Claimed encounters in Hillsborough County, Florida
10 entries reported in Hillsborough County, Florida, each linked to the report or podcast segment it came from. Narrow them down with the filters, or see them on the map.
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Possible howls 20 miles SE of Tampa, coming from Chito Nature Preserve
The witness was near Chito Nature Preserve in Lithia on a foggy, cold night when they heard three calls coming from the direction of the park. The calls grew louder in succession, described as whooping and a prolonged yell, with the last call very loud. The witness interpreted the sounds as Bigfoot vocalizations occurring at 10:30 p.m.
Possible daylight sighting by motorist on Highway 301 near Dead River Road
The witness was riding as a passenger on Highway 301 in daylight when she looked toward a creek and saw a large white hair-covered biped stepping over the water. The sighting lasted a second or two and the figure did not look toward the car. Her husband, who was driving, did not see it.
Daytime sighting by a wildlife biologist on a trail in the Cypress Creek Preserve
The witness was hiking in a preserve in the morning to photograph wildlife when he heard a noise and saw a large dark figure to his left. He watched it walk upright at a fast, purposeful pace across the trail and into palmettos, then heard it moving away as birds and insects fell silent. He searched for tracks or hair but found none, photographing only the crossing location for scale.
Hitch-hiker tells of his possible nighttime encounter along I-75
The witness was hitchhiking and camped for the night in a hammock under a river bridge. During the night he heard unknown noises, a cough/grunt sound, whistles, rocks thrown toward him, and a very loud crash near his hammock. He smelled a skunk-like odor and felt watched as he packed up and left, then continued his trip by bus.
Motorist has daytime sighting along I-75 near Ruskin
The witness was driving north on the highway in the afternoon when she noticed a hair-covered, human-like figure walking quickly parallel to the road in a grassy meadow near the woodline. As she pulled alongside it, the figure turned its whole body, bent its head, and walked into dense brush where it disappeared. Afterward she noticed a strong rotten-egg/sulphur odor in her car that lasted about 10 minutes.
Young man has a close daylight encounter while riding his bike along the Hillsborough River
The witness was riding a bike on a trail in a state park in the afternoon and stopped to look at alligators. After hearing rustling, the witness saw a large dark hairy figure standing nearby looking at them. After about 10 seconds the figure ran away on two feet, and the witness rode quickly back to camp to tell relatives.
Possible sighting by motorist near the Four Corners phosphate mine
The witness was driving home from work in the early morning when an oncoming car flashed its high beams. While rounding a curve, the headlights illuminated a tall dark human-like figure by a fence that appeared to look toward the car with red reflective eyes, causing intense fear. The witness later wondered what the occupants of the other car had seen.
June 1984 Manatee County FL Late evening sighting by 9 yr/old camper off Little Manatee River in Ruskin
The witness was camping by a river when a foul odor woke him in the middle of the night. He turned on a flashlight and heard something moving through nearby palms. He briefly saw the upper back and head of a large dark-haired animal as it ran away.
Early evening sighting by residents on the Hillsborough River
In the mid-1950s the witness and a companion were watching a drive-in movie from across the river after dark. They heard something behind them, turned, and saw a large hairy creature backlit by a lamplight. They fled immediately without looking back.
Scream near Ruskin, Florida
The night before the sighting, the group heard strange screams from downriver, boated down to check, and found nothing.