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What Is A 'Squonk' And Why Is It So Relatable? The Viral Pennsylvania Cryptid Memes Explained
The internet loves cryptids and one of the latest subjects of their interest is a particularly pathetic creature known as the Squonk. Across social media, people are relating a little too hard to the sad little creature, transforming it from a Pennsylvania legend to a meme phenomenon. Here's everything you need to know about the Squonk.
What Is A Squonk?
In 1910, author William Thomas C. published a fantasy field guide titled Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods. In the book, he details several fictional cryptids, offering descriptions of the creatures and drawings. One of the creatures is the Squonk, a hairless, four-legged cryptid that is said to roam the hemlock forests of Pennsylvania.
The author explains that the Squonk constantly cries because of its "misfitting skin" covered in warts and moles. He writes that hunters can track a Squonk by the trail of tears it leaves behind it, but cautions hunters that, if a Squonk is cornered or startled, it may burst into a puddle of tears. Essentially, it's a creature that constantly cries because of how ugly it is and apparently, this is relatable to social media users over 100 years later.
How Is The Squonk Used In Memes?
The Squonk started to become the subject of memes around 2017, when social media users began sharing an image macro describing what it is. The meme, along with a drawing of a Squonk by artist Ashley Gerst, made the rounds online and became the subject of memes calling the creature relatable.
On Tumblr post about the Squonk with over 100,000 notes reads, "if that's not the most relatable thing i’ve ever heard idk what is." Another example, which went viral on Reddit in 2020, uses the "Of course I know him" format to highlight just how much the poster relates to the creature's constant misery. If you're ever feeling down on yourself, just think of the might Squonk and know that it could always be worse.
For the full history of the Squonk, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.
