The Ozark Howler and the Snawfus
Polar opposites make for wild buddies in Ozark folklore
At first glance, they could not seem more incompatible.
The Ozark Howler is a dark, terrifying beast with sharp teeth and claws, shaggy fur, and a bone-chilling howl. It’s a predator.
The Snawfus, on the other hand, is a shining white stag, a deer with wings and flowers in its antlers that prances about in the treetops of the Ozark Mountains, breathing out cleansing blue mists with a voice like the song of little birds. It’s an herbivore, if it ever actually consumes anything more than sunlight and positive feelings.
Yet, these two creatures actually share some things in common. They’re both traditional creatures of Ozark folklore. They both sport strange horns. They’re both extremely difficult to find, and have a habit of disappearing unexpectedly. They both have a remarkable fondness for wilderness.
It’s true that the Ozark Howler and the Snawfus represent different aspects of wilderness. While the Snawfus represents the pure serenity of natural settings, the Ozark Howler symbolizes the rough and raw brutality that often characterizes genuine encounters with nature.
However, nature wouldn’t be nature without either of these aspects. Both parts of the wild experience are fully authentic.
That’s what makes the Ozark Howler and the Snawfus a coherent pair in Ozark mythology, rather than enemies. They’re the yin and the yang of Ozark culture, the terror and the majesty that the Ozark Mountains inspire. Together, the Snawfus and the Ozark Howler reflect the majesty and respect that nature is due.
For the sake of the Ozarks, and other great wild places, we would be wise to show deference to both of these spirits of the wild.
