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Fresno Nightcrawler: The Walking Pants That Became a Legend | TalkTeaV Mystery-Spotlight
- Damian Ali
- Sep 5
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 3
This A.I.-generated image depicts two figures resembling the Fresno Nightcrawler, described as short, white, leg-like creatures with no visible torso or arms: Created for editorial purposes only
A strange figure gliding across a Fresno yard in 2007 became one of the most recognizable modern cryptid stories. Known as the Fresno Nightcrawler, it was first captured on a grainy home-security video camera by a local resident named Jose.
In the footage, it looks like a pair of long, white legs gliding across a yard, with no arms, torso, or face. Its smooth, ghostly walk made it famous among fans of the unexplained. Unlike other creatures such as Bigfoot or Chupacabra, the Nightcrawler seems less threatening.
The clip first aired on a local Univision station, then spread wider when paranormal researcher Victor Camacho presented it at a UFO symposium in 2008. National attention came in 2010 when Syfy’s Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files featured it in “Unwanted Visitors: Strange Sightings.” That episode gave the creature its lasting name: the Nightcrawler.
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A.I.-generated image inspired by the 2011 Yosemite Nightcrawler video, showing two short, white, leg-like figures gliding side by side in the dark, with no visible arms or torso: Created for editorial purposes only
The team of Jael De Pardo, Bill Murphy, and Larry Caughlan Jr. interviewed Jose, who remembered the night well. Jose said in the interview (Translated by Jael De Pardo), “The incident occurred about 12 when he heard his dog’s barking. He came out to look at the area and look around. He didn’t see anything and ran back inside his home. That’s when he saw the being on video.”
The team tested theories using a child in costume, puppets, and different camera setups. None matched the eerie glide of the original. During a night investigation, equipment malfunctioned, cameras tipped over, and a thermal camera briefly captured two shapes walking, though nothing was found on the ground. In the end, the video remained unexplained.
The Nightcrawler soon became a pop culture figure, appearing on TV shows, inspiring toys, art, and TikTok videos. A second sighting in 2011 at Yosemite Lakes Park showed two similar figures. Since the original video was never proven fake and no one has confessed to a hoax, the mystery continues.
PBS’ 'Storied,' a YouTube series, added perspective on the Nightcrawler, when host Dr. Emily Zarka said, “This doesn't feel like a Cryptid that is out to hurt you. The Fresno Nightcrawlers began with one curious video clip that sparked controversy and hot debates. Cryptid, alien, ghost, or something else entirely, we don't know, is what keeps us wondering.”
Today, Fresno embraces the Nightcrawler much like Scotland does Nessie, as part of its folklore and a quirky local symbol. Whether it was a camera trick or something unexplainable, the walking pants of California remain a legend that won’t disappear.
Head over to YouTube to catch a glimpse of Fresno Nightcrawler
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