Huge Groundswell of Interest in Montauk Monster

By Evie Salomon

It was only last month that Montauk was known the world over as a paradise destination, but recently, thanks to national coverage by the likes of FOX News, USA Today and CNN, the small town has achieved fame not just for its luxurious beaches, but for what's washed up onshore: the Montauk Monster.

Speculation arose immediately from members of the community, as well as Internet surfers - coverage on www.Gawker.com, one of New York's most popular media gossip blogs, has generated more than 11 billion hits in the last few weeks. While some deemed it the creature of Satan, others called it a hairless pit-bull or a turtle without a shell. From a slightly more logical standpoint, others proposed that it is simply an escaped experiment from the government's animal-disease research facility on Plum Island. Not a completely bogus idea, as the facility is just offshore from Montauk. Suspicious nonbelievers say that it is more likely a sick marketing device for the "X Files" movie, or the kid's TV show, "Crytids are Real."

What washed up on shore at Ditch Plains beach early in the morning of July 12 is still a mystery. However, one thing is for sure: nobody can stop talking about it. On CNN.com, the creature made its way up to the number one story spot. Was it more important than CNN's second headline, "Killer Carried Victim's Head?" Apparently, yes.

FOX News was one of the first television channels to cover the story. Dan Rattiner was even contacted for an interview. An overwhelming number of e-mails piled in regarding the creature, and FOX went so far as to bring in Jeff Corwin, "Animal Planet" wildlife expert, for a broadcasted interview. Corwin called this investigation a hoax, claiming that the creature is a perfect example of a decomposing carnivore. Corwin said that what looks like a beak is actually canine teeth, and based on the scruff around the creature's wrists and neck, it is definitely not a bird, and most certainly not a reptile. Even with all the other theories swarming about, Corwin said it is nothing more than an incredibly rare raccoon.

Facebook, a social networking site popular among high school and college students, has also spread the word. Currently there are 198 groups with more than 1,000 members discussing the possible identity of the Montauk Monster. The groups are filled with links to the splurge of Internet articles.

USA Today and the Chicago Tribune have also covered the story with a watchful eye, and over 3,000 miles away, the story has even reached the Daily Telegraph in the UK. It's crazy to think that what started out as a tiny local piece has turned into a global headline taking over cyberspace. When "Montauk Monster" is entered into the Google search key, about 1.5 million hits pop up, with the number increasing by the second. It's no surprise that for a while, the Montauk Monster was number one on Google trends.

While this local phenomenon is making its way into major publications and multiple news stations, it earned a spot on comedy shows, including "The Colbert Report," with the host joking that "John McCain has washed up on the shore of Montauk."

And just recently, eBay sellers hoping to earn a quick buck joined in. Multiple items have been sold on the website, including a framed oil painting of the beast for $51 that had earned four bids, as well as a "custom-made prop" created from a sculpture and cast from latex. The prop is selling for $32 and, at last check, had five bids. FOX News reported a story about a man who auctioned off a piece of toast with an impression of the Montauk Monster. The breakfast item sold for $2.75 after 14 bids, and now, the toaster oven that produced the monster toast is also for sale on eBay. An interested bidder asked if there were any crumbs left from the toast, to which the seller responded, "Actually, I haven't cleaned out the crumb tray in four years. I would guess there are definitely Montauk Monster toast crumbs present..."

The discovery of this toothy beast has made its way around the world, which begs one question: besides the fact that this critter is atrociously hideous, why has it created such uproar in the media? According to Gawker, one possibility is that the Hamptons/Montauk area is famous for its wealth, and the fact that a heinous creature has washed up on our "precious, opal-sanded shores," is somehow pleasing to the masses.

Back to Contents