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280 encounters
1990–1999 Ohio #f7bfe408-1485-4234-ad06-3c2c7e371719

Unidentified sound in Ohio (1990)

While family members fished a pond clear on three sides with woods rising on the fourth, a loud crashing approach came down the hill shaking trees. A cousin fishing alone on the wooded side threw down his pole, ran back screaming and shaking. The father suggested a deer feeder, but the cabin owner later said no feeder was ever there.

Unidentified soundMovement only
August 1989 Deleware, Delaware County, Ohio Class A #878

Hikers spot white bigfoot at Higbanks Park outside Columbus, OH

Three people hiking in a metro park heard a large heavy animal running in the woods and making an unnerving sound. A white, roughly 7-foot-tall creature then crossed the road in front of them from one wooded side to the other. After hearing it approach again, they fled and encountered a park officer.

Full-body sightingRoad crossingVocalizationFootsteps
1989–1990 Youngstown, Ohio #e350072d-d820-4062-b4cd-fe3a33755a86

Dogman sighting near Youngstown, Ohio (1989)

Four teenage friends were spending the night around a large fire inside an abandoned steel-mill building. After wild dogs chased something over a nearby coke pile and were thrown off, a massive wolf-like creature appeared on the mound, then confronted the group, stood upright, growled, and followed them into the building up to the third floor while drooling heavily. A passing train sounded its horn, frightening the creature away, after which the group waited before fleeing on foot back to a friend's house.

Full-body sightingEyeshineGrowlFootstepsAnimal behaviour
14 September 1988 Germantown, Montgomery County, Ohio Class B #12789

Night time sighting by resident near Germantown

Late at night the witness left a friend's house to walk a short distance home and heard rustling and branches breaking behind him. While running he heard a loud high-pitched scream he did not recognize. He paused at his doorway and watched a large dark figure part pine trees and come over a fence in streetlight before fleeing inside.

SilhouetteScreamFootsteps
August 1988 Batesville, Noble County, Ohio Class B #4962

Hunter states that vocalizations heard near Batesville are identical to recordings on BFRO site

The witness spent several hours alone in a hayfield shooting groundhogs while hearing intermittent crashing and twig snaps from adjacent brush. At dusk after standing to retrieve game, the nearby brush erupted with loud crashing and a loud scream, and the witness shouted back reflexively. The witness then walked toward the barn with rifle ready while snapping sounds followed in the brush until fading near the barn.

ScreamFootsteps
June 1988 Sandyville, Tuscarawas County, Ohio Class B #4980

Night sighting near Sandyville

Four young people went to a collapsed train tunnel late at night and sat on top of the entrance. They reported an overpowering odor, snapping twigs, loud crashing through trees, a low growl, heavy footsteps they could feel, and a loud thud. As they ran back to their car, the reporter glimpsed huge hairy legs and a large hand with long dark nails, then they drove away quickly after the car lurched.

Partial sightingGrowlFootstepsMovement onlyOdor +1
May 1988 Xenia, Greene County, Ohio Class B #31100

Possible stalking of ROTC Unit at Indian Mound Reserve

The witness was leading a small ROTC patrol on a nighttime escape-and-evasion exercise along creek and cliff trails. The group heard movement and walking above them with small rocks falling, found no one when they climbed to search, then heard heavy running footsteps and branches being swiped aside approaching them that caused the patrol to flee to a field edge. The opposing unit later said it never left base, and a next-day visit found snapped branches above head height but no tracks.

FootstepsRock throwingTree breakMovement only
October 1987 Oberlin, Lorain County, Ohio Class B #4957

Hunter has dusk sighting in Oberlin area

The witness was bow-hunting deer from a tree stand beside a cut path through pines at dusk. After hearing movement and deep grunts approach, the witness saw a large bipedal figure jump across the path while emitting a loud scream. The figure ran into a wooded area, and a neighbor also heard the screaming and wood-breaking sounds.

Partial sightingVocalizationScreamFootsteps
7 August 1987 Monroeville, Jefferson County, Ohio Class B #5778

Couple horseback riding catch a glimpse of unknown creature followed by a nasty smell and a loud moaning scream

A witness and a companion were riding horses on a familiar trail when the witness noticed a dark head-like shape to the side. Shortly after, the companion reported a terrible odor near a hedgerow, and then both heard a prolonged loud moaning or wailing sound from behind. They later returned to the locations but found no trace of the shape or odor, and concluded the experiences were connected.

Partial sightingOdorVocalization
March 1987 Lima, Allen County, Ohio Class A #3351

Late night sighting by teen at Lost Creek Golf Course

The witness was walking home across a golf course in the early morning hours when he heard a noise from a creek below a bridge. He looked down and saw a large dark-haired bear-like creature bent over drinking water, which looked up with a human-like face. After only a couple seconds he ran home without looking back.

Full-body sightingUnidentified sound
June 1985 Twin Valley, Scioto County, Ohio Class A #5229

Man recalls seeing a strange bipedal animal during his one and only hunting trip

The witness, then 15, was squirrel hunting with two relatives in forested hills when he descended into a hollow and saw a dark brown creature sitting on a large rock. The creature stood on two legs and ran off quickly while walking noises were heard on both sides and a strong odor filled the air. The group left the area shortly after at the father's urging.

Full-body sightingFootstepsOdor
October 1983 Byhalia, Union County, Ohio Class B #4981

Late night encounter by Coon hunters near Byhalia

The witness was following dogs while hunting raccoons in the woods with a party. A loud scream, loud crashing noises, and an awful smell were encountered. The dogs returned scared to the trucks, with one smelling of skunk.

ScreamOdorUnidentified sound
May 1983 Mechanicsburg, Champaign County, Ohio Class A #5311

Large hairy creature and footprints seen along fence line on property with past activity

The witness visited a friend's farm after loaning a truck and found a very large footprint in mud, attempting a plaster cast. Later he saw a dark figure bobbing while holding a tree limb across a field, then saw a hairy long hand touching the plaster. The friend confirmed seeing the distant figure and the friend's wife reported hearing breathing near a shed, followed by rustling and barefoot sounds.

TracksPartial sightingSilhouetteFootstepsMovement only +1
July 1982 Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio Class B #10421

A couple has a frightening encounter in Shawnee State Forest

The witness and a companion drove to a picnic area in a forested area at dusk to relax after bowling. While outside the car the witness heard loud heavy strides coming up the hillside, followed by a low growl-like sound, prompting both to get in the car to leave. As they drove away something thumped against the car. Later under bright lights they found large handprints in the dust on the roof, side panel and door.

FootstepsGrowlVehicle contactHandprint
June 1982 Crookedtree, Noble County, Ohio Class B #12597

Night encounter near rural home outside Crooked Tree

Two companions were pushing their bicycles up a steep driveway at night after visiting a neighbor. A large silhouette crossed the driveway entrance twice, then stopped at the top, looked at them and gave a short grunt. Frightened, they dropped their bikes and ran back to the house, later retrieving the bikes with the neighbor's help and riding home.

SilhouetteVocalization
March 1982 Deersville, Harrison County, Ohio Class A #35079

Dairy worker describes 5am sighting between Tappan and Clendening Lake

Early one morning in March 1982 the witness was feeding young cattle in an outdoor pen on a dairy farm. After hearing a grunt, the witness saw a tall dark bipedal figure stand up near a hay feeder and then walk away toward the woods and over a fence. The witness heard crunching footsteps and fence noise for several seconds, then later found no tracks after the frost melted.

Full-body sightingVocalizationFootsteps
31 January 1981 Peebles, Adams County, Ohio Class B #3352

Large footprint found in sandbar

Two people walking with a dog heard something moving through the woods away from them and followed the sound to a creek. On a sandbar in the middle of the creek they found a single large, fresh human-like barefoot print and saw no other prints on the higher far bank. They inferred a very long stride and returned up the road without seeing the source.

FootstepsTracks
August 1980 Russell Township, Geauga County, Ohio Class A #3301

Daytime sighting in a wooded area a few miles east of Interstate 271

Two children testing walkie-talkies in dense woods noticed a dark-faced figure watching them from behind a fallen tree. After several minutes of it shifting position and studying them, they backed away, saw it rise and place its hands on the trunk, then screamed and ran. They heard a loud crack and glimpsed the black, powerfully built biped running away almost silently.

Partial sightingFull-body sightingAnimal behaviourFootstepsOdor
June 1980 Calcutta, Columbiana County, Ohio Class B #12220

Possible approach to a dwelling between Calcutta and East Liverpool

The witness was sitting inside a mobile home with an infant after dark when a dog began barking and would not leave its house. After turning out the lights and waiting, the witness saw a tall figure approach the trailer window breathing heavily and froze until it walked away. The next morning the witness found paths of flattened brush leading toward a creek bottom.

Partial sightingUnidentified soundTree break
July 1979 Harrison County, Ohio Class B #30548

Two fisherman hear commotion of a roaring animal on brushy bank of Clendening Lake

The witness was fishing from a boat near shore while a companion napped on board. The witness heard footsteps in water, loud roars, splashing, and an animal squealing but saw nothing because shoreline vegetation was very dense. Frightened, the witness moved away quietly and woke the companion, who heard part of the sounds as they left. At the marina a worker said a news crew had previously covered a Bigfoot report at the lake, which led the witness to consider that explanation.

FootstepsGrowlUnidentified soundMovement only