The Hugag is a fearsome critter from North American folklore, during the time of the pioneers, when it was customary to regale fresh immigrants with tales of the outlandish creatures which stalked their new world.
Description
Large herbivores which can reach the size of an adult moose, Hugags can be found throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, and parts of southern Canada. They are unusual in that they sport an extraordinarily long upper lip, and that their legs have no knees. This makes it impossible for these creatures to graze in the normal manner, and so they have adopted a nomadic existence, wandering the great forests and wrapping their long lip around any tree beaches or leaves which present themselves in order to feed.
Unfortunately for the Hugags, their lack of knees makes it impossible for the creatures to lie down to sleep. To this end, they have evolved the behaviour of leaning against a tree to slumber, and those who hunt the Hugags have taken to chopping likely-looking trees within their range almost to the point that they fall. Then, when an unwary Hugag leans upon one to slumber, the tree topped, leaving the unfortunate creature on the ground, unable to get back up, and easy prey for the hungry humans.
Further reading
"The Hugag" from Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods (1910) by William T. Cox
