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9 encounters
14 August 2013 Bowden/Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia Class B #41880

Possible vocalizations heard from the Bear Heaven Campground east of Elkins

The witness spent the night alone in the cab of his truck at Bear Heaven campground without a tent or fire. Around 3 a.m. a loud double whoop was heard from very close range, followed after a pause by a second similar call. A fainter similar call was heard answering from a distance. The source was not seen.

Whoop
January 2013 Archdale, Randolph County, North Carolina Class B #39279

Veteran is surprised at home by a large night visitor near Archdale

Shortly after midnight the witness walked past his front door on the way to the bathroom and noticed a tall, hair-covered figure standing at the bottom of his front steps. He estimated it at about 8 feet tall and as wide as his steps, with long arms and no visible neck or facial features. He turned to grab a camera but the figure was gone when he looked back, and he saw nothing when he opened the door and turned on the porch light. Shortly afterward he heard repeated deep rumbling sounds described as like thunder from inside the house.

Partial sightingGrowlUnidentified soundOdor
July 2012 Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia Class B #80146

Hiking couple has brief sighting, then hears primate vocals, then sees tree shaking, in Otter Creek Wilderness

A couple hiking in the Otter Creek Wilderness became disoriented after several hours. They noticed a large dark silhouette on a ridge about 100 yards away, then heard monkey-like sounds for about 30 seconds and saw a tall thin tree violently shaken. They interpreted the displays as threatening and quickly left the area.

Partial sightingSilhouetteVocalizationTree break
25 November 2011 Shellman GA, Randolph County, Georgia Class B #44571

Deer hunter sees and hears a large hairy biped from his tree stand near Shellman

The witness was alone hunting deer from an elevated stand before sunrise when a strong musty odor grew stronger. He then noticed a tall, hairy biped partly concealed behind a large tree about 25 yards away, swaying from side to side and making short low grunts. After he glanced away to reach for his scoped gun he heard it moving through the woods, and when he looked back it had disappeared.

Partial sightingOdorVocalizationFootsteps
January 2007 Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia Class B #17449

Possible vocalizations heard by backpackers in Otter Creek Wilderness

The witness and two companions were backpacking and camping in a wilderness area, working to start a fire at dusk when the witness and one companion heard a loud, long howl-like scream repeated three times from far up a hollow. The witness judged it unlike any known local animal call. Later that night after the fire burned down, the witness alone heard loud stomping and large branches snapping near the creek close to camp for a few minutes.

HowlScreamFootstepsTree break
12 July 2003 Mabie, Randolph County, West Virginia Class B #18793

Possible whoops heard in logging area outside the Monongahela National Forest

The witness, a wildlife biology student surveying songbird nests in a clear-cut, heard a very loud repetitive whooping from a ridge about 100 yards above for 3 to 4 minutes. The witness scanned with binoculars but saw nothing, then hiked to the ridgetop about 10 minutes later and found it unusually quiet with game trails. The witness later concluded the sound matched an archival whoop recording and was not a known bird.

Whoop
15 July 2000 Elkins WV, Randolph County, West Virginia Class B #39812

Family hears possible vocals on summer nights at their home near Dolly Sods Wilderness Area

The witness arrived home late at night and got out of the parked vehicle. Immediately after the car door closed, an extremely loud scream was heard from near the uphill tree line about 100 feet away. The witness ran inside, retrieved a shotgun and floodlight, and watched from inside the screen door but saw nothing and found no sign.

Scream
8 June 1973 Prairie Du Rocher, Randolph County, Illinois Class B #42547

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.

VocalizationGrowlScreamMovement onlyOdor
BFRO YEAR: 2004-Present Pocahontas, Randolph County, Arkansas Class B #56443

Possible sightings and strange incidents experienced over time on rural property near Pocahontas

The witness was sitting in a deer stand on hunting land when dogs ran through the woods and rolled in dirt at a fence corner. After getting down to chase the dogs off, the witness smelled a musky sour odor like a dead animal. A deep long growl then came from the woods across the powerline about 50 yards away, prompting the witness to back away and run to the truck.

GrowlOdor