Folklore Profile: The Mini Mastodons of Wisconsin

January 03, 2020 / adam benedict

Millions of years ago during the late Miocene and early Pleistocene epochs, a creature arrived in what is now North America and instantly took its place among the top-ranking megafauna to walk this part of the world. Often described as being very similar in appearance to modern Asian elephants of today, the creature which would become known as the Mastodon possessed relatively short legs, a long frame, and was heavily muscled throughout its entire body. Females of the species typically stood around 7ft at the shoulder, while males stood around 9ft-10ft. Depending on the size and sex, the creature could weigh anywhere from 4tons (8,000lbs) to 12tons (24,000lbs).

On top of this stocky muscular body was a coat of long, shaggy dark hair. While not as lengthy as the hair covering their cousins, the Woolly Mammoth, artistic depictions of the two giants have caused a majority of people to believe these two creatures were one and the same, but as history and science prove, this was far from the case. Through testing on recovered Mastodon bones found throughout the world, scientists have determined that Mastodons were present on earth between 27-30 million years ago, while Mammoths are believed to have shown up around 5 million years ago. Besides their place in time, physical characteristics also separate these two hairy giants from one another.

As described above, Mastodons were long, short, and stocky. Mammoths, on the other hand, stood taller and had a more upwards sloping posture. Each of the megafaunas possessed long tusks although they were shaped quite differently. Mastodon tusks were shorter and straighter, while Mammoth tusks were longer and much more curved. Outside appearances weren’t the only differences between the two creatures either. The teeth of a Mastodon possessed pointed cone protrusions which were suited for eating woody browse, while the teeth of a Mammoth were hard flat surfaces more suited for eating grass. The skulls in which the teeth sat, also different. The skull of a Mastodon was relatively flat and wide, whereas the skull of a Mammoth was much longer and rose to a high peak. The list goes on and on, and while we could dedicate another paragraph just to the difference between the two giants, we are going to cut it off here as we think we’ve gotten the point across. The two creatures were different.

So, we’ve established that Mastodons arrived in the world nearly 30 million years ago and science estimates they made their way into North American around 5 million years ago. It is widely believed that these giants of days gone by roamed leisurely through the anicent forests of the continent before their eventual extinction at the hand of early man nearly 10,000 years ago during the end Pleistocene epoch. These are the recognized bullet points that encapsulate the enter story of the Mastodon and science is pretty confident that they are accurate. But then again, what if they weren’t?

What if everything we know about the Mastodon was true just up until the end when it is believed to have gone extinct? Would people be able to accept that? Maybe they didn’t go extinct nearly 110 centuries ago as scientists believe. Maybe they changed with the times and kept on evolving to bypass their fate. Is it possible that they were able to change so much, that they literally slipped into the cracks of our world and disappeared into the unknown? While mainstream science may refuse to address those hard-hitting questions, there is a location in Richland Center, Wisconsin, which aims to do just that and put this entire issue to rest.

So come with me as we travel to a classic Wisconsin think tank in which many individuals can get together in order to solve countless world issues and answer the greatest questions humanity has ever thought to ask. It’s time to head to the bar.

The specific bar in which we are on our way to, the one where the legend of the Mini Mastodons originated, is actually the bar inside VFW Post 2267, Richland Center. It was at this location in the late 90s where author Dennis Boyer met with a man who claimed to have first-hand knowledge regarding the existence of the miniaturized megafauna located within the state. The information and story that the man shared were unique enough that they eventually made their way into Boyer’s 1997 book, Giants in the Land: Folktales and Legends of Wisconsin. The book, which covers a variety of folk legends collected from all around the state, is a wonderful read and is actually one of three books written by Boyer which focuses exclusively on the stranger side of the Badger State. If you ever get a chance to pick up a copy, I would highly suggest you do so. And with that said, let’s get back to the story.

According to the story collected by Boyer, Mastodons didn’t exactly go extinct the way science believes they did. While a large majority of the herds located within North America at the time did meet their end at the hands of early hunting groups, it seems as if a small group of these Northern Giants within Wisconsin decided to change things up a bit. You see, as the Wisconsin group watched their fellow Megafauna fall at the hands of man and dwindling food supplies, they decided there was only one thing left they could do. The group called evolution back in to do whatever it could to help the herd survive, so it did just that. And not long after, the Wisconsin Mastodons started to shrink.

As time continued to pass, the shrinking Mastodons kept getting smaller and smaller, and the benefits kept getting bigger and bigger. Areas of land which once contained little food for the herds were now practically transformed into all you can eat buffets. Smaller sizes meant less food which meant the land could recuperate from all the years being snacked upon. Becoming tiny also meant that the once easily spotted giants could now efficiently hide from hunting parties and were able to avoid becoming food, clothing, and weapons. A small cave in a hillside or a large hollowed-out tree could now provide adequate shelter and much-needed camouflage. Yes, it appeared that the Mastodons had achieved exactly what they were hoping for, survival. Evolution it seemed though, was not yet done with its process.

With every new year that had passed, the Mastodons were significantly smaller than the year before. The size change was so extreme that it was decided these mini megafauna could no longer even be considered the same species that had originally started to shrink, these had become an entirely new sub-species. To put it into perspective on just how small these Mastodons had become, when early settlers arrived in what would eventually be Wisconsin, the largest of the species (the males) were described as being no bigger than a dog. Yet despite the small size, they looked almost identical to their larger extinct counterparts. They possessed the same hair, body shape, teeth, and of course, tusks. The only difference was that their features were now itty bitty and you could pretty much lift the entire creature up off the ground as easily as you could a dog. For all intents and purposes, they had become adorable.

For a while, the little giants ran free and unhindered across the state, but they were primarily seen within the Southwest region. The largest numbers could be found in and around the cities and villages of Richland Center, Boaz, and Wild Rose. They pretty much stayed out of people’s way and residents of the area ignored them as they would a common raccoon. It was a good balance between man and nature and it seemed as if the Mini Mastodons had officially avoided extinction. But just as the future appeared to be at its brightest, both man and beast marched forward into October of 1929.

For those of you who recognize that point in history, you understand right away why this is bad. For those of you who don’t however, let me tell you about a little thing known as The Great Depression. Starting near the end of 1929, the entire world entered into one of the greatest economic catastrophes of all time. Starting in the United States after a major stock market crash beginning in September and bottoming out in October, the ripple that shot out into the world was powerful enough to hit nearly every nation with a form of unprecedented economic collapse. During this time, half of all banks in the U.S. failed, unemployment rose, homelessness increased, and the seeds of what would eventually blossom into WW2 were planted. Now, that is pretty much all the history we are going to give on The Great Depression. We stress and urge you to learn more about it because this is truly one of the biggest horrible events to ever hit us as a people. And as the old saying goes, those who do not learn from their past are doomed to repeat it.

So, the reason we briefly touched on the depression in that section above is because not many people know that the Mini Mastodons were also affected by this global catastrophe. You see, during this time, millions and millions of people in the United States suddenly found themselves unemployed and unable to provide food for their families. As mass-market food became more and more scarce, people began to get desperate and eventually turned once again to killing their own food. The target animals were those with healthy populations which were readily seen in the surrounding areas. These included deer, rabbit, fowl, squirrel, and of course, the Mini Mastodons. People weren’t the only ones looking for food during this time either, packs of stray dogs that had grown with every pet let loose by an owner who could no longer feed them also picked off the easy to catch little giants. During these few terrible years, it truly was an epic display of survival of the fittest.

Near the beginning of 1933, what economic historians consider to be the turning point of the depression, the harvesting of the Mastodons had all but come to an end. The once-thriving population had been nearly wiped out. There were thought to be only a handful of remaining Mastodons left and they could only be located within the Southwest region of Wisconsin. Now, it is human nature to desire what is considered rare. Having something that is low in number and cannot be claimed by everyone is seen as a status symbol in the eyes of many. This is true of rare gems, paintings, cars, antiques, and of course, animals. Since their numbers were low and they were easy to care for, post-depression Wisconsinites began an attempt to domesticate the remaining Mini Mastodons. Yes, you read that correctly. The new hot item to have living in your home as a pet was the once tasty and now endangered, Mini Mastodon.

After a few years, the surviving population of little giants was now almost fully domesticated. Long gone were the days where these adorably tiny megafauna roamed the fields and valleys in huge numbers. Where you could once see these tiny mastodons poking out of cracks in the hillside and scurrying out from under trees, you could only now see them walking at the end of a leash. Time had not been kind to these little creatures, and their days on this earth were nearly finished. Just as extinction had come to claim them once before thousands of years prior, it was once again standing on their doorstep waiting to get what it was owed.

You see, a funny thing happened after the Mini Mastodons were domesticated and turned into pets. For some reason unknown to anyone, once they were tamed, they stopped breeding. It appeared that once they were removed from the wild, they lost all desire to continue on. It was as if they had simply given up. That didn’t stop people from wanting to own one though, not by a long shot. People continued to remove them from the wild and place them in their homes. Every day, the outdoor population fell and the indoor population rose. Then finally one day in the early 1940s, there were none left outside, and the final nail was driven into the coffin of the Mini Mastodons.

The man in the bar stated that the last Mini Mastodon in Wisconsin officially died in 1944. Some claimed that a few survived into the 1950s, but this couldn’t be confirmed. Even though the little giants were gone, remnants of their existence still survived in the area. Wallets made of their skin, ashtrays made from their skulls, and kitchen utensils with ivory handles made from their tusks could still be found throughout the Southwest region of Wisconsin. But as time passed, these reminders also faded away. With the last pieces gone, the Mini Mastodons had officially met the end they were so desperately hoping to avoid all those thousands of years ago.

And that dear reader is the folk legend of the Mini Mastodons of Wisconsin. A fun tale about a creature who managed to beat time itself, but still ended up falling at the hand of humans. This is a story that you would expect to hear told by an elderly relative, a strange older neighbor, or a local town historian trying to entertain a group of school children during a presentation. It is truly the prime example of good ol’ home grown folklore. But, as with all folk tales and legends, the story of the Mini Mastodons does actually have a basis in truth, and that truth even has its own mysterious story surrounding it.

The tale of the Mini Mastodons of Wisconsin can be linked back to a real event that took place on July 10, 1897, in Boaz, Wisconsin. It was on this day after an extremely heavy rainstorm that the four Dosch brothers, Harry, Chris, Verne, and Clyde went out to check for any flood damage on their father John’s farm. As they approached Mill Creek, they spotted some extremely strange and extremely large bones sticking out of the creek bank. Curious as to what they could be, the four brothers got to work digging them out. When they finally removed a few of the largest bones, they leaned them up along a hitching post near the road and left them on display for all to see as they passed by.

As it would turn out, one of the individuals who would pass by that day was none other than the local mailman. Upon seeing the large bones, he continued on his way and spread the word of what had been discovered on the Dosch farm. Eventually, word of the discovery made its way through the area and into Richland Center where it entered the ears of attorney and state legislature member Frank Burnham. Instantly realizing the importance of the discovery, Burnham made his way out to the Dosch farm and negotiated the purchase of the bones for the State of Wisconsin. When all was said and done, the Dosch family was $50 richer (around $1,600 in today’s money) and the State of Wisconsin was the proud new owner of a bunch of bones belonging to a long-extinct, 9ft tall, 8 ton American Mastodon. Later, in 1915, the bones were assembled and put on display in the University of Wisconsin museum under the name of The Boaz Mastodon.

So, as you can see, the story of the Mini Mastodons strangely evolved somehow from a real event in which an actual Mastodon skeleton was discovered in Wisconsin over 120 years ago. While the story involving that discovery is cool and all, you are probably wondering where the mystery surrounding it is. The story told up above seems pretty straight forward; a family finds some bones, realizes its a skeleton, sells said skeleton to a museum, and everyone walks away happy, the end. When looking at it like that, yeah, it was simple. In fact, that’s how literally everyone looked at the discovery of the Boaz Mastodon at first glance. It wasn’t until 2013 though that the mystery surrounding this particular Mastodon was even discovered.

In 2015, the University of Wisconsin-Madison would be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Boaz Mastodon being on display. So in 2013, as a way to make sure every piece of information surrounding the skeleton was documented and available for the public to read about on the day of the celebration, museum curator of collections Carrie Eaton began going through every piece of paperwork and document regarding the sale, purchase, and information collected on the Boaz skeleton. And it was during this research that she discovered something very interesting. A letter, written on July 29, 1898, which had been filed away in the university archives.

The letter, which was written by an assistant geologist for the state Geological and Natural History Survey named Ernest R. Buckley, told of how he was sent to the small settlement of Anderson Mills (a settlement which has since faded away in modern times) in order to investigate the discovery of some large bones. These bones, which were discovered sticking out of the ground after a heavy rainstorm, were located on the Anderson Family farm and Buckley was instructed to pay $75 to the family for the purchase of the bones as well as the digging rights to the site. The reason, as told by Buckley, was because the chairman of the university geology department “was desirous of obtaining mastodon bones with the design of accumulating enough to make a complete skeleton.”

Upon reading these words, Eaton became suspicious of the story surrounding the discovery of The Boaz Mastodon. Continuing her search through the archives, Eaton found newspaper headlines announcing the discovery of bones in Boaz, more notes written by Buckley talking about the comparisons between Mastodons and Mammoths, and photographs of the haul of bones dug up in Anderson Mills. When all was said and done and all information had been gathered and analyzed, Eaton was left with just two questions, was the Boaz Mastodon even discovered in Boaz, and was it just one creature?

To get the answer to the questions, Eaton turned to modern-day DNA sequencing of the bones. Through countless images and verification, as well as assistance from outside universities and bone labs, the questions finally had answers. The creature on display in the UW museum, the one which had been known as the Boaz Mastodon for over 100yrs, was not one creature as originally assumed and it was also not exclusively from Boaz. The secret, which had remained hidden for over a century, had been discovered and with it, history had been changed forever.

But this change in history was not a bad thing at all. In fact, the information and story uncovered only added to the fascinating history surrounding one of the biggest animals to ever walk through Wisconsin. Since the discovery, more testing has been carried out on the skeleton. New information has revealed that only two bones in the entire skeleton can without a doubt be traced to Boaz, while all the others are believed to have come from the Anderson Mills Mastodon. The DNA analysis of the bones also revealed that those from Boaz were found to be 12,100 years old, while those from Anderson Mills were found to be 12,900 years old. This piece of information is absolutely amazing to think about because these two creatures, which were discovered only thirty miles away from each other and only one year apart, actually walked the same area in the past yet were still separated by 800 years. Just incredible.

It goes without saying that the stories involving the Mastodons of Wisconsin, both the mini and the massive, are equally amazing tales to hear. They join the ranks of other classic Wisconsin stories that have been passed down from generation to generation and continue to fully captivate all who hear them. It doesn’t matter if these tales are fictional or fact, colorful or scientific, or told within a bar or university. All that matters is that people enjoy what they are hearing at the time, and feel the need to share it with others long after it’s over. This is how we preserve our history and share our knowledge with future generations. Because sometimes, when the written accounts are accidentally filed away and lost to history, the only way to get back to the original event is to follow the mini mastodon back to the bigger one.

-The Pine Barrens Institute

Image Credit: “The American Mastodon” by Petr Modlitba

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