| Creature information | |
|---|---|
| Folklore | Cryptid |
| Origin | |
| First attested | 2007 |
| Country | United States |
| Region | Fresno, California |
The Fresno nightcrawler is a cryptid said to originate in Fresno, California.[1] It is described as semi-humanoid, white in color, long-legged, and claimed to be typically spotted in pairs. They have been compared to "walking pairs of pants".[2] According to Brian Dunning, the Fresno nightcrawler is an urban legend, "supported by little or no actual belief by anyone that it's a real creature; there's nothing particularly thought-provoking in its backstory; and yet, it has a prodigious community of supporters that is only likely to continue growing".[3]
History
The Fresno nightcrawler was first popularized by CCTV footage shot in 2007 by a man in south Fresno, California featured on the television network Univision.[4] The video is claimed to show a white figure like a pair of legs without a torso walking from the top left to the bottom right of the screen, followed by a second figure walking in the same direction. The Fresno nightcrawler was featured on the History Channel program The Proof Is Out There.[5]
Subsequent footage claimed to be of similar creatures was shot in Yosemite Lakes Park in 2011,[6] and there have been claimed sightings as far away as Poland.[4] The SyFy program Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files coined the name "nightcrawlers", and said its attempts to investigate if the footage was a hoax proved inconclusive.[7] Images of alleged indigenous sculptures were put forward in an attempt to relate the Fresno nightcrawler to local Native American legends. However, when Weird Fresno founder Michael Banti contacted local tribes to confirm their authenticity, his contacts did not recognize the photographed sculptures as matching local indigenous monuments.[1]
Popularity
The Fresno nightcrawler has become an icon of Fresno, and has spawned merchandise and fans around the world.[6] According to enthusiasts, the nightcrawler is "super simple, uncomplicated, just a pair of pants out for a walk",[4] which may account for the popularity of the creature.
See also
References
- "Bigfoot, Chupacabra, and … Fresno Nightcrawler? Walking pants bring Fresno freaky fame". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- "Fresno Nightcrawlers Are Terrorizing The Dark, And They're Spreading Far From California". Ranker. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- Dunning, Brian (5 April 2022). "Skeptoid #826: Why the Fresno Nightcrawler Is So Popular". Skeptoid. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
- "Cryptid fans are in love with this 'funky little dude.' What is the Fresno Nightcrawler?". The Fresno Bee. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- "The Nightcrawler and the Beast in the Tree". The History Channel. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- "More than Fresno famous: How the Nightcrawler captured the world's imagination". The Business Journal. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
- "Where Are The Nightcrawlers?". David Weatherly. 14 July 2012. Archived from the original on 12 March 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2025.