Grayback

The Grayback is a lesser-known cryptid of North American logging lore, described as an immense bear with a silvery-gray coat that roams isolated mountain ranges. Lumberjacks recounted run-ins with this beast that could tear apart cabins or uproot saplings with casual strength, leaving behind only enormous tracks and a lingering musk. Some stories portray the Grayback almost sympathetically, as a guardian of deep woods who drives humans out to keep the forest undisturbed. Others see it as a straightforward terror, punishing intrusions with brutal force. Likely rooted in exaggerated encounters with old, large grizzly bears whose fur turned gray with age, the Grayback embodies the towering, unpredictable power of wilderness—a reminder that the forest can still fight back when pushed too far.