Bridgewater Triangle
A roughly 200-square-mile area of southeastern Massachusetts, centered on the Hockomock Swamp, associated with a dense cluster of reported phenomena, from Wampanoag legends of the "Pukwudgie" to UFO sightings and a string of unsolved cattle mutilations in the 1970s.
Field Guide Entry
Origin Story
The Wampanoag named the swamp at the area's center Hockomock, meaning "place of spirits," long before European settlement. Cryptozoologist Loren Coleman coined the name "Bridgewater Triangle" in the 1970s to describe the cluster of strange reports concentrated there.
Evidence & Claims
Reports collected over decades include ball lightning, a reputed Bigfoot-like creature, UFO sightings, and a series of unsolved cattle mutilations in the 1970s.
Skeptical Explanations
Researchers note that the swamp's difficult terrain and history of isolation likely encouraged folklore to accumulate over generations, while most individual reports lack corroborating physical evidence.
Visiting Information
The state forest has marked trails through the wooded terrain associated with the area's sightings and folklore. The woods are easy to get lost in -- bring a map and don't rely on a phone signal.
Approximate Area
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The marker represents a general area, not an exact site.
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