Loveland frog
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| Loveland frog | ||
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| An artist’s rendition of the Loveland frog | ||
| Creature | ||
| Name: | Loveland frog | |
| AKA: | Loveland Lizard | |
| Data | ||
| First Reported: | 1955 | |
| Last Sighted: | Present day | |
| Country: | United States | |
| Region: | Ohio | |
| Habitat: | Water | |
| Status: | Unconfirmed | |
The Loveland frog (otherwise known as the "Loveland Lizard") is said to be a human-like creature with the face of a frog that was allegedly first spotted in Loveland, Ohio. It is generally considered a cryptid—a creature rumored or reported to be living, but with no confirmable proof. In fact, many residents have never heard of it.
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[edit] Sightings
[edit] 1955
The first claimed sighting was in May of 1955. A businessman is said to have seen three or four 3-foot-tall frog-faced creatures squatting under a bridge near Loveland. They were described as having wrinkles instead of hair on their heads, lopsided chests, and wide mouths without lips, like frogs. One of them is said to have held up a bar device that shed sparks. A strong odor of alfalfa and almonds was reportedly left behind.
[edit] 1972
For approximately 20 years there were no further reported sightings of the Loveland Frog. On March 3, 1972, police are said to have seen a 4-foot tall frog-faced human-like creature with leathery skin, again near Loveland. It jumped over a rail and into the Little Miami River. Two weeks later, the officers saw it again, lying in the road. It got away as the officer shot at it and apparently missed.
The officer's description allegedly was as follows:
- The creature was three to four feet tall, 50 to 75 pounds, leathery skin, possibly wet - matted hair on its body that made it look textured, possible tail, a head and face like a frog or lizard, and could leap over the roads' guard rail.
A local farmer is also said to have seen the Loveland frog later that month.
Although the officers in question did not report their encounter, word of it leaked to the news media.
[edit] 1998
Security personnel in a motel in the Dominican Republic are said to have seen a similar creature in September 1998. They said it was about five feet long and three feet wide.
[edit] Questions of credibility
Skeptics point to the fact that there is no physical evidence of the Loveland Frog. Another fact is the small number of reported sightings. This, however, is not necessarily a disproving statement, as there is a strong possibility that there are more unreported sightings.
[edit] Possible explanations
- Some people believe that what they are really seeing is the Japanese cryptid the kappa. Descriptions of kappas are very similar to those of the Loveland frog.
- The Loveland frog may be an undiscovered or unclassified species of amphibian or reptile.
- In very rare cases, alligators and crocodiles have been known to travel extremely far northwards. Most alligators, if any, found in Ohio would most likely be released pets. However, the frequency of sightings makes this an unlikely explanation.
