With Halloween being as big as it is, it should come as no surprise that Americans love their supernatural spooks.
But according to a new survey of more than 1,000 Americans conducted by Halloween Express, the creatures and ghouls that can be found roaming the streets on the day are much more than a bit of seasonal fun to many across the country.
The new survey reveals that the most-believed-in mystery creatures are aliens, with 62 per cent of people across the country saying they know that they are, indeed, out there.
The truth is out there: A new survey of Americans has found that 62 per cent believe in aliens
Creepy creatures: Other beasts such as Bigfoot and the Chupacabra are popular beliefs among Americans
The crowd: The data was collected by Halloween Express, who polled Americans on whether they think various supernatural creatures or entities exist
The figure is even higher in the Mountain region – including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming – where more than two thirds reckon we aren’t alone in the universe.
As for the skeptics, alien life isn’t real according to 30 per cent of those in the East South Central United States – nearly 10 per cent more than the rest of America.
The next most popular belief is that ghosts are among us, which more than half of Americans believe to be true. More than 44 per cent of New Englanders believe that this also includes the trouble-making poltergeist.
One in five Americans believe that Bigfoot is on the prowl out in the wilderness, with this belief spiking higher in the Midwest. A similar number of people believe in the similarly primate-like cryptid: the Yeti.
Across the board: The data also reveals that some areas of the country were more receptive to the existence of things like aliens and the boogeyman than others
Not so much: Some areas of the country are also packed with skeptics
Spooked down south: People in the South Atlantic region are by far the most likely to believe in mythical creatures
More than left and right: Belief in supernatural spooks also varies over the political spectrum
As for other creatures, 18 per cent believe in the Loch Ness Monster, 12 per cent think the Chupacabra is real and nine per cent look to the moon knowing somewhere there is a werewolf roaming.
Generally speaking, the South Atlantic region of America – including Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware – has the largest number of people who believe that mythical creatures are out there.
However, their neighbors in the likes of Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky, are home to the most skeptics.
The survey also polled how political leanings might correlate to belief in the supernatural, finding that Donald Trump supporters are more likely to believe in ghosts, Hillary Clinton supports lean more towards aliens, while those who voted for Gary Johnson were by far the most open to otherworldly creatures – with almost three quarters saying they believe.
From the beyond: Buddhists were the most likely to believe in aliens, a ghostly mist and zombies, while two thirds of Christians believe in demons
Stacking up: Women have seen more ghosts but only men in the group polled had claimed to have seen Bigfoot
Look out: West South Central region – including Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas – is apparently where you should head to see a ghost
The subject’s religion also played a big part in their supernatural beliefs, with Buddhists displaying a higher rate of belief in zombies, aliens and a ghostly mist than other religions.
More than two thirds of Christians believe in demons, compared to just nine percent of Jews, while atheists and agnostics were least likely to believe in ghosts and second most open to the existence of aliens.
As for actual sightings of such phenomena, the West South Central region – including Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas – is the number one spot for ghost sightings with a whopping 36 per cent claiming to have seen one.
As for aliens, the East South Central states of Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky have had the most extraterrestrial encounters.