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Three men have daylight sighting near Seneca
Three people parked near a bend in a road to look at the spot of an earlier sighting. They watched a large silhouette leaning against a tree that slowly raised an arm toward its face and later disappeared, while a smaller fur-covered figure was seen walking in the open and then running when approached on foot. The larger figure was also reported to turn its head to watch a passing truck.
Snake hunter has daytime sighting near Seneca
The witness was hunting snakes along roads in the evening and stopped to check a spot. Near a tree line opening the witness heard rustling and saw the upper rear portion of a large figure. The figure turned slightly toward the witness, then walked away. The witness also reported a strong musky odor.
Memory told of a daylight sighting as a youth near Fenton
The witness, then a teenager, was playing with a companion on a relative's wooded property when the companion came running back in panic. The witness then saw a tall, bulky, dark-brown-furred figure standing about sixty feet away beyond a gate, poking the ground with a stick. After briefly watching, the witness fled to the house, and a later search of the area found no tracks or other sign.
Motorist has a possible nighttime sighting west of Albion
Late at night the witness was driving home from work when a strong odor was noticed through an open vehicle window. The witness then saw a very large dark figure beside the road between a ditch and a field about 120 feet away in the headlights, moving upright and pausing as the vehicle passed. The witness was frightened and said the figure was not a coyote, wolf, or bear known from the area.
Memory of possible vocalizations and rock throwing southwest of Atwood
The witness, then a child, was walking through woods and field toward ponds to feed fish when a loud high-pitched scream came from the woods and trees shook in a visible path without wind. After waiting, the witness continued to the pond embankment where a boulder-sized rock landed nearby from higher ground. Two sisters were present for the rock incident, and the witness reported repeated rock-throwing at that embankment and occasional feelings of being watched.
Young man hears nighttime vocalizations and is followed in woods near Mounds
On a summer night in 1990 the witness walked up a field road near his home when he heard a loud whistle followed by screams from nearby ridges. As he fled back toward his house he heard another scream close by and was followed to the creek behind his house, where he heard heavy breathing, growling and bipedal footsteps. He fired a large amount of ammunition toward the sounds without seeing the source, then stayed inside overnight, and the next day found bullet damage to trees and a flattened depression but no blood or tracks.
Unidentified sound near Decatur, Illinois (1984)
The guest, age 14, moved with his parents into a rented house outside Decatur in 1984. Over months in his large bedroom he experienced a picture and nail falling, drawer opening, clock resetting, lamp failing, scratching on the headboard, blanket pulled off and yanked across the room, feeling of someone sitting on the bed, warm spots, phone chirping even unplugged, breath blown in his ear, and being bounced on his bed off its frame. After moving his bed to the other window and clearing the original wall, activity subsided.
Campers have lengthy nighttime encounter near Seneca
Two companions camped in a remote wooded area after clearing a small site and lighting a fire. For several hours something circled the camp a few yards away, producing walking and breathing sounds and a musky odor. One companion glimpsed the figure in firelight as a much taller and wider upright figure, and it followed them out and crossed a road in a few steps as they left.
Youth has daylight sighting in swampy area near Canton Lake
The witness went to the bottom of a hill near a relative's home at Canton Lake to smoke. After hearing a crushing and rustling noise, the witness saw a tall black bipedal being about twenty yards away that looked at the witness and raised its arms. The witness then ran back up the hill to the relative's home.
Memory told of encounters on a farm near Ottawa
The witness was walking back to the house on a relative's farm at night after feeding dogs when a tall, hairy, foul-smelling being stood in the path near the driveway. The witness froze as the being bent down and stared directly. A relative opened the door and reacted, after which the being looked up and walked away.
The "Big Muddy Monster" flap of Murphysboro
In the late 1970s to early 1980s, residents around the Big Muddy River reported a foul-smelling, hairy hominid-like creature. Witnesses described seeing and hearing it near the river and finding footprints, with size and color accounts varying. The writer compiled these secondhand accounts and notes the creature was never reported as violent.
Memory told of possible vocalizations and rocks thrown at Lake Kinkaid
In 1978 two people were fishing from a boat on a lake at dusk and stopped in a cove. They heard grunting and saw trees shaking violently on a brushy cliff, but saw no animal. Two large rocks were thrown from shore toward the boat, landing very close, prompting them to leave.
Memory told of a possible encounter and footprint found along Horse Creek north of Pawnee
Two companions walking along a wooded driveway in the afternoon heard unidentified tapping sounds and entered the woods to investigate. They found freshly matted grass and a human-like bare footprint with five toes in dried mud. Shortly after, the companion shouted to run as loud timber-breaking crashes and movement occurred in dense undergrowth behind him. The reporter did not see the source, but the companion reportedly saw something about seven feet tall, after which both fled to the driveway.
Couple in car terrified by loud howl/scream near Carlinville
In spring 1978 the witness and a companion were parked in a car off a rural road in creek-bottom woods when a foul odor filled the area. They then heard nearby low grunts that erupted into an extremely loud, shrill scream that seemed to shake the car. Panicked, the witness drove away immediately and avoided the area afterward.
Woman recalls her possible encounter on a farm outside Prairie du Rocher.
The witness was camped alone with a dog near a sinkhole on a farm bluff to feed horses in the morning. After building a fire and cooking, loud grunts, growls and scream-like screeches came from the sinkhole while many young trees shook violently despite little wind. Horses stared then fled, the dog stayed close shaking, and a brief odd odor was noticed. Frightened, the witness doused the fire and left with the dog, and reports avoiding woods since.
Series of three incidents describing a human sized creature near edge of Edwardsville
Three residents described separate encounters in early June 1973 with a human-sized creature that chased them. The creature was said to be about 5 feet 8 inches tall and broad-shouldered, with red eyes sensitive to light, a musty odor, and silent movement. One man told police it tore his shirt and scratched his chest.
Memory told of a possible childhood encounter at Georgefield Barracks
The witness was staying at home with her older sister while her parents were out. After hearing movement outside and seeing a large head at the window, she opened the front door, turned on the porch light, and came face to face with a tall hair-covered figure. Her middle sister arrived and ran toward the figure, which then left and quickly disappeared. The sisters did not discuss the incident at the time and only recalled it decades later.
Wood knock near Mount Vernon, Illinois
Relatives outside north of the house heard tree knocking from the treeline, noticed a quick-dissipating skunk-like smell and agitated geese, and saw red eye-shine across the pond.
Scat near Mount Vernon, Illinois
Two family members checking across the pond found unidentified scat, a strong foul odor, and footprints with about a 7-foot stride.
Odor near Mount Vernon, Illinois
The witness noticed a brief skunk-like smell by a window on three occasions between spring and summer with no skunks found the next day.