Search results
Possible encounter at night by hunters camping at Virginia Lakes
A family was camped in a trailer near a treeline with a deer carcass stored nearby. During the night the family was awakened by rocks hitting the trailer, knocking sounds, growls, screams and whoops. The witness later went outside with a flashlight and saw a single glowing red eye high in the treeline. In the morning stacked rocks were gone, footprints were found, and a large pine by the carcass had been pushed over.
Possible howl heard by three family members while on vacation at June Lake
The witness and family were staying in a cabin backing to forest and granite cliffs near June Lake. Late at night they went onto the deck and heard a distant loud, deep howl lasting under a minute. About 10-15 minutes later, while the witness was showering, the rest of the family heard the same type of sound three more times from inside the cabin with windows open. The witness, familiar with local wildlife sounds, felt the vocalization was louder and deeper than any known animal.
Camper has a possible close encounter west of Mono Lake
The witness was camping alone at night reading in a chair when a loud branch snap was heard nearby. Gas cans and other items behind a shed were knocked over as something large moved a short distance through trees and stopped across a creek. The witness's dogs cowered at the trailer door and the witness retreated inside with a feeling of being watched.
Campers hear possible whoop-howls near Yosemite (Sawmill campground)
The witness and two relatives were camping at the Sawmill Walk-in Campground east of Yosemite and talking around the camp table after sunset. From the forested canyon to the west they heard a series of about ten loud whoop-howl calls with pauses between them. Normal background wildlife noise stopped during the calls and resumed shortly after, with no answers or repeats and no visual contact.
Hiking family has daytime encounter in Sierra
The witness and two relatives were hiking down from high lakes in the afternoon when they saw a large dark figure moving rapidly across a distant meadow on the far side of a river. The figure appeared to glide smoothly without bobbing, paused briefly when shouted at, then continued away and disappeared. The witnesses went down to the meadow edge but could not relocate it.
Young man claims possible sighting at night near Lake Mary, outside Mammoth
The witness was staying at a cabin near Lake Mary and took two dogs for a night walk. The dogs began growling and pulling toward sounds of rustling leaves and breaking branches. The witness shone a flashlight and saw a huge ape-like but human-built figure about 200 feet away watching and swaying between trees. After a minute or two the figure turned and walked away, and the witness hurried back to the cabin.
Campers hear late night scream near Mammoth Lakes
The witness and a companion were at a cabin late at night preparing a truck for departure when they heard three very loud, long screams that started very close and then sounded progressively farther away. They checked the area with headlights, saw nothing, noticed lights from another cabin in the distance, and then secured themselves inside for the night. The witness felt the sound was threatening and unlike familiar animal sounds, but retained doubt about a natural explanation.
Brothers hear late night howl in Mammoth Lakes
The witness was sleeping in a tent at a campground in Mammoth Lakes when the dog woke them whining and pacing. They then heard a long repeating howl that lasted several minutes and also woke the witness's brother. Both later agreed the sound matched howl recordings on the BFRO website. The dog remained frightened throughout the howling.
Brothers have early evening sighting near Lee Vining
Two brothers were gathering firewood near a lake at dusk when they heard heavy footsteps and crashing in dense brush. The writer saw the bushes shaking but no animal, while the brother, 10 to 15 feet away, saw a large dark-brown head moving rapidly above the brush. They fled in their truck and crashed into a tree on the way back to camp.
Campers hear a vocalization near Tenaya Lake
A group camping by a lake at night heard animal sounds go quiet followed by a very loud vocalization that rose from low to a high shrill pitch. Other campers from near the mountain came down the trail with their gear to leave, saying the scream had been right by them and they had seen something run toward and past the witness camp. The witness group did not see anything but noticed a strong dirty or wet dog smell after leaving their tents and waited until daylight to leave.
Unidentified sound near Lee Vining, California
Several days later the witness with relatives heard debris falling down the canyon wall at night.