Search results

40 encounters
March 2026 Florida #244474ad-bb2d-43ca-8ccb-ce3d820bbbf0

UFO sighting in Florida (2026)

Two friends were returning from a car race in a full-size pickup on a dark, barren highway. The driver noticed a dull white circular light close behind, appearing just off the truck bed within about fifteen feet. When the passenger turned to look directly, the light vanished from its spot without shooting off, leaving both shaken and alert for the rest of the drive.

Partial sightingAnimal behaviour
31 May 2013 Groveland, Polk County, Florida Class B #41309

Possible daylight sighting by a bicyclist on the General James A. Van Fleet State Trail

The witness was bicycling on a trail through swamp in the early afternoon when two dark brown figures crossed the trail about 200 yards ahead. The figures paused briefly to look toward the witness, then ran off into an area with no visible trail and a steep bank and quickly disappeared from sight. The witness thought they looked like Bigfoots but considered a hoax or soldiers as possible explanations, and noted a large military helicopter flew overhead just after.

Full-body sightingPossible hoaxPossible misidentification
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
15 September 2011 Orlando, Orange County, Florida Class A #36004

Private contractor spots a tall tree-peeker during a meeting outside Orlando

The witness was attending a daytime work meeting at a remote construction site southeast of Orlando when he noticed movement along a distant tree line. He watched a large hair-covered bipedal figure peek from behind trees as if observing the group, then walk away on two legs after a couple minutes. Shortly after the meeting he inspected the spot and found crushed undergrowth and a trail, estimating the figure's height at about eight feet by comparing to tree limbs. No other members of the group appeared to notice the figure.

Partial sightingAnimal behaviour
2011 Florida #gid://art19-episode-locator/V0/2yU9Jmmih4DuVrzwkOp783RPxQE6sCgE6hRBIDI-ScU

Growl in Florida (2011)

The witness walked a narrow tractor trail at night to check a hog trap while a companion waited in the car. He heard footsteps, a deep rumbling growl, and smelled an intensely foul odor, then sensed something following and stopping behind him. The companion turned on headlights and saw a very tall, black-haired biped standing close behind him making threatening fist and foot displays. The creature crashed away through brush when lights flashed, and the witness abandoned his equipment and never returned.

GrowlFootstepsOdorFull-body sightingTree break +1
1 November 2008 Zephyrhills, Polk County, Florida Class A #25129

Hunter watches creature picking persimmons in the Green Swamp

The witness was scouting for deer near a persimmon tree in the evening when he noticed an animal feeding. Initially thinking it was a bear, he watched for about 20 minutes as it alternated between standing to pick fruit and dropping to the ground. When it left, it walked away upright on two legs for about 40 yards, convincing him it was not a bear.

Full-body sightingAnimal behaviour
5 May 2006 Jacksonville Fl, Duval County, Florida Class B #14719

Surveyor describes possible stick formations in woods near Jacksonville

The witness was patrolling near wooded wetlands late in the morning and noticed unusual limb arches, teepee-like and X formations near the road. While investigating on foot he felt watched and heard brush movement that seemed to shadow him without fleeing, but he never obtained a clear visual. He also reported a wet-dog-like odor in the swampy, wooded area.

Movement onlyOdorTree breakStructure or nestAnimal behaviour
Summer 2003 Middleburg., Clay County, Florida Class A #18065

Daylight sighting by two young female hikers in Jennings State Forest

Two companions hiking a trail to pick berries rounded a corner and saw a tall dark furry figure about 40-50 yards ahead moving away through palmettos, with only the upper body visible. The companion reported loud thrashing and breaking vegetation while the reporting witness recalled no sound. After about half a minute they fled the area in fright.

Partial sightingFootstepsPossible misidentification
July 2000 Live Oak, Suwannee County, Florida Class B #33784

Car pulling camper hits something on US 129 South of Live Oak

Four men were driving south late at night towing a loaded travel trailer when a tall dark form ran toward the road on two feet. The car passed in front of it, but the trailer struck it with enough force to lift the trailer off the ground. The occupants stopped, backed up, and inspected the vehicles and roadway but found no body, blood, hair, or damage.

Partial sightingRoad crossingVehicle contactPossible misidentification
25 July 1997 Lynne, Marion County, Florida Class A #729

a daylight sighting by a family on a camping trip

The witness was hiking with family and resting by a bridge over a stream when two sons who had gone to explore returned saying they had seen a gorilla. The witness followed the sons back to the spot and reported seeing a bigfoot kneeling by the stream drinking. The creature reportedly noticed the group and ran off into the forest.

Full-body sightingAnimal behaviour
July 1997 Collier County, Florida Class A #721

Series of reports (6) concerning the Skunk Ape. Photos of the creature and footcasts

On July 16, 1997, a tour guide driving tourists along a road stopped near a burned-out bridge and watched an upright, hair-covered creature for about 15 minutes from 70 to 80 yards away. The guide moved the bus forward and backward to give passengers views and tried to get a passenger with a telephoto lens to exit for photos, but no one would leave. The guide then drove away and could not relocate the creature on a later return.

Partial sightingAnimal behaviour
7 July 1994 Live Oak, Suwannee County, Florida Class A #14427

Man recalls having a dead rabbit thrown at him while riding his ATV near Live Oak

The witness was walking a logging-road loop with two dogs in the afternoon when the woods went quiet and the dogs froze. About 50-60 yards uphill the witness saw a very large shape standing among oaks and brush. The shape grabbed and shook two oak trees and made a loud wailing scream, after which the dogs disappeared and the witness left quickly for the house.

Partial sightingScreamOdorAnimal behaviour
1990–1994 Florida #61f1bd31-f605-42c2-b8bf-f866ae80fba5

Sasquatch sighting in Florida (1990)

The witness motored by airboat at night into an oak hammock to gig frogs and stopped for coffee. After hearing tearing vegetation, ground banging and a loud shrieking scream, large clods of mud were thrown at and onto the boat. Shining a headlamp, the witness saw a huge brown-haired biped about 25 to 30 feet away pumping its arms in an aggressive display, then started the boat and fled to the middle of a nearby lake until daylight and has avoided the spot since.

Full-body sightingScreamObject throwingVehicle contactAnimal behaviour
Spring 1989 Oak Hill, Volusia County, Florida Class A #746

Sighting by two newspaper deliverymen around 3:30 a.m

Two witnesses delivering newspapers stopped their pickup on a rural dirt road around 3:30am after seeing a large hairy ape-like figure standing in the headlights. The figure began to approach the truck and witnesses felt its midsection was clearly not a bear or other known animal. Both noted an overwhelming cabbage-like odor that caused one witness to gag.

Full-body sightingOdorAnimal behaviour
25 May 1985 Ormond Beach, Volusia County, Florida Class A #40034

Women recall an afternoon road crossing near Bulow Park

The witness was riding with a companion in daylight when they noticed a small upright figure by the roadside holding a stick. The figure dropped to all fours, moved into the road, then stood bipedally and crossed slowly in front of the car, forcing a brake. After passing, it dropped to all fours again, glanced back, and left into the woods. Both occupants agreed it was not a bear or monkey and described it as about four and a half to five feet tall, dark brown and ape-like.

Full-body sightingRoad crossingAnimal behaviour
20 July 1974 Davie, Broward County, Florida Class A #44837

Years of South Florida Skunk Ape stories supported by witness accounts and newspaper articles

In July 1974 the witness and his older cousin were staying overnight in a relative's sitting room in southern Florida. Late at night under floodlights they watched a tall hairy biped outside the picture window scream, then walk around the property while they followed it from window to window. They saw it eat a watermelon with both hands and scoop water to drink before leaving on a wooded trail.

Full-body sightingScreamAnimal behaviour
1918 Florida #a1037b54-6796-41ce-9ea4-e7ea731aa4d8

Sasquatch sighting in Florida (1918)

In 1918 a boy was reportedly abducted near the pond. Community members pursued, recovered the boy, who was scratched up, and captured the creature. The teller notes the creature did not seem intent on harming the boy and describes it as acting lonely rather than aggressive.

Full-body sightingHistorical accountFolklorePossible misidentification
1884 Florida #a1037b54-6796-41ce-9ea4-e7ea731aa4d8

Sasquatch sighting in Florida (1884)

In 1884 a rural community living around Ocheesee Pond lost livestock and heard eerie nighttime calls from the water. After children were frightened by a hair-covered figure, residents formed a posse, captured it, and transported it chained to the governor in Tallahassee. The governor could not place it and sent it to the nearby Chattahoochee hospital, where it died and was buried under later construction.

Full-body sightingVocalizationHistorical accountFolklore
1800–1979 Barden, Florida #1f8ff750-46df-47ab-9d7d-fec2c6137c69

Sasquatch sighting near Barden, Florida (1800)

The guest described a longstanding local legend of an 8 to 10 foot tall skunk ape that lounges around and is often seen carrying a lantern. Stories go back to the 1800s and include chasing people off horses, with a revival around the late 1960s. A store owner later admitted dressing a boy in a monkey costume to fake some sightings, which leaves earlier reports unresolved.

Full-body sightingPossible hoax
for 2 days Lake Helen, Volusia County, Florida Related account #40901

Odor near Lake Helen, Florida

A horrible stench lingered outside the house for two days while the retriever refused to go outside even in daytime.

OdorAnimal behaviour