We’re back with another edition of Urban Legend: Fact or Fiction. In this chapter, we are going to check in on Ohio and see if they are really trying to nominate an official state cryptid or not. So hop on in while we dive into this potentially history-making tale.
The Story
Ohio lawmakers seek to designate the Loveland Frog as the official state cryptid, making them the first state to do so. Unlike your normal official flower or bird, cryptids are beings who are believed to exist. However, there is no solid proof that they actually do.
The Loveland Frog or Frogman is reported to stand 4-feet-tall and walk on two legs. They have been spotted in Marshes around the Little Miami River near Loveland, Ohio, going as far back as 1955. Like their provable counterparts, Frogmen are peaceful and aren’t known to attack.
Is it Real?
We’re not going to weigh in on whether we think Frogmen are real; including cryptids in this series is an impossible request. However, we CAN confirm that Ohio does want to select Frogman as the state cryptid.
The idea was proposed in House Bill 821 back in April. As it stands, the bill is in the House committee, still awaiting a vote. State Representatives Tristan Rader and Jean Schmidt introduced the bipartisan proposal. Schmidt represents the Frogman’s hometown of Loveland, where the cryptid is already the mascot and the host of an annual festival in their honor. Now she wants to take that appreciation statewide.
“This bill is about showcasing our communities,” says Rader. “The Loveland Frog is uniquely Ohio. It reflects the stories we tell, the places we’re proud of, and the creativity that makes our state worth celebrating.”
In a first for this series, this story is still developing. We’ll keep you posted on updates as the bill makes its way through the House of Representatives. But yes, it is 100% true that they are trying to nominate one and, if the measure passes, will be the first to do so. This is:
You can read House Bill 821 as presented here.
