Claimed encounters in Lake County, Florida

22 entries reported in Lake 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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22 encounters
6 November 2015 Altoona, Lake County, Florida Class A #50144

Tall hairy figure is seen by the roadside on SR-19 near Altoona

The witness was driving home from a fishing trip near midnight when he saw a tall bipedal creature near the roadside by a street light and woods. The creature came out of the woods toward the road, then turned away and went back into the woods. The driver braked and woke his passengers, but only he saw it and no one got out to look further.

Full-body sighting
26 September 2015 Central, Lake County, Florida Class B #50462

Possible daylight road crossing by a blueberry farm in Central Florida

The witness was driving south on a sunny Saturday morning to run errands. A tall hair-covered biped stepped from one side of the road ahead and crossed two lanes in two steps before passing behind an oncoming vehicle and into roadside trees. The witness kept driving without stopping and later saw only trees and grass where it had gone.

Road crossingFull-body sighting
August 2014 Paisley, Lake County, Florida Class B #46604

Driver notices "Something out of Place" along Hwy. 42 near Paisley

The witness was driving west on CR42 in the late afternoon when a uniformly dark bipedal figure was seen running along a pasture fence line near cows. The figure was described as at least six feet tall and larger than a human, moving fast with long smooth strides unlike a person's run. It was estimated to be about 150 yards away and appeared to be heading toward the road.

Full-body sighting
15 January 2012 Lake Mack, Lake County, Florida Class A #34954

Stranded motorist has a daytime close encounter with an adult and juvenile near Lake Mack

The witness became stranded alone when a car sank in soft sand on a remote forest road. While digging out the tires, the witness was struck by a thrown rock, then heard movement, footsteps and loud hissing vocalizations from the surrounding brush. A large wet adult creature and a smaller juvenile were then seen at close range crossing the road, throwing material at the car, before disappearing into the forest.

Partial sightingFull-body sightingRoad crossingVocalizationFootsteps +4
4 July 2011 Paisley, Lake County, Florida Class B #31153

Ongoing activity on a family farm near Paisley

Late at night on July 4 the witness's family was setting off fireworks in the yard when a companion noticed movement and a dark shape nearby. All present then heard a very low deep growl unlike anything they had heard before. The source then moved away crashing into the woods, and a search with flashlights found nothing.

GrowlPartial sightingMovement only
2 April 2008 Pittman, Lake County, Florida Class B #23582

Possible stick structure and track found in the Ocala National Forest (w/YouTube videos)

The witness was hiking on a trail and noticed a tall structure made of bent and broken trees that he thought might be related to Sasquatch activity. He recorded video of the structure. While heading back, a relative showed him a large possible footprint in sand, which he also recorded.

Structure or nestTree breakTwistTracks
12 July 2007 Leesburg, Lake County, Florida Class A #19958

Dusk sighting by hikers in Flat Island Preserve

The witness and a companion were walking a nature trail at night when they heard repeated wood-on-wood knocking. They approached the sound and saw a tall muscular figure that looked at them briefly before running away. Both witnesses were later interviewed separately and estimated the figure at 7 to 8 feet tall.

Full-body sightingWood knockVocalizationFootsteps
15 March 2007 Mount Plymouth, Lake County, Florida Class B #22358

Hiker Discovers Possible Bigfoot Scat in Rock Springs State Park

The witness was day-hiking alone when the woods became quiet and he felt watched. He found unusually large, fresh scat centered in the middle of the trail and interpreted it as a possible warning. Overcome with dread, he turned around and ended his hike. He states he did not see a creature and is unsure whether this counts as a sighting.

Scat
11 March 2006 Altoona Or Astor, Lake County, Florida Class B #14100

Knocks heard in the Ocala National Forest

The witness and a companion drove to a prior sighting location in the afternoon to investigate. Shortly after exiting the vehicle they heard a loud whack followed by rhythmic knocking sounds. The witness walked into the surrounding woods while maintaining radio contact and heard loud bipedal-sounding footsteps ahead that continued for several minutes. When the witness returned, the companion said the knocks had stopped at the same time, and no tracks were found.

Wood knockFootsteps
12 February 2005 Lake County, Florida Class B #12903

Stalking in swamp during Florida BFRO expedition

The witness camped in a forested swamp area after dusk and reported hearing large animals moving around the camp in a triangular pattern, breaking branches and knocking on trees, including between the camp and a nearby vehicle. Later that night with others present, the witness reported a strange gurgling sound followed by a prolonged bout of tree knocking. The witness suggested the sounds implied dexterous animals and doubted humans could move that quickly in the dark swamp.

Wood knockVocalizationTree break
October 1996 Alexander Springs, Ocala Nat. Forest,Aster, Lake County, Florida Class B #1480

3am observation in Alexander Springs (Ocala Nat. Forest) of tall upright animal. Coolers ransacked

The witness and a companion were camping in a tent at Alexander Springs. After playing cards until about 3 a.m., the companion fell asleep while the witness lay awake. The witness heard surrounding animal sounds fall silent, smelled a skunk-like odor, saw a tall upright shadow on the tent wall and heard a grunt-like noise. In the morning the coolers had been ransacked, and the pair left the campground early the next night after feeling uneasy.

SilhouetteVocalizationOdorProperty disturbanceMovement only
Spring 1993 LEESBURG, Lake County, Florida Class A #23696

Huge creature stands in headlights on rural road near Leesburg

Two companions driving on a dirt road toward their house at night stopped when a large creature stood in the road a short distance ahead. With headlights and then high beams on, they watched it for a couple of minutes as it stood and moved its head from side to side. They then drove past it and rushed into the house to tell the occupants and check everyone was alright.

Full-body sightingRoad crossingEyeshine
10 April 1987 Cassia, Lake County, Florida Class A #32249

Memory told of close encounters while working as a fence contractor near Cassia

The crew was camped on the bank of Blackwater Creek eating dinner when a splash revealed their cooler in the creek was missing. Shortly after, a companion returned shaken saying something had watched him from across the creek. The witness shone a spotlight across the narrow creek and the group saw a large hair-covered biped stand up, its eyes shining, block the light with its forearm, vocalize, and flee. The men then left for a motel for the remainder of the job.

Full-body sightingEyeshineGrowlHowlOdor +1
December 1985 Tavares, Lake County, Florida Class A #14118

Night time sighting by motorist on CR 448 near Lake Jem

Late at night while driving home from a night shift, the witness saw a very tall, hairy, dark creature cross the county road in front of her car and disappear into vegetation. She observed it in her headlights from about 50 yards as it moved upright on two legs with swinging arms. After passing the spot she noticed a strong foul odor like road-kill in the air.

Full-body sightingRoad crossingOdor
2 July 1980 Lake County, Florida Class A #725

Large tracks found investigated by Federal authorities

A contractor doing roadwork found about half a dozen large footlike prints near a bulldozer in a remote part of the Ocala National Forest. Law enforcement and forestry personnel made casts of the prints, described as 17 inches long with an arch, five toes and a four-foot stride. Most investigators viewed the prints as a possible hoax but ordered casts because of lingering doubt.

Tracks
30 June 1980 Pittman, Lake County, Florida Class B #5510

Man finds and casts large footprints after hearing of sighting

After hearing about a reported sighting, the witness went with a companion the next morning to the described location to look for footprints. They found large footprints crossing a sandy road from a clear-cut area into a swamp, noted a long stride, depth, and disturbed tree blossoms, and made plaster casts. No creature was seen during this visit.

Tracks
1980–1981 Lady Lake, Lake County, Florida Class B #13976

Possible tracks and sounds outside a home near Lady Lake

As a child staying at a relative's house near lakes and woods, the witness heard growling, snorting and footsteps outside a bedroom window late at night and stayed in bed frightened. The noises lasted several minutes. The next morning the witness found two very large human-like bare footprints in a sand pile in the driveway and measured them, but relatives dismissed them. The witness now interprets the incident as involving a bigfoot.

GrowlVocalizationFootstepsTracks
December 1974 Ocala, Lake County, Florida Class B #27778

Possible late night campsite intrusion in the Ocala National Forest

As a teenager camping with relatives in Ocala National Forest, the witness slept apart in a sleeping bag on the ground. After falling asleep, the witness awoke to bipedal footsteps entering the camp and heavy breathing with deep sniffs very close to the head. The witness lay still in terror, sensing the intruder watching, until it left silently and normal night sounds resumed. Nothing was seen or smelled, and no tracks were checked.

FootstepsUnidentified sound
The next morning Cassia, Lake County, Florida Related account #32249

Tracks near Cassia, Florida

The next morning the men returned and found smeared human-like footprints.

Tracks
the week before Alexander Springs, Ocala Nat. Forest,Aster, Lake County, Florida Related account #1480

Sasquatch sighting near Alexander Springs, Ocala Nat. Forest,Aster, Florida

A coworker told the witness she had seen a bear while camping at the same campground the previous week.

Full-body sighting