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12 encounters
February 2018 Lyndon, Whiteside County, Illinois Class B #71815

Law enforcement officers find and follow fresh snow tracks 33 miles NE of Moline

After midnight an on-duty officer searching for a stolen snowmobile along a river heard loud crashing and heavy running in a treeline. He then found large human-like footprints in snow, with two larger sets and one smaller set, showing a long stride and signs of running. He and two deputies photographed the tracks and interpreted the trail as individuals scouting, pausing, and circling before leaving, then withdrew from the area.

FootstepsTracks
10 June 2015 St. Clair County, Illinois Class B #50967

Possible footprints found east of Belleville near Illinois Route 4

The witness was walking through woods near a river toward a field used for searching for artifacts in the evening. They heard loud crashing described as something moving fast and hard and breaking limbs. They then found several footprints in mud left after rain, one of which was photographed and measured.

Unidentified soundTracks
7 September 2011 Midlothian, Cook County, Illinois Class B #30601

Possible vocalization and footprint found near Bachelors Grove Cemetery

The witness and a companion visited Bachelor's Grove in the afternoon to check structures described in a prior report. They observed hand-made tree pyramids, an X, and an arch, heard a siren-like sound and faint mumbling voices, and saw no unknown animals. After the companion left, the witness found a large old footprint with visible toes and additional faint impressions forming a long-stride trackway.

TracksStructure or nestUnidentified soundVocalization
5 May 2010 Princeville, Peoria County, Illinois Class B #27692

Mushroom hunter hears vocalizations and finds footprints near Jubilee College State Park

The witness was hunting with a dog on a sunny afternoon when the dog became agitated and a strong odor was noticed. The witness heard grunt-like noises followed twice by a loud scream or yell, plus cracking and movement in trees and brush, while the dog returned frightened with raised hair. After driving to a more open area across a shallow creek, the witness found two very large barefoot-like footprints that seemed too large and out of place to be human.

VocalizationScreamOdorTracksMovement only
6 October 2005 Pekin, Tazewell County, Illinois Class B #12836

Family hears vocalizations and finds footprints in their backyard east of Pekin

The witness's brother was sleeping in a tent in the yard and woke around 12:30 a.m. feeling uneasy after hearing something outside. He looked around the tent, saw nothing, and went inside the house to sleep on the couch. The next morning very large footprints were found right outside the tent in wet sand and were photographed.

TracksUnidentified sound
26 October 2003 Pearl City, Stephenson County, Illinois Class A #15347

Deer hunter has early morning sighting from tree stand near Pearl City

The witness climbed into a tree stand before dawn to bow hunt. While it was still dark, something breathed heavily beneath the stand for about 10 minutes then walked away to the southeast. Shortly after sunrise in light fog, the witness saw a large human-like figure about 100 yards away walking east at a fast pace. After climbing down, the witness followed its footprints eastward.

Full-body sightingUnidentified soundFootstepsTracks
1980 Carbondale, Jackson County, Illinois Class C #2806

The "Big Muddy Monster" flap of Murphysboro

In the late 1970s to early 1980s, residents around the Big Muddy River reported a foul-smelling, hairy hominid-like creature. Witnesses described seeing and hearing it near the river and finding footprints, with size and color accounts varying. The writer compiled these secondhand accounts and notes the creature was never reported as violent.

Full-body sightingVocalizationOdorTracks
Summer 1978 Pawnee, Sangamon County, Illinois Class B #28370

Memory told of a possible encounter and footprint found along Horse Creek north of Pawnee

Two companions walking along a wooded driveway in the afternoon heard unidentified tapping sounds and entered the woods to investigate. They found freshly matted grass and a human-like bare footprint with five toes in dried mud. Shortly after, the companion shouted to run as loud timber-breaking crashes and movement occurred in dense undergrowth behind him. The reporter did not see the source, but the companion reportedly saw something about seven feet tall, after which both fled to the driveway.

Unidentified soundTracksTree breakMovement onlyPartial sighting
October 23, 2011 Chatham, Sangamon County, Illinois Related account #29612

Tracks near Chatham, Illinois

On an October night the witness and dog heard creaking at the living-room window, and next morning the witness found a large footprint in fresh landscaping and photographed it with a tape measure.

TracksUnidentified sound
many times before Harrisburg, Saline County, Illinois Related account #72110

Unidentified sound near Harrisburg, Illinois

The witness states that on prior visits to the same forest with his wife they heard strange animal noises and found and photographed a footprint.

Unidentified soundTracks
around 10:30 at night Atwood, Piatt County, Illinois Related account #47469

Vocalization near Atwood, Illinois

While taking trash out at night, the witness heard huffing sounds from the tree line followed by something large moving away, and found similar-sized prints the next morning.

VocalizationMovement onlyTracks
1980 to 1999 Ottawa, La Salle County, Illinois Related account #36667

Footsteps near Ottawa, Illinois

Over many years the household heard loud walking and branch breaking at night, noticed quiet beforehand and foul smell, and found footprints and damaged rabbit cages.

FootstepsTracksOdorProperty disturbanceTree break