Something is lurking in the forests of Lakeland. Perhaps it's just a Florida Man, but it's possible that cryptids have decided to call Swan City home. These mysterious creatures have been reported in Florida — can you spot one nearby?

Skunk Ape
This hairy cryptid is considered Florida's version of Bigfoot. It's supposedly been spotted — and smelled — in the Everglades, so we think the Green Swamp in north Lakeland could be a homey habitat. Learn more at the Skunk Ape Research Headquarters in Ochopee.

Wampus cat
What has six legs, razor-sharp claws, a 9-ft tail, and a taste for blood? That would be the panther-like creature whose story reaches across the South. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission's only official Lakeland panther sighting was near County Road 540A. Maybe he was on his way to hang with wampus cats in the Lakeland Highlands Scrub?

Lake Hollingsworth makes up a walking trail of approximately 3 miles. | Photo 📸: LALtoday team

Moss Man
Since the 1800s, a biped covered in a coat of moss has been stalking the wetlands of north Florida. It has evaded capture for decades, but keep a close eye on Lake Hollingsworth — the Spanish moss in the trees around the lakeshore could make for a good hiding spot.

Sewer gators
Have we found the real culprit behind Lakeland's recent slew of sewage line repairs? While it's been proven that alligators sometimes use Florida sewer systems as their own personal shortcuts, urban legends have exaggerated their sizes to mythic lengths. See your own (real) alligators sunning at Circle B Bar Reserve.

Do these cryptids really exist in Florida? Take a deeper dive with these episodes of the Lakeland-produced podcast "Florida Men on Florida Man":

Episode 214 - "Boca Raton Demon Cat"
Episode 244 - "The Trail of the Skunk Ape"
Episode 245 - "Guess the Cryptid w/ Oak and Iron"