Search results

6 encounters
1 March 2013 Makanda Or Cobden, Jackson County, Illinois Class B #40120

Possible vocalizations and rock throwing east of Makanda

On a night trip in early March 2013, the witness and three companions stopped in the woods around 2:30 a.m. after hearing a loud moaning sound. The witness shone a light downhill and saw a head with two closely spaced eyes about 40 feet away and 5 to 6 feet off the ground. The eyes stared for about 45 seconds before sidestepping behind a tree, and a quick search found nothing and no tracks.

VocalizationPartial sightingEyeshine
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
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
17 August 1979 West Frankfort, Franklin County, Illinois Class A #11273

Youth has sighting along abandoned railroad line on edge of West Frankfort

On a summer evening in the late 1970s, the witness rode a bicycle onto an abandoned railroad-bed trail near woods. Behind dumped washers and dryers the witness saw a hair-covered figure that stood upright, grunted, and shook a sapling. The witness fled east, looked back to see the figure on the trail, then watched it walk back into the treeline.

Partial sightingEyeshineVocalizationAnimal behaviour
1976–1977 Rochester, Sangamon County, Illinois Class A #28545

Man tells of the strange occurrences and his sighting as a teenager near Buckhart

Four people drove to a hilltop clearing at night and parked with the engine off to listen. After hearing twigs crunching as something circled their position, those in the back seat noticed a figure behind the vehicle. The witnesses in front then glimpsed a tall dark bipedal figure with red reflected eyes ducking behind a tree, prompting them to start the vehicle and leave immediately.

Partial sightingEyeshineFootsteps
1/4/09 (6:30pm) Mount Vernon, Washington County, Illinois Related account #24766

Wood knock near Mount Vernon, Illinois

Relatives outside north of the house heard tree knocking from the treeline, noticed a quick-dissipating skunk-like smell and agitated geese, and saw red eye-shine across the pond.

Wood knockOdorEyeshineAnimal behaviour