We all know about vampires and werewolves, or at least we think we do. The legends and myths that inspired these monsters are sometimes surprisingly different, but no less chilling. In this series of posts, Monster Monday, we’ll investigate the monsters that have informed our modern notions, as well as some lesser known monsters. Today, we talk about the Hoop Snake.

The hoop snake is another “fearsome critter” from North American lumberjack folklore. Usually, it looks and acts like a normal snake, but when it chases down its prey, it has a very unique form of attack. It bites its own tail, and it rolls like a hoop. Doing so allows it to move incredibly fast.

Also, unlike a normal snake, it carries its venom in a stinger at the tip of its tail. When it attacks, it straightens out of a hoop at the very last second and stabs its prey with its stinger. The venom is more than strong enough to kill a full-grown man. People have been known to survive an attack by hiding behind a tree. The hoop snake stabs the tree instead, which immediately dies.