Naturally, the most Canadian cryptozoological character would be a giant bird with antlers (Bigfoot can take a blurry hike).
Last week, a number of local businesses, politicians and a radio station began sharing photos of sightings of a strange creature flying around the Muskoka area that looked like a large brown eagle with giant antlers. The “#MuskokaOddity” was apparently the talk of the (admittedly small) community all week, until Muskoka Brewery revealed the sighting to be a hoax perpetrated by the craft brewer, Instigator Communications and a handful of people and organizations willing to go along with the joke.
The creature, of course, is the “reineagle,” the cuddly little guy that appears on cans of Muskoka Brewery’s Legendary Oddity beer, and the hoax was an effort to drum up awareness, since the spring brew is set to reappear on store shelves in just a few weeks.
From Stimulant
Friend sent me a pic of this giant bird over the lake this morning; said it was green! #MuskokaOddity pic.twitter.com/3RblO87v63
— Tony Clement (@TonyclementCPC) March 7, 2016
Heard of the green bird with antlers prowling #Muskoka? Staff member spied this in his backyard #MuskokaOddity pic.twitter.com/WDm0sCOXx2
— The Old Station (@_TheOldStation) March 9, 2016
Snapped this pic of a strange creature perched on the Silver bridge, looks like a bird meets deer #MuskokaOddity pic.twitter.com/DDNCoyBSO7
— Graydon Smith (@GraydonTheMayor) March 9, 2016
The #Muskoka eagle with antlers
seen chillin’ @thekeetobala by one of our listeners -photoshop or #muskokaoddity? pic.twitter.com/Nt4iNnfYyW— Moose FM 99.5 (@moose995) March 9, 2016
Have you heard there is an eagle
with antlers in #Muskoka? We were sent this pic – real or fake? #MuskokaOddity pic.twitter.com/FZUy5pJxQM— Moose FM 99.5 (@moose995) March 8, 2016