Bigfoot has the Pacific Northwest, Scotland has the Loch Ness Monster, and Mothman has his own corner of cryptid fame. Fresno, meanwhile, has the Nightcrawler, and now the mysterious local creature can ride around in your wallet.

The Fresno County Public Library began offering a limited-edition library card Tuesday featuring the Fresno Nightcrawler, the pale, pants-like creature that has become a distinctly Fresno piece of local folklore.

The card will be available at all 33 Fresno County library locations throughout September while supplies last as part of Library Card Sign-Up Month.

Created by the library’s in-house graphic design team, the Nightcrawler card is one of four new designs residents can choose from, but it is the only one available for a limited time. Once September ends, or the cards run out, the Nightcrawler disappears again.

“For years, our staff have wanted to find a way to bring the Fresno Nightcrawler into the Library. We just weren’t sure what that would look like,” Director and County Librarian Sally Gomez said. “Our team came up with this really unique herringbone design, and it just worked. It’s fun, it’s local, and it’s definitely not your typical library card.”

What Is the Fresno Nightcrawler?

For those unfamiliar with Fresno’s contribution to the cryptid world, the Nightcrawler is described as a small, pale figure that looks a little like a pair of pants walking on its own.

Footage reportedly captured in Fresno helped turn the strange figure into a local legend, and the mysterious creature has since developed a following well beyond the Central Valley.

Whether residents believe in the Nightcrawler, remain firmly skeptical, or simply want an unusual piece of Fresno memorabilia, the library is encouraging people to pick up the card before supplies vanish.

Library cards are free for Fresno County residents. More information and a list of library locations are available at fresnolibrary.org.

—

Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send an email.