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Hiker has close daylight sighting in Beall Woods State Park
The witness was walking a dog on a trail at Beall Woods State Park when the dog stopped and stared into a large ravine. The witness watched an entity at the bottom for about thirty seconds before it moved and turned toward them, then took two steps forward as the witness backed away. After the dog barked forcefully the entity stepped back, and the witness left while hearing it climb out of the ravine and move through the woods.
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.
Ongoing activity described at a home near Shipman
In May/June 2012 around 10:30 p.m. the witness and a relative heard a loud guttural vocalization outside the home. They went to the porch and watched a large dark furry animal low to the ground run on all fours past a neighboring home, triggering motion lights. Coyotes vocalized shortly afterward, and another relative later said the sound had awakened them.
Family has daylight sighting while fishing on Rend Lake
The witness was fishing from a boat with companions near an inlet when they heard a commotion on the bank behind brush. Two of them then saw a tall, muscular, reddish-brown haired biped running quickly away from the shore. They remained on the water while debating whether it could have been a deer or bear. An investigator later spoke with the couple by phone and recorded additional details about size, hair, and distance.
Homeowner has nighttime sighting near Edwardsville
Around 1 a.m. at home, the witness heard a throat-clearing sound and looked out a hallway window toward the yard. Using night vision, the witness watched a large human-like figure standing about 40 yards away between the woods and a shed, staring up into the trees. The figure was gone by the time the witness tried to have another household member see it.
Late night encounter by a motorcyclist outside of Marseilles
The witness was riding a motorcycle home from night work at about 1 a.m. when making a turn beside a cornfield. A large dark figure was seen standing at the field edge a short distance away. It leaned forward and gave an extremely loud high-pitched scream-like call heard again moments later, and the witness accelerated away without looking back.
Possible sighting by a deer hunter west of Rushville
The witness was deer hunting in a valley at dawn when a loud scream was heard nearby. The yell was loud enough to startle turkeys roosting overhead. Looking toward the sound, the witness saw a tall black animal about 70 yards away that then disappeared.
Nighttime sighting near a dumpster by a bicyclist in Canton
A bicyclist riding home late at night heard a noise by a dumpster behind a shed and saw a short stocky dark bipedal figure. The figure turned and walked into thin woods toward a cornfield, and the rider fled home to tell a companion. The companion checked the site minutes later but found only a trapped raccoon in the dumpster.
Hiker has daylight sighting in Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve
The witness was walking alone on trails at the preserve in the afternoon and heard a twig snap followed by two gorilla-like grunts near a loop trail. The witness then followed a path through tall grass toward the treeline. About 40 feet away, a brown slender entity about six feet tall was seen running silently inside the trees, grabbing a small tree while moving fast and slightly stooped. The witness walked back to the main trail without running and found only their spouse waiting.
Dusk sighting in a backyard near Edwardsville
At dusk the witness heard a weed-eater-like whirling sound from the woods behind the backyard and walked back to investigate. He saw a dark figure sitting with its back to him that stood up, gathered something to its chest, and quickly left into the woods. He described the figure as female, about six feet tall, about 30 yards away.
Hunter has sighting from his deer stand near Detroit
The witness was deer hunting from a tree stand in the early morning when loud footsteps were heard in a nearby pasture. Standing to look, the witness saw a large hairy figure about twenty yards away walking quickly with a long stride. The figure was estimated at 6 to 7 feet tall, dark rusty brown, with broad muscular shoulders, long arms and no apparent neck, and it never looked toward the witness.
Hiker has nighttime sighting near Carlyle
Late at night the witness walked up a slight incline from a riverbank through timber and heard a loud scream from the east. The witness then watched an animal drop from a tree about six to eight feet up, land on its hind legs, take a few upright steps, then move to all fours and run quickly into the treeline. The witness fled toward the highway. The animal was described as large, muscular and fur-covered, tan or light brown in the moonlight.
Vocalizations and a sighting with a spotlight near Murrayville
In 2007 the witness led an armed group with spotlights to an area where relatives had heard screams. He shone a light across a field and saw a large dark hairy figure with outstretched arms run away in a split second. The group pursued into trees hearing walking and branches breaking but found nothing.
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.
Nighttime sighting by property owner near Kishwaukee River.
Late at night at the witness's home near dense woods, the witness was getting into a car when a noise prompted turning on the headlamps. A tall figure was seen peeking from behind a tree about 30 feet away and held eye contact for several seconds. The figure then turned and ran for several hundred feet, clearing a 5-6 foot fence without breaking stride despite fog.
Camper has nighttime sighting outside of Bunker Hill
Late at night on July 4th while camping behind a relative's house, the witness left the campsite with a flashlight to use the bathroom. About a minute down the trail, a large dark-furred biped crossed the trail about 20 feet away, paused to look at the witness after the witness gasped, then walked away. The witness dropped the flashlight, ran back to camp panicked, and later declined to sleep outside.
Memory told of a sighting at dawn while deer hunting north of Hettick
The witness was deer hunting from a tree stand at sunrise when they heard twigs snapping and then a very loud yell/scream. A dark brown figure walking upright, estimated at 6.5 to 7 feet tall, then crossed about 20 yards between two timber areas. The figure did not appear concerned by the witness's presence.
Woman recalls her night time sighting while fishing behind her home near Columbia
The witness was fishing alone at night in the pond behind her house when she heard a huff-growl behind her and turned to see a figure standing and watching her. When the figure moved, she became frightened, dropped her fishing pole, and ran up the hill to the house. She states she never fished at night or alone again.
Hunter has daylight sighting near Sandoval
The witness was hunting and walking back to a vehicle when they heard noises in brush and across a field. They crouched in brush and saw a large dark brown creature crouching across the field, which then stood erect, grunted, raised its left arm, and walked back into the woods. The witness did not pursue and left directly for the vehicle.
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.