STRANGE CREATURES?
Let's work from the known towards the unknown. Water monsters, for instance. Almost every
big lake seems to have them. The manipogo that allegedly lives in Lake Manitoba and Lake
Winnipegosis...is not alone! The name is used for anything unusual that moves in these
waters, and since descriptions vary widely, it is obvious that there are a number of different
water creatures that get to be called "manipogo". Some of these same monsters are seen in
Lake Winnipeg and elsewhere. So the likes of Nessie and Champ, Ogopogo and Manipogo,
may be relatives, but they seem to have distant cousins that cohabit their waters.
Then there are the land-dwelling monster-men that we have become quite familiar with. The
sasquatches, or bigfoot. Enigmas par excellence, and elusive to a fault. But why? Just wait.
One of these days...
Now let's choose an amphibian--a creature that is supposed to be extinct! For ten thousand
years! Lived from Alaska all the way down to Florida. Big as a black bear, this big beaver is
seldom seen in its northern retreats. But, the odd trapper has claimed it as his prize. Just
don't tell the "experts". Not just yet.
SO, WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE?
Plenty. And I have no reason to disbelieve the sincere witnesses, or even the second or
third-hand story tellers. They had more to lose than to gain in the telling. They talk to me
because they can see that I'm sincere and interested too.
The first man who told me about his attempts to shoot an "underwater moose"...I didn't tell
him he was crazy, even though I thought it. But after hearing the same story from a number of
others, I knew there had to be something to it. So I went back to the first man and got more
details.
You don't have to be a fool to believe the stories-- but it helps! And this fool is going to keep
digging until he unearths a whole bunch of critters to match the stories.
The book I am writing recounts the sightings or knowledge of hundreds of ordinary folk, many
of whom are not at all aware that what they see is supposed to be extinct, on a different
continent, or non-existent.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
So, if you know of someone who has information about unusual creatures on the North
American Continent, please put them in touch with me.
I will try to finish this book as quickly as I possibly can. During the summer I hope to intensify
my search for some of the creatures so that more evidence of their existence can be obtained.
If you are interested in assisting with the financing of the project, you might wish to purchase
my first book entitled "Over the Prison Wall". It is a fact-based, award winning story of
the spectacular, record-breaking escape in 1960 from Manitoba's Stony Mountain
Penitentiary by an inmate whose shoot-outs with police and escape attempts spanned over
thirty years in two of Canada's maximum security prisons. He grew up in Manitoba's north
Interlake region where I reside.
For more information about the book, click on "My Book"
The book is available in some Chapters bookstores for $22.95, or, I can mail one to you for
$20 plus whatever the shipping charge might be. If you mail or email me your address, then I
can determine the postage.
| CONTACT US BY PHONE AT 204-659-5248 OR roviera@xplornet.com |