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Drekavac

The Mythical Drekavac

  • 1 April, 2026
  • Critterman
  • No Comments
  • 144 Views
  • 1 Likes
Cryptozoology, Daily Critter Facts

The Drekavac, aka drekalo, krekavac, zdrekavac or zrikavac, is a mythical creature who’s name literally means “the screamer” or “the screecher”. These creatures hail from Slovakia and eastern Serbia. Sightings have been documented for centuries. It has been depicted as an undead man who emerges from his grave by night to haunt the living. This article is on special request from my friend Stefan.

First the Stats…

Scientific name: Umbra strangulatus
Weight: Unknown
Length: Varies from a childlike size to an adult
Lifespan: Unknown

Now on to the Facts!

1.) Some claim this create is the form of an unbaptized child that rises from its grave at night to haunt its parents.

2.) They can also sometimes be heard engaging the people passing cemeteries to baptize it and thus end its misery.

3.) In Eastern Serbia it has been described as taking the form of a humanoid canine beast that walks on its hind legs.

4.) The Drekavac was initially believed to have hailed from the souls of sinful men, or from children who died while unbaptized.

5.) This ghostly creature is visible only at night, making it nocturnal (active at night).

But wait, there’s more on the Drekavac!

6.) It is also believed that if the shadow of Drekavac happens upon a person then that person will fall sick and die.

7.) They are thought to avoid dogs and bright lights.

Did you know…?
When it assumes the form of a child, it predicts a person’s death. Yet in its animal form, it predicts cattle disease.

8.) Back in 1992, a report was released that in Krvavica the villagers found remains of an animal unlike any typically found from the region, and claimed it was a Drekavac.

9.) In circa 2003, in the village of Tometino Polje near Divcibare, a series of attacks on domestic sheep occurred, with some villagers claiming that they had been perpetrated by a Drekavac.

10.) The Drekavac is also mentioned in Ćopić’s book Eagles Fly Early, and is a character in Larry Correia’s novel Monster Hunter Bloodlines.

11.) Is the Drekavac real or just a myth? You decide.

Now a Short Drekavac Video!

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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia

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Critterman

With over 51 years of critter experience to my credit and hundreds of zoology teaching hours to people around the world, I have amassed not only a continuing thirst for critter knowledge but a desire to teach others all I can about the majesty and wonder of our natural world. Critter Science is a culmination of such knowledge. I have hands on as well as book acquired intel on all kinds of critters. Whether they're on land, sea, or in the air. I will never say that I know everything about all animals. That's impossible, even for a savant. But, that being said, ask me any animal question and I'll answer it. If I don't know the answer, I'll get an answer for you!

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