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217 encounters
3 December 2012 Litchfield, Montgomery County, Illinois Class B #38337

Possible nighttime sighting from a home by a young woman near Lake Lou Yaeger

The witness, staying at a house for a short time, was looking out a window in the early morning and saw a tall figure by the clothesline pole. The figure was described as about a foot taller than the 7-foot-8-inch pole, brown on top with gray speckled lower areas, moving hunched over and scratching its back, with a strong skunk and manure-like odor. After watching for several minutes, the witness saw it take two steps into the nearby woods.

Full-body sightingOdor
2 December 2012 Decatur, Macon County, Illinois Class B #37988

Late night observation by a home owner near Lake Decatur

The witness was smoking on the front porch at night when rustling was heard nearby. A dark massive upright figure stood up about 30 yards away, looked both ways, then ran across the street into a wooded area. Later that night the witness noted a musty odor and heard a deep scream-howl sound on and off.

Full-body sightingRoad crossingEyeshineOdorScream +2
10 November 2012 Carlinville, Macoupin County, Illinois Class B #38524

Homeowner has possible sightings east of Carlinville

The witness got up early to use the restroom and looked out the back door toward the field at sunrise. From about 200 yards away, the witness saw a large dark figure cross the field from one treeline to another. The figure was described as much larger than an adult human and moving gracefully.

Full-body sighting
9 November 2012 Marsallies, La Salle County, Illinois Class B #38032

Bow hunter sees an animal resembling a gorilla near Marseilles

The witness was bow-hunting from an elevated stand in river bottomland in the morning. A tall, dark-brown, gorilla-like animal about 40 yards away walked through a thicket from south to north, reportedly heading from dense pines toward the river. The witness watched it for about 20 seconds as it kept moving without vocalizing.

Full-body sighting
4 October 2012 Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois Class B #39098

Possible sighting near University of Illinois Springfield soccer fields

While driving home from school in the afternoon, the witness noticed a tall, brown, hair-covered human-shaped figure standing at the tree line beside soccer fields. The figure was still and was gone when the witness glanced away and back. An investigator later summarized the description as a massive 8-foot-tall animal with very long flowing hair seen from about 150 feet away.

Full-body sighting
August 2012 Colchester, McDonough County, Illinois Class A #36406

Daylight sighting by a camper in Argyle Lake State Park

The witness was eating at a picnic table when several children ran past on a trail. Shortly after they passed, the witness saw a small stocky reddish-haired figure moving on two legs about 80 yards away on the same trail. After the children came back, the figure reappeared behind them, squatted in the brush, and disappeared.

Full-body sighting
June 2012 Shipman, Macoupin County, Illinois Class B #37758

Ongoing activity described at a home near Shipman

In May/June 2012 around 10:30 p.m. the witness and a relative heard a loud guttural vocalization outside the home. They went to the porch and watched a large dark furry animal low to the ground run on all fours past a neighboring home, triggering motion lights. Coyotes vocalized shortly afterward, and another relative later said the sound had awakened them.

VocalizationFull-body sighting
June 2012 Edinburg, Christian County, Illinois Class B #39990

Possible sighting and rock throwing on a farm east of Edinburg

Late in the evening the witness was sitting by an outdoor fire near a pasture when she noticed a head-and-shoulders outline above tall weeds to her side and heard a slight noise from that direction. She then saw a small limestone rock rolling nearby, which alarmed her because no natural cause was apparent, and she went inside. The next morning she found sticks, corn stalks and dirt clods in the driveway but nothing explaining the shape.

Partial sightingUnidentified soundRock throwing
29 May 2012 Orland Park, Cook County, Illinois Class B #35593

Possible nighttime sighting by motorists along border of Orland Grove Forest Preserve

The witness was driving home late at night with a relative when they noticed a tall dark ape-like figure standing on the shoulder beside a wooded area. They slowed but did not stop, then turned around to look again and the figure was gone. The next day the witness reported the sighting to local police.

Full-body sighting
14 May 2012 Sesser, Franklin County, Illinois Class A #35427

Family has daylight sighting while fishing on Rend Lake

The witness was fishing from a boat with companions near an inlet when they heard a commotion on the bank behind brush. Two of them then saw a tall, muscular, reddish-brown haired biped running quickly away from the shore. They remained on the water while debating whether it could have been a deer or bear. An investigator later spoke with the couple by phone and recorded additional details about size, hair, and distance.

Full-body sightingUnidentified sound
12 May 2012 Oquawka, Henderson County, Illinois Class A #43619

Motorist has twilight sighting south of Oquawka

The witness was driving in a truck and stopped upon seeing a large hairy figure standing in a shallow creek. After shutting off the truck to watch, the witness heard a loud deep roar from across the creek but saw nothing there. When looking back, the figure had disappeared.

Partial sightingVocalization
April 2012 Shipman, Macoupin County, Illinois Class B #41043

Possible nighttime sighting and ongoing activity on a farm east of Shipman

Around 3 a.m. the witness was sitting on the house steps smoking while home alone. Hearing dogs bark, she saw a tall black mass peeking and leaning out from behind a shed about 50 yards away, making out head, shoulder and knee. She ran inside to get a gun, and when she came back out the figure was gone.

Partial sighting
6 March 2012 Murphysboro, Jackson County, Illinois Class A #39267

Motorist reports his second sighting near railroad tracks west of Murphysboro

The witness was driving across railroad tracks in late morning when he noticed two dark figures near vegetation about 100 yards away. One figure was standing upright while the other was sitting. He remained in his truck and watched for about a minute before traffic behind him and an approaching train caused him to drive on.

Full-body sighting
19 December 2011 Lawrenceville, Lawrence County, Illinois Class A #31858

Motorists have nighttime sighting on outskirts of Lawrenceville

The witness and their spouse were driving home in the evening when a tall black figure ran quickly across the road in front of their car. The figure was estimated at about seven feet tall and was lit by street lights and the car's headlights. The witness could not see its face.

Road crossing
8 December 2011 Greenville, Bond County, Illinois Class B #31419

Possible nighttime sighting and vocalizations in a backyard near Old Ripley

The witness was in bed late at night when barking dogs prompted them to go outside. They saw a dog run under the porch and something retreat into the woods. After shouting and tossing a small stone into the trees, the witness heard a shriek/howl and the stone was thrown back to land at their feet. The witness ran inside, then returned with a flashlight to find twisted vegetation and snapped branches and noted a foul smell.

Partial sightingScreamHowlRock throwingObject throwing +3
20 October 2011 Marseilles, La Salle County, Illinois Class A #30896

Second nighttime sighting by motorcyclist north of Marseilles

The witness was riding a motorcycle home from work at about 2:30 a.m. when they noticed large yellow eyeshine at the edge of a cornfield. As they slowed and approached, they saw a large human-like figure about a foot taller than the corn. The figure walked slowly away from the road, looked back, then entered the corn without making sound or seeming concerned.

EyeshineFull-body sighting
10 October 2011 Olive Branch, Alexander County, Illinois Class A #36246

Hiker has daylight sighting near Olive Branch

The witness reported walking back along a trail after making calls with no response when he found a very large footprint and a scat pile containing vegetation and shell fragments. Moments later he saw a very tall, heavily built, dark brownish creature about 70-80 feet away that had been digging at a ground hornet nest. The creature then ran rapidly down one ridge and up another at a speed the witness felt could not be matched, and disappeared. The witness then collected his things and left for his car.

Full-body sightingTracksScatAnimal behaviour
1 October 2011 Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois Class A #39268

Homeowner has nighttime sighting near Edwardsville

Around 1 a.m. at home, the witness heard a throat-clearing sound and looked out a hallway window toward the yard. Using night vision, the witness watched a large human-like figure standing about 40 yards away between the woods and a shed, staring up into the trees. The figure was gone by the time the witness tried to have another household member see it.

Full-body sightingVocalization
18 July 2011 Marseilles, La Salle County, Illinois Class A #30003

Late night encounter by a motorcyclist outside of Marseilles

The witness was riding a motorcycle home from night work at about 1 a.m. when making a turn beside a cornfield. A large dark figure was seen standing at the field edge a short distance away. It leaned forward and gave an extremely loud high-pitched scream-like call heard again moments later, and the witness accelerated away without looking back.

Full-body sightingScream
July 2011 Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois Class B #40841

Motorist has possible nighttime sighting just north of Springfield on Veterans Parkway

The witness was driving alone at night when a large bipedal figure was seen crossing the opposite lanes ahead. With bright lights on, the witness described it as tall and massive with long arms and a hunched posture, moving very fast in a few long strides. It was gone by the time the vehicle reached the crossing area, and the face was not seen.

Road crossingPartial sighting