3. A ‘Monster” Was Once Discovered in the East River

In 2009, a “bloated, pig-like carcass” was uncovered beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, sparking theories of mutant river monsters living in the East River. The Parks Department was quick to classify the creature as a discarded cooked pig, but its hoof-less claws seemed to suggest otherwise, said photographer Denise Ginley, who discovered the carcass. Others have described it as a rodent, a shell-less sea turtle or a small dog that became waterlogged with decay. See photos here.