What I say

 I have always known about the new jersey devil, but after doing research over the topic it's changed my view on the subject greatly. I know more about the facts and the background than I did before I first started. Do I believe in the new jersey devil? It's hard to say; some matters are still hard to believe. I wouldn't say I'm a nonbeliever either, or in fact someone in between for that matter. I believe more than I disbelieve. I'd say it's because of the evidence and eye witness account that make me believe even more; it's hard to disbelieve when they have proof to back them up. Plus in actuality, there could be a creature like this in New Jersey, just in small numbers. We may never know for sure unless someone actually captures one, and the chances of that are low if its already an endangered species. Do I believe in the stories? My heart is torn on this one; it's hard to believe that a human child transformed into the devil itself. Though, I can't say I disagree because the people and the house in the stories actually existed. Plus, because the story is less than 300 years old, it's more up to date than most legends.
   My final thoughts? The new jersey devil is a mysterious creature; just because I believe that the creature's possibilities of existing are high, may not be what others believe. I believe there is some form of truth to the story, because the possibility of it being all a hoax, in my opinion, are low.

The Evidence

Surprisingly the evidence that surrounds the new jersey devil is vast, yet has no hard evidence to claim it's existence. For instance,” the Jersey Devil has been seen by reliable people such as police, government officials, postmasters, businessman, and other people whose integrity is beyond question" (Juliano, Dave). Each one of them reported seeing a strange creature with similar descriptions to the appearance of the new jersey devil. These witnesses also weren't a glance or short encounter on most parts; some of them actually got a good look of the creature for a long amount of time. Plus the strange hoof prints found around the terrains of New jersey are hard to explain logically. This is because some of the tracks are found on rooftops, and other tracks end abruptly as if a creature suddenly took flight. When hunters tried to hunt down the devil by using the tracks and hunting dogs, the dogs were too terrified to follow. There has also been a vast amount of livestock, such as sheep and chickens, that'd been reported killed or missing. Some stories also involve witnesses, when the new jersey devil attacks their own pets. One famous story is about a women named Mrs. Sorbinski who discovers her dog in the grips of the devil itself. Discovering this she started to hit the creature with a broom till it lets the dog go. The neighbors, hearing the screams, gather and called the police. When the two officers arrived over 100 gathers were present. The officers and the mob run towards the creature on the hill, and the officers start shooting. Yet the creature still took off into the night, completely uninjured, with a chunk of the dogs flesh.
Another unique story is about a couple named , Mr. & Mrs. Nelson Evans, when they are woken up by a strange noise outside their house in the middle of the night. Outside they witness the new Jersey Devil, and watch from their window for ten minutes straight. Mr.Even describes the occurrence:
"It was about three feet and half high, with a head like a collie dog and a face like a horse. It had a long neck, wings about two feet long, and its back legs were like those of a crane, and it had horse's hooves.
It walked on its back legs and held up two short front legs with "paws" on them. It didn't use the front legs at all while we were watching.
My wife and I were scared, I tell you, but I managed to open the window and say, 'shoo', and it turned around barked at me, and flew away." (Mcgloy)
Surprisingly there is not only evidence from witness's and events, but their is also evidence in the background story of the devil as well. Such as the house, the house were the new jersey devil was born, in fact exist in the heart of New Jersey. It is called the Shrouds house, and can be found in Leeds Point. Not only that but a Mrs. Shouds and a Mrs. Leeds, are actually indeed real people that existed. They were both alive in the year when the birth of the child was born, and both lived in the towns it was said to be born in. "Heston's research showed that both a Daniel Leeds and a Samuel Shourds lived in Leeds Point around the time of the legend." (Leuter). These people werent just imagined for the sake of the story, but were indeed alive and possibly involved in it. Another fact is "a "devil" was mentioned in writings from Burlington as early as 1735" (Fact or Fiction). Meaning that the stories do indeed start at the same time as the birth, and was not something started along the line later on.

"The Jersey Devil (Fact or Fiction)". Elk Township (on-line) Local Area Mythology Page. 1996-2002. Web. 01 Novemeber 2011. http://www.elktownship.com/

 James F Mcgloy and Ray Miller. The Jersey Devil. Wallingford, PA:The Middle Atlantic Press,1976. Print.

Julian, Dave. "The Jersey Devil". Shadowlands. 1995. Web. October 19th, 2011. http://theshadowlands.net/