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217 encounters
15 April 2011 Equality, Hardin County, Illinois Class A #29165

Possible observations using thermal imager southeast of Equality

The witness was with two companions walking a forest trail back to camp near midnight while using a thermal monocular and making howls and whoops. After hearing four return howls, the witness saw a bright heat signature through the thermal that peeked from behind a tree, disappearing and reappearing on alternating sides for about a minute. A companion also viewed it through the thermal and reacted with surprise. When the companions moved closer, the source grew smaller, moved through thick vegetation from right to left, and disappeared, with the witness discerning only what looked like a head.

Partial sightingHowl
March 2011 Murphysboro, Jackson County, Illinois Class A #36306

Motorist has daytime sighting near railroad tracks west of Murphysboro

The witness was traveling along a road around 11 a.m. in clear, cool conditions and reported seeing a tall, thin, hair-covered figure standing off to the side of nearby railroad tracks. The witness described the figure as very tall but reported no facial details. An investigator later met the witness and visited the location, recording estimates of about seven feet tall, slender build, black hair, about 200 pounds, and about 250 feet observation distance.

Full-body sighting
February 2011 Godfrey, Madison County, Illinois Class B #41487

Property owner describes possible sighting and activity near Godfrey

The witness was driving into his home lane from the paved highway when he saw an animal walking up a ridge through the woods about 80 yards away. He watched it for about 15 seconds until it went out of sight over the ridge. He described it as 7 to 8 feet tall, huge, and dark brown in coloring.

Full-body sighting
February 2011 Seneca, La Salle County, Illinois Class A #28940

Motorist has night-time sighting near bridge just south of Seneca

The witness was driving home around 3 a.m. and stopped at an intersection near a bridge. From about 50 yards away in bright headlights, the witness watched a large humanoid run across an open field to the east. Another motorist also stopped, asked about a bear running by, made a joking reference and drove off.

Full-body sightingEyeshine
December 2010 Richview, Washington County, Illinois Class B #38295

Homeowner describes possible activity near Richview

At night the witness used a high-powered spotlight from an ATV at the edge of woods on the property to illuminate an upright figure about 40 yards away. The animal was described as about eight feet tall, very wide and very dark-haired, with the face not visible. After being lit, it walked further back into the timber out of sight.

Full-body sighting
18 November 2010 Rushville, Schuyler County, Illinois Class B #33040

Possible sighting by a deer hunter west of Rushville

The witness was deer hunting in a valley at dawn when a loud scream was heard nearby. The yell was loud enough to startle turkeys roosting overhead. Looking toward the sound, the witness saw a tall black animal about 70 yards away that then disappeared.

Full-body sightingScream
16 November 2010 Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois Class A #28728

Daylight sighting by a motorist near Brookfield Zoo

The witness was driving in the morning when they saw a very tall, hairy figure running through woods beside the road. They stopped, pulled over, and went back to the spot on foot. There they found broken branches and a strong musky odor but no tracks or fur.

Partial sightingOdorTree break
19 October 2010 Mount Carmel, Wabash County, Illinois Class A #37856

Close encounter at night by a motorist near Mt.Carmel

The witness reported driving at night and coming within about 20 feet of a very tall upright figure standing in the roadway. The figure reportedly shielded its eyes from the headlights, made eye contact and snarled to show large teeth, then left into a thicket after about a minute. The witness also reported a musk-like odor and missing fingers on one of the figure's hands.

Full-body sightingOdor
17 October 2010 Canton, Fulton County, Illinois Class A #28568

Nighttime sighting near a dumpster by a bicyclist in Canton

A bicyclist riding home late at night heard a noise by a dumpster behind a shed and saw a short stocky dark bipedal figure. The figure turned and walked into thin woods toward a cornfield, and the rider fled home to tell a companion. The companion checked the site minutes later but found only a trapped raccoon in the dumpster.

Full-body sightingUnidentified sound
5 September 2010 Metroplis, Massac County, Illinois Class A #37972

Nighttime observation involving a pond on a farm near Metropolis

On Labor Day weekend 2010 at a family farm, the witness and companions shone a high-powered spotlight on a creature standing chest-deep in a pond about 30-40 yards away. They watched it move, pick objects from the water and chew on them until the light died. Immediately after, they heard a splash, movement through woods, and repeated series of booms followed by loud bellowing that seemed to answer from another part of the property.

Partial sightingVocalizationWood knockFootsteps
August 2010 Matteson, Cook County, Illinois Class B #39851

Motorists have possible nighttime sighting in Green Belt Forest Preserve

A couple driving through a forest preserve at night with high beams on saw a large figure standing by a tree. They reported its head and shoulders turned to follow the car as they passed. They drove toward a nearby police station but decided not to report it, then later revisited the site in daylight.

Full-body sighting
28 February 2010 Dixon, Ogle County, Illinois Class B #27387

Large unknown bipedal animal seen possibly chasing deer near Dixon

The witness was at a rural wooded home on a winter afternoon and saw deer running fast through the woods about 75 to 100 yards away. Behind the deer was a much larger brown upright biped that kept pace with them for about 10 seconds. The witness felt the speed, gait and terrain ruled out a person flushing the deer.

Partial sighting
18 December 2009 Hamel, Madison County, Illinois Class B #27042

Possible daylight sighting by motorist on Illinois Route 4 outside Hamel

The witness was driving north on Illinois Route 4 through a wooded area when they spotted a large upright figure about 50 feet from the roadway for a second or two. The figure was described as very tall, thick and broad with orangish fur. The witness did not stop due to lack of safe parking, and a later site visit found no footprints or other evidence.

Full-body sighting
October 2009 Beecher, Will County, Illinois Class A #42140

Hiker has daylight sighting in Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve

The witness was walking alone on trails at the preserve in the afternoon and heard a twig snap followed by two gorilla-like grunts near a loop trail. The witness then followed a path through tall grass toward the treeline. About 40 feet away, a brown slender entity about six feet tall was seen running silently inside the trees, grabbing a small tree while moving fast and slightly stooped. The witness walked back to the main trail without running and found only their spouse waiting.

Full-body sightingVocalizationUnidentified sound
6 August 2009 Orient, Franklin County, Illinois Class B #36567

Possible nighttime sighting while driving in Orient

The witness was driving home at night with a companion in the front seat and two children in the back seat. A tall creature with long chestnut hair jogged across the road in front of the car in the headlights and went into the woods. The witness and the front-seat companion watched it together, then drove on to try to find it again but could not.

Full-body sightingRoad crossing
July 2009 Colchester, McDonough County, Illinois Class B #40995

Possible sighting of animal playing peek-a-boo at Argyle Lake State Park

Two companions hiking back toward their car noticed the woods go silent and heard something moving in brush alongside them and crossing behind them, along with a musky skunk-like odor. Near the last bend the reporter glanced back and saw a wide, dark-brown figure squatting beside a low dead tree about 100 yards away. They kept walking, then ran to the car and drove off and rarely spoke of it afterward.

Partial sightingFootstepsOdor
27 June 2009 Farmer City, De Witt County, Illinois Class A #28110

Night fisherman has sighting at Clinton Lake boat docks

The witness was fishing alone late at night at a lake boat launch and felt watched amid unusual silence. After leaving and returning with vehicle lights, the witness saw a tall hair-covered figure with yellow eyes standing in trees about 20 yards away. The figure ran rapidly through the trees without pumping its arms, and the witness left quickly.

Full-body sightingEyeshine
June 2009 Seneca, Grundy County, Illinois Class A #28936

Daytime sighting by a motorist east of Seneca

In summer 2009, the witness was driving along a road bordered by woods in the late afternoon. A tall dark creature crossed the road ahead into an old tree farm entrance in three steps at a casual pace. The witness stopped at the entrance but the animal was gone, leaving a strong musky animal odor.

Road crossingFull-body sightingOdor
8 April 2009 Godfrey, Madison County, Illinois Class A #25809

Resident has recent daylight sighting while retrieving cattle near Godfrey

The witness was walking through heavily wooded hills looking for a relative's escaped cows on a clear sunny morning. After stopping to rest, the witness looked east and saw a large, shaggy, man-like figure covered in long black hair moving north and breaking tree limbs as it walked. The figure continued up and over a hill without looking toward the witness.

Full-body sighting
22 January 2009 Herod, Saline County, Illinois Class A #25362

Night time sighting by two witnesses at trailhead in Shawnee National Forest

The witness and her father were walking back to the trailhead parking area at night when the father noticed eyeshine in the trees to the side of the trail about 30-40 feet away. With headlamps on, they both observed shining eyes and the outline of a rounded head that turned to look at them before they turned their lights off. The figure then walked away downhill with heavy deliberate bipedal steps, paused, and remained nearby while the witness spoke softly before they left quietly. After returning home they photographed smudge marks on their vehicle that had not been noticed earlier.

EyeshinePartial sightingSilhouetteFootsteps