What do you get when an alligator falls in love with a raccoon? A vile atrocious unsightly mess... named the Coonigator! Or not, because Mother Nature is a bigot and does not approve of inter-species romance!

Along the way we will educate you on just why natural selection prevents the formation of hybrid monstrosities, why it is never a good idea to hug a raccoon, why possums are terrifying, and just why this cute lil cryptid enjoys bananas so much. There is hardly any info on it, so we try to fill in the holes with bananas! Nope, that was not an innuendo! ... 😏

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Huge THANK YOU!!! to The Crescent Hare, a.k.a. Christina (actually a barn owl in "human" disguise) for suggesting the only true theory to the Coonigator origin, and for creating the magnificent episode artwork!!!

Show your support by following her on Instagram @thecrescenthare

If you wish to proudly display the Seal with a Wheel, or the very... "handsome" face of Indrid Cold, or even a sexy Braxxie, all of Christina's art can be found at www.thecrescenthare.com

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Episode artwork by The Crescent Hare @thecrescenthare

Send us suggestions and comments to [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram @tracingowls or Twitter @TracingOwls

Check our Linktree: linktr.ee/tracingowls

Intro sampled from "Something strange lurks in the shadows" by Francisco Sánchez (@fanchisanchez)

Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

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FURTHER READING:

COONIGATOR: (VERMONT, USA) | Cryptopia | by Rob Morphy

Coonigator | Cryptid Wiki

The Coonigator | Mythical Beast Wars

Raccoon Rides Alligator in Florida—Is It For Real? | National Geographic

Can Different Species Hybridize? | Reproductive Isolating Mechanisms

The True Story of the Montauk Monster | Observer

Meet The Mummified Alligator Man Who Captured A Small Town's Heart |Thrillist

Jake the Alligator Man | Wikipedia

Dogigator | Cryptid Wiki

Scott Francis (2007): Monster Spotter's Guide to North America. HOW Books