Search results

29 encounters
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
February 2013 St. Augustine, St. Johns County, Florida Class B #40019

Possible daylight encounter after after initiating calls in Twelve Mile Swamp

The witness drove into a swamp conservation area and spent time making loud vocal noises on a road near parked logging equipment. Something in the adjacent woods approached to within about 20 yards, making heavy bipedal footsteps and loud thrashing in reeds and brush without becoming visible. The witness retreated to the car, repositioned it, and tried for about an hour to elicit further response, later hearing a growl and movement alongside and then away.

FootstepsMovement onlyGrowl
December 2012 Folkston, Nassau County, Florida Class A #39080

Late night sighting by a stranded boater on the St. Marys River

After their boat motor failed, two companions camped overnight by a campfire on the riverbank. Around midnight they heard something approaching through the woods, followed by loud growling, grunting, stomping and tree knocks. One of them shone a light across the narrow river and saw a head, shoulder and red eyes looking back before it retreated, continuing noise for over an hour. They left at first light and were later towed back to the landing.

Partial sightingEyeshineGrowlVocalizationWood knock +3
7 July 2012 Atlantic Beach....in The City, Duval County, Florida Class B #35940

Possible early moming sighting from second story apartment in Atlantic Beach

Early in the morning the witness stepped onto a second-story apartment balcony and turned on the light. She immediately heard a loud primate-like scream followed by woo-woo calls, which set a neighbor's dog barking. After several minutes she noticed a tree rustling, heard low grunts and footsteps along a privacy fence, and watched a very wide, hunched, ape-like shadow lumber along the fence line before two figures reportedly moved off together into the dark.

ScreamWhoopGrowlFootstepsSilhouette +1
15 January 2012 Lake Mack, Lake County, Florida Class A #34954

Stranded motorist has a daytime close encounter with an adult and juvenile near Lake Mack

The witness became stranded alone when a car sank in soft sand on a remote forest road. While digging out the tires, the witness was struck by a thrown rock, then heard movement, footsteps and loud hissing vocalizations from the surrounding brush. A large wet adult creature and a smaller juvenile were then seen at close range crossing the road, throwing material at the car, before disappearing into the forest.

Partial sightingFull-body sightingRoad crossingVocalizationFootsteps +4
8 January 2012 Bronson, Levy County, Florida Class B #31933

Hunter experiences dusk encounters in Goethe State Forest

On the second evening the witness walked a sandy horse trail about a half mile from an earlier brush trail. He reported hearing an unfamiliar screech/growl, answering wood knocks, loud stomping nearby, and a rock thrown past him, followed by crashing in the brush. He then found a very large bare footprint that he photographed with his shoe for scale before leaving quickly without ever seeing the source.

GrowlScreamWood knockFootstepsRock throwing +2
4 July 2011 Paisley, Lake County, Florida Class B #31153

Ongoing activity on a family farm near Paisley

Late at night on July 4 the witness's family was setting off fireworks in the yard when a companion noticed movement and a dark shape nearby. All present then heard a very low deep growl unlike anything they had heard before. The source then moved away crashing into the woods, and a search with flashlights found nothing.

GrowlPartial sightingMovement only
April 2010 Naples, Collier County, Florida Class B #39382

Frightening encounter experienced on family property outside Naples

Three people spending the night in a trailer heard distant howling that grew closer and seemed to come from more than one direction, and they called back. Small stones were thrown toward them, and they heard stomping, grunting, knocking, movement in brush close by, and trees breaking. They retreated into a bedroom where screaming, walking, and contact with the outside of the trailer continued for about an hour while one of them looked through window blinds and was left frightened.

HowlScreamGrowlWood knockFootsteps +4
15 October 2007 Middleburg, Clay County, Florida Class B #21849

Teen Hears Possible Howls and Growls near Middleburg

The witness walked to and waited at a bus stop around 6:15 when loud howling, screams and growls were heard repeatedly over several minutes from a large wooded area about 100 meters away. Neighborhood dogs reacted strongly and some ran into the woods where rustling was heard. The witness was frightened by the sounds and then boarded the bus.

HowlScreamGrowlMovement only
Fall 2006 Ashville, Jefferson County, Florida Class B #26393

Man experiences loud yells and tree-shaking while deer hunting near Ashville

The witness was hunting from a tree stand in the late afternoon when he heard very loud, unfamiliar yells from about 150-200 yards away. The yells repeated minutes later from apparently closer. He then watched a small sapling whip violently side to side for about a minute while surrounding grasses did not move similarly. Feeling uneasy as darkness approached, he climbed down and left the woods without ever seeing the source.

VocalizationMovement only
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
January 2002 St. Augustine, St. Johns County, Florida Class B #7109

Possible vocalizations heard by hunters and a biologist in Guana River WMA

The witness and a companion had finished hog hunting and were talking with the check-station attendant about an hour after dark when they heard several loud, high-pitched screams lasting several seconds from woods behind the station, followed by brief sounds of vegetation movement. The group, all familiar with local animal sounds, could not identify the source and agreed it did not match bobcat, hog, bird, or small prey. Shaken by the intensity, the brothers left the area.

ScreamMovement only
October 1996 Alexander Springs, Ocala Nat. Forest,Aster, Lake County, Florida Class B #1480

3am observation in Alexander Springs (Ocala Nat. Forest) of tall upright animal. Coolers ransacked

The witness and a companion were camping in a tent at Alexander Springs. After playing cards until about 3 a.m., the companion fell asleep while the witness lay awake. The witness heard surrounding animal sounds fall silent, smelled a skunk-like odor, saw a tall upright shadow on the tent wall and heard a grunt-like noise. In the morning the coolers had been ransacked, and the pair left the campground early the next night after feeling uneasy.

SilhouetteVocalizationOdorProperty disturbanceMovement only
15 September 1989 Cocoa, Brevard County, Florida Class A #591

Driver stops car momentarily on Nova Rd., witnesses a 7-8 foot tall dark creature approach his car..

The witness and a relative were driving at night and stopped in the middle of a desolate road so the witness could step out. After a warning from the relative, the witness heard branches breaking and increasing footsteps from woods by the road and saw a tall dark upright figure running toward the car. The witness got back in the car and drove away, then saw the figure standing in the road behind them in the brake lights.

Full-body sightingFootstepsMovement only
June 1987 Immokalee, Collier County, Florida Class B #20420

Possible nightime encounter near Lake Trafford

Late at night the witness's family was at home when a dog outside sounded distressed. A relative went out, saw a large shadow by the shed, retrieved a firearm, then saw something flee down the driveway and fired, after which a loud growl-howl was heard followed by silence. The next morning the family found unfamiliar footprints and believed the visitor had leapt across a nearby canal.

SilhouetteMovement onlyGrowlHowlUnidentified sound +1
November 1981 Perry, Fla, Taylor County, Florida Class B #28263

Man recalls his terrifying encounter near the Econfino State Park while camping with his family

The witness and relatives were sleeping in lean-tos at a family hunting camp when the witness was awakened by shouting and gunfire. A relative said a tall, hairy figure had loomed over the shelter and then fled into the woods with loud crashing sounds. The group reported a strong foul odor around the camp and wood knocks shortly afterward, then left at sunrise.

Partial sightingVocalizationOdorMovement onlyWood knock
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
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
BFRO YEAR: 08 Baker Fl, Okaloosa County, Florida Class B #25037

Kayaker experiences frightening incidents while traveling down Yellow River

While kayaking a long stretch of river in northwest Florida near dusk, the witness heard moaning to yelling sounds and smelled a strong musky odor. Rocks were thrown from the treeline toward the water and near the kayak, while sticks and trees were heard breaking. The witness also heard coyotes and loud unidentified sounds suggesting animals fighting, felt followed for much of the trip, and never saw the source.

VocalizationOdorRock throwingUnidentified soundTree break +1
BFRO YEAR: 1975-76 North Key Largo, Monroe County, Florida Class B #24241

Family has a strange and terrifying encounter while fishing in the Everglades National Park

While night-fishing beside a canal in the Everglades with his parents as a young child, the witness heard something pacing back and forth in dense vegetation behind them. His father threw a piece of coral, shone a spotlight, and shouted, but the movement continued without any visible source or response. Frightened by the persistent, methodical pacing, the family fled in their car without breaking down their fishing rods.

FootstepsUnidentified soundMovement onlyAnimal behaviourPossible misidentification