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234 encounters
15 June 2005 Middleburg, Clay County, Florida Class A #21879

Teens have very Close Encounter with Creature

The witness and two young companions were fishing on a private wooded property around noon. When the witness approached palmettos to check a noise, he saw eyes, heard a growl, and watched the creature stand to about nine feet tall. The group fled and returned hours later to find food and fish missing, poles scattered, and their shirts draped high in a live oak.

Full-body sightingGrowlOdorProperty disturbance
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
April 2005 Down By Museum, Collier County, Florida Class B #18737

Campers report possible vocalization and footprint in Big Cypress National Preserve

The witness was family camping in the Big Cypress area when she noticed a tall black shape in the woods that vanished minutes later. Around 4 a.m. she awoke to a distant wailing sound with heavy breathing that approached the campsite, passed by the tents and left down a trail, waking several companions who also heard it. In the morning the group followed the direction of travel and found large wide footprints with a four-toe appearance in a sandy trail that had not been there the day before.

SilhouetteVocalizationTracks
March 2005 Esto, Holmes County, Florida Class B #23399

Possible night-time visit at campsite near Esto

The witness and a companion camped in thick woods and settled in their tent for the night. After about an hour they heard loud thuds like heavy footsteps circling the campsite and limbs breaking, approaching within a few feet of the tent. They then heard deep gorilla-like grunts before the sounds moved away toward a creek, and they remained in the tent frightened until daylight without seeing anything.

FootstepsGrowlTree break
12 February 2005 Lake County, Florida Class B #12903

Stalking in swamp during Florida BFRO expedition

The witness camped in a forested swamp area after dusk and reported hearing large animals moving around the camp in a triangular pattern, breaking branches and knocking on trees, including between the camp and a nearby vehicle. Later that night with others present, the witness reported a strange gurgling sound followed by a prolonged bout of tree knocking. The witness suggested the sounds implied dexterous animals and doubted humans could move that quickly in the dark swamp.

Wood knockVocalizationTree break
Spring 2004 Ft.Myers, Lee County, Florida Class B #9885

Possible vocalization east of Ft.Myers

The witness and a teenage helper were hauling cut branches on a relative's wooded property in the late afternoon when they heard three loud, deep whoop-like sounds from a swampy area. The witness could not match the sound to known local wildlife and briefly considered Bigfoot before dismissing it. He later checked whooping crane recordings online and concluded that was not the sound heard.

Whoop
15 August 2003 Okeechobee, Okeechobee County, Florida Class B #13961

Possible stalking of boar hunters at night outside Okeechobee

The witness and a companion were resting while hunting hogs with dogs when they heard distinct bipedal-sounding steps that appeared to mimic their own movements and approach them. Fearing it was a person, they fled across a swampy opening. After stopping, they heard loud thrashing and breaking of brush moving away from them through the treeline.

Footsteps
July 2003 Sanford, Seminole County, Florida Class B #44404

Memory told of a possible night encounter while camping near Sanford

The witness and a relative left camp near a lake at night to collect firewood in a clearing. The witness heard a growl and then saw a tall dark upright figure that stood up and shook small trees. The relative came over, then both fled back to camp. The witness said the figure did not match any identifiable animal and fit descriptions of Bigfoot.

Partial sightingSilhouetteGrowl
Summer 2003 Middleburg., Clay County, Florida Class A #18065

Daylight sighting by two young female hikers in Jennings State Forest

Two companions hiking a trail to pick berries rounded a corner and saw a tall dark furry figure about 40-50 yards ahead moving away through palmettos, with only the upper body visible. The companion reported loud thrashing and breaking vegetation while the reporting witness recalled no sound. After about half a minute they fled the area in fright.

Partial sightingFootstepsPossible misidentification
14 November 2002 Jay, Santa Rosa County, Florida Class B #10192

Possible vocalizations and tracks found by hunter on state land near Jay

The witness was scouting for deer sign on a swampy island reachable only with chest waders on a cold clear early afternoon. After the woods became quiet, the witness heard a single call that started like owl hooting and ended with monkey-like sounds and felt another presence nearby. The witness later reported finding large tracks with distinct toes.

VocalizationTracks
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
March 2001 Chokoloskee, Collier County, Florida Class B #2915

Campers hear unfamiliar vocalizations at night in the Everglades

The witness stayed at a remote boat-access camp fishing from the bank while others were away night-fishing or asleep. Around 11:30 p.m. the witness heard two identical loud piercing screams about 30 seconds apart from an estimated 75-100 yards away. No source was seen and no boats were heard, and the witness later told the returning companions about the sounds.

Scream
15 October 2000 Summerfield, Marion County, Florida Class B #598

Vocalizations and Footsteps heard

On the night of October 28, 2000 the witness was hosting an adult-only backyard barbecue party with about a dozen guests. Around 10 p.m. the group heard loud unidentified sounds from the woods near the back of the property and heard heavy footsteps breaking branches that sounded bipedal. Two men entered the woods with a flashlight but the source stayed distant and was never seen, and no tracks were found in deep oak leaves.

VocalizationFootsteps
10 October 2000 Southport, Bay County, Florida Class B #13313

Possible vocalizations heard by four-wheelers near Southport

Three people were driving slowly in a Jeep through woods north of Panama City in fall 2000 and stopped to make a navigational decision. They twice heard an extremely loud, strange vocalization they described as screams or howls. Despite lifelong familiarity with local wildlife, all three agreed they could not identify the source.

ScreamHowl
Summer 1999 North Port ,Florida, Next To Back Side Of Myakka State Park, Sarasota County, Florida Class B #8561

Husband and wife hear early morning vocalizations near back of Myakka State Park

The witness and his wife were awakened around 2 a.m. by sounds outside their bedroom window and a very strong odor coming through the window. An unseen source then produced a loud, wild, almost human-like shriek. Their two dogs, normally fearless, refused to leave the room, and the couple did not go outside. The witness inferred whatever was at the window must have been at least seven feet tall to reach it.

Unidentified soundOdorScream
22 November 1998 Indiantown, Martin County, Florida Class B #26271

Hunter tells of possible encounters while in the DuPuis Reserve east of Lake Okeechobee

The witness was hunting hogs at dawn in a remote forest area while a companion was stationed about 150 yards away. After noticing paired trails in wet grass and hearing soft splashing from a cypress head, the witness heard a low powerful harrumph-like sound that caused alarm. The witness then took cover behind a dirt mound and watched the area for about an hour without seeing anything leave to the east, west, or south.

VocalizationUnidentified soundTracks
1998–2000 Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida Class A #20940

Security guards have nighttime sightings outside Jacksonville

While on night patrol, the witness responded to a companion's report of something standing by trees behind a building and shone a spotlight into the woods. A very large upright hairy creature holding a branch was seen, which then dropped the branch, looked back with red eyeshine, screamed, and ran away with a strong odor left behind. The witnesses later found a large pine branch torn from about nine feet up.

Full-body sightingEyeshineScreamOdorTree break
10 October 1997 Ochopee, Collier County, Florida Class B #15318

Possible vocalizations noted by fishermen at night off of SR 41

The witness and a companion went to night-fish a muddy runoff pond beside dense woods. From very close range they heard an extremely loud, powerful scream that felt physically intense but they could not locate any source despite scanning with flashlights. They left the area quickly without seeing anything.

Scream
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
Fall 1996 Valparaiso, Okaloosa County, Florida Class A #730

Sighting by Five witnesses of a large, humanoid form.

The witness and four companions were parked on a dirt road at dusk trying to find a way out of the area. They heard a commotion in nearby woods suggesting something large approaching. As it got closer they saw a large upright humanoid form that did not respond to yelling, and all five fled in panic.

Partial sightingUnidentified sound