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14 encounters
April 2021 Naples, Collier County, Florida Class B #69016

Possible daylight sighting by motorcyclist 35 miles NE of Naples

The witness was riding a motorcycle north in the morning when a brown figure crossed the road from east to west. The figure moved quickly in a smooth bipedal walk, covering the road in three or four long strides, unlike a bounding deer. After riding through the crossing location, the witness smelled a light skunky body odor lingering for several yards.

Full-body sightingRoad crossingOdor
4 November 2012 Everglades West Of Broward County, Collier County, Florida Class A #37203

Daylight sighting of a man-like ape while target shooting in the Big Cypress National Preserve

The witness stopped in a swampy area to target shoot and was reloading when he heard noise behind him. He turned and saw an ape-like biped watching from behind a tree a short distance away, which made a deep vocal sound. He ran to his car, saw the creature moving away through the trees, and left quickly.

Partial sightingVocalization
March 2012 Ochopee, Collier County, Florida Class B #35218

Possible incidents at Bear Island Campground in Big Cypress National Preserve

The witness was camping with companions in Big Cypress Preserve and walked to a parked Jeep to get a phone. About 15 feet into the woods he saw yellow human-like eyes at about his own eye level and smelled a strong skunk and wet-dog odor. Frightened, he returned to the campfire and later revisited the spot with a companion and spotlight but found nothing.

EyeshineOdor
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
5 October 2006 Probably Naples, Collier County, Florida Class B #16347

Possible mid-day sighting by motorist on I-75 (Alligator Alley) in the Everglades

The witness was driving east on Alligator Alley for a test-driving job when he noticed an upright hairy figure in a clearing south of the roadside canal. He watched it for a few seconds as it walked west, noting long arms, dark reddish-brown hair with a lighter chest, and a heavy build. Three companions traveling with him did not see it, and a later drive past the spot revealed no static object that could explain it.

Partial sighting
June 2005 Ochopee, Collier County, Florida Class A #13514

Daylight sighting by motorist on U.S. 41 near I-29

Two people driving east on US 41 to go fishing reported seeing a creature about 50 yards north of the road. The creature turned, took three steps, and knelt down in the grass with its head still visible. The witnesses estimated it was about eight feet tall, and after turning around for another look they did not see it again.

Full-body sighting
April 2005 Down By Museum, Collier County, Florida Class B #18737

Campers report possible vocalization and footprint in Big Cypress National Preserve

The witness was family camping in the Big Cypress area when she noticed a tall black shape in the woods that vanished minutes later. Around 4 a.m. she awoke to a distant wailing sound with heavy breathing that approached the campsite, passed by the tents and left down a trail, waking several companions who also heard it. In the morning the group followed the direction of travel and found large wide footprints with a four-toe appearance in a sandy trail that had not been there the day before.

SilhouetteVocalizationTracks
Winter 2001 Everglades City, Collier County, Florida Class A #16303

Daylight sighting by motorist near Everglades City, off Turner River Road

The witness was traveling west along an easement road on a clear afternoon when an animal was seen at close range. The animal was on all fours with its front raised, paused to look at the witness for a few seconds, then ran away quadrupedally without ever standing. The witness described it as dark brown, short-haired and ape-like, estimating about two and a half to three feet tall on all fours.

Full-body sighting
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
June 1987 Immokalee, Collier County, Florida Class B #20420

Possible nightime encounter near Lake Trafford

Late at night the witness's family was at home when a dog outside sounded distressed. A relative went out, saw a large shadow by the shed, retrieved a firearm, then saw something flee down the driveway and fired, after which a loud growl-howl was heard followed by silence. The next morning the family found unfamiliar footprints and believed the visitor had leapt across a nearby canal.

SilhouetteMovement onlyGrowlHowlUnidentified sound +1
November 1983 Naples, Collier County, Florida Class A #607

while hunting hogs near a cypress bayhead, witness saw a dark brown/black bi-pedal creature.

The witness was hunting hogs alone between two cypress bayheads when a dark object at the treeline stood on two legs and turned to face them. They watched it for about 10 to 15 seconds before it went into the bayhead. Afterwards they found a lingering foul odor and bent grass at the spot but no bare dirt for tracks, and did not follow it.

Full-body sightingOdor
August 1979 Ochopee, Collier County, Florida Class A #7205

Morning sighting by carpenter crew near Ochopee

A work crew waiting on the roof of a house in early daylight watched a tall hairy figure come out of the basement and walk upright toward nearby trees. The figure then squatted about 40 yards away facing the crew without sound before standing, looking west, and vanishing within a few steps. The crew later noted a foul odor and a makeshift sleeping spot of clothes, rags, weeds and fur under the basement stairs.

Full-body sightingOdor
May 1973 The Closest Town Would Have Been Naples. But We Thought It Was Too Far To Lodge Or Get A Meal., Collier County, Florida Class A #2856

Construction worker has startling encounter outside hunting cottage

The witness and a relative camped overnight at two unfinished houses in swampy pine woods while on a work assignment. After dark by a campfire the witness saw eyes and then watched a tall upright figure cross an open area and take bacon left near the fire. The witness retreated into the house, retrieved rifles, and kept watch through the night. No usable tracks were found the next morning.

Full-body sightingOdorUnidentified sound
BFRO YEAR: 08-09 Naples, Ochopee, Collier County, Florida Class B #32227

Man describes possible encounters off Route 41 near Ochopee

The witness and a companion were walking a dirt trail by a canal to find a bass spot while looking down to avoid snakes. They saw large brown legs cross the trail ahead and noticed branches rustling in a nearby group of trees, which the witness attributed to a sasquatch watching them. Scared, they backed away slowly and left the area.

Partial sightingMovement only