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4 encounters
10 October 2015 Kopperston, Wyoming County, West Virginia Class A #74981

Ginseng hunter and stepson have lengthy encounter 20 miles west of Beckley

The witness and a companion were harvesting ginseng when they heard repeated unusual sounds including a low growl and a loud siren-like tone. Over several minutes they heard heavy fast footsteps and watched smaller trees shake violently while catching partial glimpses of a large bipedal creature that kept trees between itself and them. Several trees snapped and fell in the same direction, and rocks were later seen rolling down a nearby point. The pair inspected freshly broken trees before leaving the area the way they came.

Partial sightingVocalizationGrowlHowlFootsteps +3
July 2012 Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia Class B #80146

Hiking couple has brief sighting, then hears primate vocals, then sees tree shaking, in Otter Creek Wilderness

A couple hiking in the Otter Creek Wilderness became disoriented after several hours. They noticed a large dark silhouette on a ridge about 100 yards away, then heard monkey-like sounds for about 30 seconds and saw a tall thin tree violently shaken. They interpreted the displays as threatening and quickly left the area.

Partial sightingSilhouetteVocalizationTree break
January 2007 Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia Class B #17449

Possible vocalizations heard by backpackers in Otter Creek Wilderness

The witness and two companions were backpacking and camping in a wilderness area, working to start a fire at dusk when the witness and one companion heard a loud, long howl-like scream repeated three times from far up a hollow. The witness judged it unlike any known local animal call. Later that night after the fire burned down, the witness alone heard loud stomping and large branches snapping near the creek close to camp for a few minutes.

HowlScreamFootstepsTree break
September 1997 Randolph County, West Virginia Class A #1206

Dolly Sods; Tracks seen, loud screams and strange odor detected.

The witness reported finding unusually large tracks estimated at 20 inches near a campsite. That night the group heard loud piercing screams in the forest and smelled a strange skunk- and sweat-like odor, and the witness sounded a personal alarm which seemed to drive something away. The next morning they found more tracks near the campsite along with some broken branches.

TracksScreamOdorTree break