*In the picturesque landscapes of Serbia, especially the winter idyll of Divčibare, lies a small village called Tometino Polje. Known for its ski resorts, Divčibare attracts many tourists in winter. Yet away from the slopes, a world of mystical tales and ancient legends opens up. The story I share today is unusually modern, but wrapped in old mystery. * I first visited Tometino Polje to work on translations of Serbian fairy tales. By chance, I met locals who grew up here and introduced me to the legend of Drekavac. Often nicknamed the Balkan Chupacabra, it is far older than the name suggests. What I learned next was more unsettling than expected: a folklore figure that villagers still connect to real events.
The sheep killings of 2003
That year the village faced a frightening wave of sheep deaths. Over two years, more than 200 animals were found dead. Residents wondered if the cause was wolves, jackals, stray dogs, or the dreaded drekavac. Particularly disturbing was that many sheep were discovered with cut throats and drained blood.
One autumn evening, young Aleksandar Varagić saw the aftermath himself. Eleven sheep were killed or badly injured; those still alive died within days despite care. Soon after, 23 acres of corn and wheat were ravaged, with signs pointing to wild boar. The mix of natural and unexplained damage left villagers shaken. Samples were even sent to Belgrade for testing, but no culprit was confirmed.
The mythology of Drekavac
Drekavac is one of the most feared beings in South Slavic folklore. The name derives from drekati, “to shriek.” Depending on region, it can be:
- the restless soul of an unbaptized child,
- a vampirized corpse rising at night,
- a shaggy, dog-like shape-shifter whose cry brings misfortune.
It glows faintly in some accounts, drags a white cloak in others, or leaps onto victims’ backs until dawn. Its scream is always an omen of illness, war, or death.
Chronology of sightings
Reports continue into the present:
- 1992: remains of a strange creature near Kruševac.
- Late 1990s: sightings and livestock panic near Silver Lake.
- 2008: more than 60 sheep and goats killed near Sremska Mitrovica.
- 2010: an unknown creature shot in Poljanica near Vranje.
- 2011: eerie night cries in Svojnov near Paraćin.
Though no single case proves anything, the pattern keeps the legend alive.
My own night in Tometino Polje
On my first night, I heard strange cries in the forest. At first I thought it was a donkey, but locals assured me there were none nearby. Was it fox, jackal, owl—or the folkloric screamer itself? I cannot say, but I understand why villagers keep telling the story.
