(Other Hominoid) The Wildmannli
It has been reported for centuries that the "Wildmannli" lives in the woods and mountains of Switzerland. It is characterized as having a human-like appearance and being covered in hair. Several tales describe the Wildmannli as a form of Bigfoot or Yeti. According to Swiss tradition, the Wildmannli is a timid and evasive creature that shuns human interaction. According to legend, it can converse with animals and has a strong affinity to nature.
Legend and Folklore
The Wildmannli, fur-covered creatures from the mountains, once herded people's cattle - as long as the weather was right. Their stories tell of a willingness to help and a mysterious reward that suddenly turned coal into shiny coins.
The Wildmannli lived in the Nenzing valley on the Alpe Seris, in caves called "Kasten". They wore no clothes, their whole body was covered in hair - similar to a bear. They came to Malbun valley and Steg to look after the cattle of the inhabitants of Triesenberg. When the farmers had a lot to do, they relied on the Wildmannli and left the cattle unattended for several days, knowing that they would feed and care for them.
However, the Wildmannli stayed at home when the weather was bad - especially when the Föhn wind was blowing. So it happened that once the Föhn storm blew up on the ridge, while the weather was fine on Triesenberg. The farmers still wanted to dig potatoes and therefore did not go up into the mountains because they assumed that the Wildmannli would feed the cattle.
On the third day, however, some of them set off to see what was going on and fetch milk and whey. They discovered that the cattle were half starved - the Wildmannli had not come because of the wind.
Another time, the Wildmannli called a midwife from Triesenberg to a woman who had recently given birth. In return, she received an apron full of charcoal. Dissatisfied with this reward, she threw away one charcoal after another on her way home.
A wild man followed her invisibly and collected the coals. Every time she threw one away, it called out: "The more you throw away, the less you have!" When she got home, the woman emptied the remaining coals onto the hob - and was surprised to see that every single coal had turned into a blank taler.
She hurried back to collect the discarded coals - but they were nowhere to be found.
Summary...
The Wildmannli are hairy, mythical mountain dwellers from Alpine folklore (like Liechtenstein/Switzerland) who were shy, strong, fur-covered beings, often helping people with chores like herding or calling midwives, but would disappear if offered clothes or too much human interaction, symbolizing a connection to wild nature that receded with civilization's intrusion, appearing in legends and even as figures on buildings.
Key Characteristics & Stories:
Appearance: Covered in hair, resembling bears, living in mountain caves (like "Kasten"), and generally avoiding clothes.
Behavior: They were helpful, assisting with farm work, herding cattle, and even aiding in childbirth, but vanished if shown too much gratitude (like a meal or clothing).
Symbolism: They represent the untamed wilderness and a time before modern civilization, a "wild man" archetype often found in medieval lore.
Variations: They are linked to other Swiss/Germanic "wood-dwellers" like the Waldfänken (wood-folk).
Legacy: Stories persist, with places named after them (like Wildmannli Cave/Hütte) and figures appearing on public buildings (like Davos Town Hall).
In essence, the Wildmannli are shy, powerful mountain spirits embodying the wild, who interacted beneficially but briefly with humans until attempts to "civilize" or overly reward them caused them to retreat forever.
