Bauk are malicious bear-like monsters found in Serbian folklore that were known to hide in dark or abandoned places and wait for victims to stray too close before attacking and trying to devour them. While they are similar to Bugbears, they had greater range and also a deep fear of light or noise, which would cause them to flee.
While Bugbears were created to scare children, the Bauk are believed to be the result of cultural memory of bears, which had become extinct in the local area and entered into legend.