WE all know to beware of lions, tigers and bears roaming remote woodland, but Germans also have another beast to be scared of.

A spear-wielding, naked “wolf man” has been spotted wandering the Harz mountains near Blankenburg in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.

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He has long been the basis of chilling cautionary tales about entering the forest, with locals reporting sightings over the last five years.

But claims of a bizarre figure on the mountainside draped in “wolf fur or in a wolf costume” were routinely laughed off by sceptics.

That was until a pair of horrified hikers managed to snap an eerie image of the stark naked nomad after a heart-stopping encounter.

Gina Weiss, 31, and her friend Tobi, 38, were exploring the woodland on August 22 when their scenic walk took a spine-tingling turn.

They plucked up the courage to take a look at the Harz, which is famed as a site where witches flocked to commune with the devil.

Upon reaching the sand caves, the pair realised they weren’t alone on the secluded mountainside.

Gina told Bild newspaper: “We saw the wolf man. He stood up high on one of the caves and held a long wooden stick like a lance in his arm.

“He wouldn’t take his eyes off us, said nothing. He looked dirty like a Stone Age man from a history book.”

The unexpected silent rendezvous, which took place around 250km from the German capital of Berlin, lasted for ten minutes.

It proved just enough time for the hikers to fumble for their phones and sneak a photograph of the mythological mountain dweller.

The wolf man is seen sitting at the foot of a ruined castle with his head bowed, while defensively gripping his makeshift spear.

Whether he is extremely hairy or just immensely dirty remains the subject of intense debate.

Gina and Tobi estimated that the bloke appeared to be in his 40s.

The landmark image finally substantiated the claims of a wolf man stalking the forest that authorities had received for five years.

Other explorers have reported finding skillfully made shelters fashioned out of branches as well as fire sites in the area.

The head of Blankenburg fire brigade, Alexander Beck, said: “Someone clearly knows how to live outside and adapt to the changing seasons.”

Another group of hikers had echoed the same claims as Gina and Tobi back in March, but didn’t have any evidence.

They claimed they had also seen a mysterious fire bolt when they rang police saying: “Help, there’s a wolf man running around here!”

Cops and firefighters launched a search for the fearsome figure, but only managed to find the remnants of former fire sites.

Members of the Blankenburg fire brigade have also reported sightings of a man roaming the forest seemingly draped in fur.

But he scurried away when he noticed the crew, according to regional public broadcaster MDR.

Cops said they are more concerned about the potential devastation the forest dweller could cause rather than him being a threat to the public.

They fear his attempts to keep warm in the forest known for heavy rain and winds could possibly spark wildfires.

The Harz mountain region is already regarded as a spooky site, thanks to its legacy as a hotspot for witches and otherworldly spirits.

Sorceresses are said to have gathered there in the hopes of communing with and even “marrying” the devil.

Pagan ceremonies, where attendees dance around roaring fires, are said to still take place there on Walpurgis Night on April 30 each year.

Villagers living in the shadow of the mountains also light fires in a bid to ward off evil sports and keep them and their livestock safe.

The traditional rites resumed last year after being forced to take a two-year break as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Fancy dress parties, medieval markets and light shows are put on as part of the annual celebrations.

Women and girls even apply for “broomstick licences” to take part.

The celebrations, often referred to as “the second Halloween”, pay respect to a ninth-century English missionary named Sant Walpurga.

She is said to have repelled a witch’s evilness which had been wreaking havoc on nearby towns.

But it seems the wolf man may have now taken the reins on the ominous mountain.

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