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16 encounters
24 November 2013 New Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida Class A #42978

Daytime sighting by a wildlife biologist on a trail in the Cypress Creek Preserve

The witness was hiking in a preserve in the morning to photograph wildlife when he heard a noise and saw a large dark figure to his left. He watched it walk upright at a fast, purposeful pace across the trail and into palmettos, then heard it moving away as birds and insects fell silent. He searched for tracks or hair but found none, photographing only the crossing location for scale.

Full-body sightingUnidentified sound
May 2013 Everglade City, Monroe County, Florida Class B #65655

Possible camp stalking at Bear Island Campground in Big Cypress National Preserve

On the ninth night of solo primitive camping, the witness was lying awake in a tent when a very loud thud sounded in front of the tent. Movement was then heard in palmettos beside the tent, followed by human-like whistles exchanged from opposite sides and a guttural growl from behind the tent. The witness stayed inside without looking out and found a snapped limb nearby the next morning before leaving camp early.

WhistleGrowlFootstepsMovement onlyUnidentified sound +1
24 February 2013 Lake Helen, Volusia County, Florida Class B #40901

More possible activity from the "Mole Man" at Lake Helen

A mother and daughter at home at night felt and heard a powerful impact to the side of the house that shook the building but found nothing outside. A few nights later both were awakened by a similar house-shaking slam followed by a loud deep growl. They could not explain how an animal could strike with such force and initially wondered about a bear.

Property disturbanceGrowl
11 November 2012 Altoona, Marion County, Florida Class A #37275

Dusk sighting of a bigfoot tree knocking in the Ocala National Forest

The witness was trail riding in a remote forest area and became stuck in a mud hole, waiting hours for help. Hearing repeated knocking like something hitting a tree, the witness walked about 300 yards toward the sound and saw a very large hairy biped striking a pine with a stick. After stepping on a stick while backing away, the witness was noticed by the creature, which turned its whole body to look before running away on two legs carrying the stick, moving gracefully and silently.

Full-body sightingWood knock
2012–2015 Bunnell, Flagler County, Florida Class A #46728

Ongoing activity and sightings on a hunting lease in central Florida (witness sketch included)

At dusk in 2012 the witness was sitting alone in a tree stand during archery season. He heard a loud scream from a nearby swamp, then heard heavy footsteps circling behind him where he could not see. An object was thrown through the trees over him and a stone struck the tree he was in, after which he yelled toward the sounds and left for his truck.

ScreamFootstepsObject throwingRock throwing
18 September 2011 Palatka, Marion County, Florida Class B #35474

Bowhunter hears a massive crash and possible screams in the Ocala National Forest

The witness was bow hunting from a tree stand in Ocala National Forest. About 45 minutes after daylight he heard a loud crash he interpreted as something large thrown toward him from about 250 feet away, followed by a very loud scream that continued as the source moved away for at least 1,000 yards. He stayed in the stand out of fear and did not see the source because the forest was too thick.

ScreamObject throwing
4 September 2010 Groveland, Sumter County, Florida Class A #28237

Weekend camping trip in the Green Swamp is interrupted by a hairy, bipedal intruder

The witness and three companions were camping and sitting around a fire at night when the woods went quiet and they heard a tree being pushed over. They found a pine half pushed over, then heard a scream and loud growl. The witness shone a spotlight, first seeing the legs and then the full height of a tall hair-covered bipedal creature about 20-30 yards away. After watching it for several seconds as it walked away, the group left the campsite.

Full-body sightingScreamGrowlTree break
February 2008 Wakulla, Wakulla County, Florida Class A #23570

Two hikers see an upright ape running off into the brush in Apalachicola National Forest

Two companions hiking in Apalachicola National Forest stopped at a shallow brook to cool off. After leaving the water they heard rocks colliding and sticks breaking and went to investigate. They glimpsed an ape-like biped charging away through thick brush, breaking limbs and leaving a foul odor. Afterwards they noted disturbed rocks and a partial heel print that later dried out and was not photographed.

Partial sightingTracksOdorTree breakUnidentified sound
15 June 2005 Middleburg, Clay County, Florida Class A #21879

Teens have very Close Encounter with Creature

The witness and two young companions were fishing on a private wooded property around noon. When the witness approached palmettos to check a noise, he saw eyes, heard a growl, and watched the creature stand to about nine feet tall. The group fled and returned hours later to find food and fish missing, poles scattered, and their shirts draped high in a live oak.

Full-body sightingGrowlOdorProperty disturbance
24 May 2005 Ormond Beach, Volusia County, Florida Class B #12068

Possible intimidation behavior experienced while shining for alligators in Ormond Beach

Two people were shining lights for alligators beside a lake at night when vegetation beside the dock shook and repeated knocking like wood hitting a tree was heard. A nearby tree then fell, and as they ran toward safety they heard heavy steps and grunting keeping pace parallel to them. About an hour later they returned and found a tall tree freshly snapped about eight feet up with dripping sap and a hair on a branch.

Movement onlyWood knockTree breakTwistFootsteps +2
15 October 2000 Summerfield, Marion County, Florida Class B #598

Vocalizations and Footsteps heard

On the night of October 28, 2000 the witness was hosting an adult-only backyard barbecue party with about a dozen guests. Around 10 p.m. the group heard loud unidentified sounds from the woods near the back of the property and heard heavy footsteps breaking branches that sounded bipedal. Two men entered the woods with a flashlight but the source stayed distant and was never seen, and no tracks were found in deep oak leaves.

VocalizationFootsteps
1998–2000 Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida Class A #20940

Security guards have nighttime sightings outside Jacksonville

While on night patrol, the witness responded to a companion's report of something standing by trees behind a building and shone a spotlight into the woods. A very large upright hairy creature holding a branch was seen, which then dropped the branch, looked back with red eyeshine, screamed, and ran away with a strong odor left behind. The witnesses later found a large pine branch torn from about nine feet up.

Full-body sightingEyeshineScreamOdorTree break
June 1984 Pasco County, Florida Class A #737

creature seen in an open field by witness.

The witness group was in an open field when they heard a howling/growling noise from the tree line. They approached and saw a creature crouched down that then stood about eight feet tall before running quickly toward a swamp. They did not follow into the swamp but found bark shredded from the tree where it had been.

Full-body sightingHowlGrowlTree break
October 1981 Casselberry, Seminole County, Florida Class B #1079

Foot steps heard in wood line. Weeks later more sounds heard

Two companions walking at night to a school dance heard loud crashing steps near a wooded sanctuary. They turned and saw two trees being parted high above the ground. The witness states he never saw the source and both fled home in fear.

FootstepsMovement only
November 1977 Naranja Near Homestead Fla., Dade County, Florida Class A #21951

Man describes figure looking into window outside Homestead

In fall 1977 a teen woke just before sunrise and looked out his screened window, exchanging grunts with something outside that made the screen vibrate. He and his father then went outside and watched a very large hair-covered creature near the woods that faced them before running into the woods, breaking two small pines as it left. The next day a neighbor reported seeing the creature as well.

Full-body sightingVocalizationTree break
15 January 1975 Coral Springs, Broward County, Florida Class A #592

Two witnesses observed a large, black-brown human-like form between Wiles Rd. and Sample Rd

The witness and a relative were playing in a vacant lot across a narrow canal from a wooded area with a dirt-bike trail. They heard grunting and movement in bushes beside a large tree and saw a large black-brown human-like figure near the tree. The figure reportedly snapped a thick branch at its base with ease, then ran into the woods knocking down small trees.

Full-body sightingVocalizationTree breakMovement only