EPISODE · Jul 2, 2026 · 38 MIN
182. Backwoods Horror: The Creatures Appalachians Still Fear
from Heart Starts Pounding: Horrors, Hauntings and Mysteries · host Heart Starts Pounding
Across Appalachia, thousands of people keep reporting the same thing: a massive black cat in the woods that screams like a woman being murdered. The government says it doesn't exist, there are NO official reports of big black cats in the area. But the Cherokee had a name for what lives in those mountains, and its story is far older, and far more wicked, than a misidentified panther. Today, we’re diving into the stories of The Wampus Cat and Spearfinger. Subscribe on Patreon to become a member of our Rogue Detecting Society and enjoy ad-free listening, monthly bonus content, merch discounts and more. Members of our High Council on Patreon also have access to our weekly after-show, Footnotes, where I share my case file with our producer, Matt. You can also enjoy many of these same perks, including ad-free listening and bonus content when you subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Follow on Tik Tok and Instagram for a daily dose of horror. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What this episode covers
Across Appalachia, thousands of people keep reporting the same thing: a massive black cat in the woods that screams like a woman being murdered. The government says it doesn't exist, there are NO official reports of big black cats in the area. But the Cherokee had a name for what lives in those mountains, and its story is far older, and far more wicked, than a misidentified panther. Today, we’re diving into the stories of The Wampus Cat and Spearfinger. Subscribe on Patreon to become a member of our Rogue Detecting Society and enjoy ad-free listening, monthly bonus content, merch discounts and more. Members of our High Council on Patreon also have access to our weekly after-show, Footnotes, where I share my case file with our producer, Matt. You can also enjoy many of these same perks, including ad-free listening and bonus content when you subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Follow on Tik Tok and Instagram for a daily dose of horror. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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182. Backwoods Horror: The Creatures Appalachians Still Fear
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