The Prime Hook Swamp Creature, often called the “Swamp Ape” of Delaware, was reportedly sighted from the 1970s through the 1990s in the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Sussex County, Delaware.
Eyewitnesses typically describe the creature as 7 to 9 feet tall, muscular, and broad-shouldered, often standing upright and walking bipedally. Its dark brown to black fur is sometimes matted, and its head is rounded and ape-like, occasionally featuring a pronounced brow ridge. Some reports even mention a strong, swamp-like odor, reminiscent of Florida’s Skunk Ape.
According to observers, the creature moves quickly and silently through swampy terrain, has been seen wading through water, and sometimes climbing low trees. Large, human-like footprints in some cases up to 18 inches long have been found in muddy areas of the swamp. Witnesses also report that the creature produces howling, screeching, or grunting vocalizations during the night.
1970s Reports
Local hunters and fishermen reported seeing a large, ape-like creature moving near Prime Hook Creek. These early reports were sporadic but persistent.
1980s–1990s
Sightings of the Prime Hook Swamp Creature became more frequent as additional people explored the refuge. One fisherman reported a 7-foot-tall, dark creature stalking his boat for several minutes before vanishing into the reeds. Campers have described large footprints and strange nocturnal noises, sometimes accompanied by the odor of rotting vegetation, while hunters have observed a large, upright creature running across open marshes.
Although it is not as widely known as Florida’s Skunk Ape or the Beast of Bladenboro, the Prime Hook Swamp Creature has a dedicated following among cryptid enthusiasts. Local wildlife officials note that many reports are likely misidentifications such as black bears, wild boars, or deer but some sightings remain unexplained.
Many cryptid researchers suggest that the Prime Hook Swamp Creature may represent a small East Coast population of Bigfoot-like beings. It shares several characteristics with Bigfoot and the Skunk Ape, yet it is uniquely associated with the marsh and swamp habitats of Delaware. While no physical evidence has ever been confirmed, sporadic eyewitness accounts continue to emerge, keeping the legend alive.
One of the more unusual reports occurred in July 2007, when a woman named Helen J. was driving on Broadkill Road, near the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, around dusk with her daughter. They spotted a small creature standing at the edge of the swamp by the side of the road.
The creature was described as 2.5 to 3 feet tall, with long legs, a tan body, a flat, pug-like face, small ears, and a long tail.
Curious, Helen asked around locally and learned from a Broadkill Beach store owner that she and her father had seen a similar creature years earlier while dirt biking in the area. When Helen inquired at the Prime Hook visitor center, staff admitted they had no explanation for the creature.
Helen also reported that, in a later year, her other daughter and a friend encountered a very similar creature in the same swampy area this time at night as it ran across the road in front of their car.
Steven J
Has anyone seena tree curved around another tree? Whit another tree holding the tree curved around the one holding it in place? Not only that but looking passed the curved around another tree there’s a fre trees making an X lined up with it . I’ll take a picture tomorrow of the trees.. Just tell me where to post them.. I was completely flabbergasted when I saw them hunting in the backyard.