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118 encounters
20 November 2011 Lakeside, Clay County, Florida Class B #31122

Fishermen have possible late afternoon encounter on Black Creek

Two companions were bass fishing from a boat on a creek in the late afternoon. They heard heavy footsteps and water-splashing sounds from dense woods and motored closer quietly but saw nothing. After moving away from shore they heard a loud splash near the boat that they believed was a thrown object, followed by heavy footsteps retreating quickly. A strong musky odor had been present in the same area earlier that day.

FootstepsUnidentified soundObject throwingOdor
November 2011 Ocala National Forest (Fort McCoy) Fl, Marion County, Florida Class B #32332

Hunter has series of possible incidents on private property near Ocala

The witness claims that while hunting alone from a climber in a tree near a swamp, he heard heavy steps approaching followed by two loud claps like trees being struck together. Minutes later he heard an extremely loud, deep growl from behind him that repeated after the animal stepped closer. He reports being terrified and describes the animal as foul-smelling and territorial.

FootstepsWood knockGrowlOdor
22 October 2011 Pierson, Volusia County, Florida Class A #32203

Late afternoon sighting by a hog hunter outside Pierson

The witness claims that while hog hunting near a roadside ditch, he saw a large brown bipedal creature crouching by the road. The creature reportedly stood, walked back and forth across the road, then crouched again before walking away on two legs toward a swamp. The encounter included heavy footsteps and a strong wild-hog-like odor and reportedly lasted about a minute.

Partial sightingRoad crossingFootstepsOdor
15 October 2011 Live Oak, Suwannee County, Florida Class A #49326

Man encounters a bigfoot on property near Suwannee River State Park

The witness was walking his two dogs behind his house in the early evening when the dogs froze staring at the woods and then fled inside. The witness then watched what he first thought was a 3- to 4-foot stump stand up into a 7- to 8-foot hair-covered biped. The creature grunted, walked deeper into the woods with heavy steps in a zig-zag path, glanced back with a growl, and disappeared near a gas-line dirt road, leaving a wet-dog and pine-sap odor.

Partial sightingGrowlFootstepsOdor
11 October 2011 Masscotte Or Ridge Manor, Sumter County, Florida Class B #36915

Possible daytime encounter by a father and son hunting in the Richloam Wildlife Management Area

Two people bow hunting in swampy woods heard distant knocking and noticed trees shaking. While on a small hill they both saw a large reddish-brown animal crouched behind a large stump at too great a distance for details. They then left the woods.

Partial sightingWood knockOdor
September 2011 Clarksville Fl, Calhoun County, Florida Class A #31801

Daylight sighting while cutting wood near the Chipola River

The witness was clearing a trail near the Chipola River on a summer evening when he felt watched. He turned to see a tall black hair-covered biped watching him from behind a small tree about 40 yards away. After watching for about 10 seconds, the witness backed away frightened as the creature turned and walked calmly into the woods; he noted a rank odor just before and loud yells and grunts from the woods after.

Full-body sightingVocalizationOdor
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
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
April 2010 Naples, Collier County, Florida Class B #39382

Frightening encounter experienced on family property outside Naples

Three people spending the night in a trailer heard distant howling that grew closer and seemed to come from more than one direction, and they called back. Small stones were thrown toward them, and they heard stomping, grunting, knocking, movement in brush close by, and trees breaking. They retreated into a bedroom where screaming, walking, and contact with the outside of the trailer continued for about an hour while one of them looked through window blinds and was left frightened.

HowlScreamGrowlWood knockFootsteps +4
18 October 2009 Mascote, Sumter County, Florida Class A #26823

Daylight sighting by hunter and son in Richloam Wildlife Management Area

The witness and a relative were driving to a store after hunting when they saw a large hairy biped partly behind a scrub oak beside a curved road. The witness slowed and watched it for about 10-15 seconds from about 20-25 feet away before passing and turning around, by which time it was gone. After returning to the spot they noticed a strong foul odor and large ground impressions with flattened plants.

Full-body sightingOdorTracks
18 October 2009 Mascote, Sumter County, Florida Class A #28200

Father and son have very close daylight sighting in the Green Swamp

The witness and a relative were driving on a road through a hunting area late in the morning when they saw a large hair-covered biped beside the road at very close range. The vehicle passed within a few feet of the creature, then they turned around to look again. The creature had left the roadside and left a trail of disturbed vegetation and indistinct footprints. They described its size, build, hair, and facial features in detail.

Full-body sightingOdorTracksTree break
September 2008 Ochopee, Collier County, Florida Class A #24656

Daylight sighting from Hwy. 41 in the Big Cypress National Preserve

The witness was riding in the back seat of a car traveling west in the early morning. After noticing a strong rotten-egg and wet-dog odor, the witness saw a large dark hair-covered figure standing by a palm 300-500 yards away and facing the road. The view lasted only a few seconds before roadside trees blocked it. After turning around and returning, the figure was gone but a strange smell lingered.

SilhouettePartial sightingOdor
February 2008 Wakulla, Wakulla County, Florida Class A #23570

Two hikers see an upright ape running off into the brush in Apalachicola National Forest

Two companions hiking in Apalachicola National Forest stopped at a shallow brook to cool off. After leaving the water they heard rocks colliding and sticks breaking and went to investigate. They glimpsed an ape-like biped charging away through thick brush, breaking limbs and leaving a foul odor. Afterwards they noted disturbed rocks and a partial heel print that later dried out and was not photographed.

Partial sightingTracksOdorTree breakUnidentified sound
15 October 2007 Middleburg, Clay County, Florida Class B #21849

Teen Hears Possible Howls and Growls near Middleburg

The witness walked to and waited at a bus stop around 6:15 when loud howling, screams and growls were heard repeatedly over several minutes from a large wooded area about 100 meters away. Neighborhood dogs reacted strongly and some ran into the woods where rustling was heard. The witness was frightened by the sounds and then boarded the bus.

HowlScreamGrowlMovement only
1 December 2006 Haines City And Avon Prk, Polk County, Florida Class B #16823

Family describes repeated incidents on their property near Lake Wales

The witness and spouse were preparing to grill in the evening when they noticed an extremely foul dead-like odor. The witness retrieved a gun, then three loud knocks or bangs sounded on the side of the shed. The spouse backed quickly away from the shed and wooded area, and they saw nothing upon looking around.

Wood knockOdor
17 November 2006 Middleburg, Clay County, Florida Class A #16727

Nighttime sighting by teen at Lake Asbury off HWY 739 outside Middleburg

The witness was at a wooded church camp at night when a tall black-haired biped trotted across about 50 feet away for about seven seconds. The witness noted a dome-like head, very large shoulders, and long arms hanging straight down while the shoulders twisted with movement. About a minute later a strong foul odor was noticed, followed minutes later by a series of loud hoots. The next morning the witness found large human-like barefoot tracks in sand.

Full-body sightingVocalizationOdorTracks
November 2006 Land O Lakes, Pasco County, Florida Class A #24266

Boy sees large creature peering at him from behind a tree next to Cypress Creek Wellfield

The witness was playing in woods near home with companions when breaking sticks and sounds of something large approaching were heard through dense undergrowth. Sticks were thrown as the group retreated, and the witness briefly saw a very tall hair-covered biped peering from behind a large tree before running out scared. The initial report of something big was brushed off until similar local reports months later prompted detailed questioning.

Partial sightingObject throwingOdorFootsteps
7 July 2006 Land O Lakes, Pasco County, Florida Class A #15361

Nighttime sighting by motorist near Land O'Lakes

The witness was driving at night behind another car when both vehicles stopped for a tall, dark, manlike figure crossing the road in the headlights. The figure was described as 8-9 feet tall with very long arms and a strong musk odor that lingered after it left. It reportedly broke the top off a barbed-wire fence post, went over the fence, and disappeared into the woods. The next day the witness found a broken post, bent wire, and broken brush leading into the treeline.

Full-body sightingRoad crossingOdorProperty disturbance
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
Fall 2006 Ashville, Jefferson County, Florida Class B #26393

Man experiences loud yells and tree-shaking while deer hunting near Ashville

The witness was hunting from a tree stand in the late afternoon when he heard very loud, unfamiliar yells from about 150-200 yards away. The yells repeated minutes later from apparently closer. He then watched a small sapling whip violently side to side for about a minute while surrounding grasses did not move similarly. Feeling uneasy as darkness approached, he climbed down and left the woods without ever seeing the source.

VocalizationMovement only