Balam

A Balam (ɓaa-LAAM; Yucatec jaguar) is a jaguar-like Wesen that appears in.

Valentina Espinosa is a former detective of Albuquerque, New Mexico who came to Portland to help detectives Nick Burkhardt and Hank Griffin in catching a serial child abductor.

Five years prior to the beginning of the series of abductions in Portland, the son of Valentina's sister was taken by The Woman on Halloween, and killed. Valentina blamed herself for this because she tried to save the same woman from drowning, only to have her nephew taken by her. Valentina became obsessed with finding the woman who kidnapped and killed her nephew. She became so obsessed that she lost her job as a police investigator. This did not stop Valentina and she continued to hunt for the woman independently. Valentina maintained a constant vigil especially around Halloween time going after any series of missing children reports occurring in that time period. Her hunt took her to several states, each time with little to no success. After coming to Portland, Sean Renard soon finds out that she was discharged from the police force five years ago. After a short period in police custody, Valentina helps Nick and Hank stop the Woman from taking three more kids, though the Woman escapes.

Behavior
They have been known to develop obsessive behavior, specifically when it comes to any harm done to members of the Balam's family. They are extremely daring creatures that tend to act first and think later.

Like many Wesen, Balam seem to have a hostile relationship with Grimms, and seem to fear them, or are at least wary of them.

Biology
When woged, the Balam grow fur over their head and body, but like many Wesen their hair is unaffected. They displays distinct stripe-like spots similar to those of a jaguar or a leopard. The color of their fur seem to change depending on the brightness of their surrounding. It appears purple in a dark environment and light grey when in the middle of the day. Like fellow Wesen Blutbaden or Drang-Zorn, they are able to concentrate their woge around their eyes, making them amber and appear to glow. They also gain two sharp jaguar-like fangs.

Trivia

 * Its name is the second Wesen species to be derived from a Native American language; the first being Coyotl.
 * The Balam from Mexican folklore are described as supernatural jaguars that are the guardians of nature. Their names were Iqi-Balam (Moon Jaguar), Balam-Agab (Night Jaguar), Balam-Quitze (Smiling Jaguar), and Mahu-Catah (Famous Name). They protect the villagers of the Quiche Indians, as well as their people and land.
 * Overwhelmed with Wesen to remember, Nick Burkhardt suspects a Balam when he discovers orange-golden fur (as opposed to blue) with black in it.