Cryptid sighting in Iowa (1974)
Account
The witness was driving with his family on the interstate between the Quad Cities and Des Moines when he noticed a huge black birdlike creature perched on an overpass bridge. As he approached, it spread webbed wings and flew off, showing a long beak and dangling feet. He estimated its size as about three-quarters of a small Cessna airplane and identified it as a pterodactyl. His wife also saw it, while the children were asleep in the back.
What was reported
Every kind of observation in the account. Select one to find other encounters with it.
Sightings
Described appearance
In the source's own words, field by field. Hover a field's marker to see where it was read.
- Hair colour src
- black
- Face src
- long beak
- Arms src
- webbed wings
- Legs src
- had legs
- Feet src
- feet hanging down
- Other features src
- huge, about three-quarters the size of a small Cessna airplane
Facts & provenance
Each value names where it came from.
| Date |
1974–1975
|
|---|---|
| Place |
Iowa
|
| Map point |
41.6005, -93.6091 (± 15 km)
Towns named in the place text ('Des Moines'; USGS GNIS populated place 'Des Moines', Polk)
|
| Account type |
First-hand
|
| Witnesses |
2
|
| Figures reported |
1
|
| Witness was |
driving on the interstate with family
|
| Witness's word for it |
a pterodactyl
|
| Creature |
Other cryptid
|
Source timeline
Every record this entry is built from, earliest known first. Records are versioned and never edited in place.
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Bigfoot Society EP 218 Podcast Interview