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99 encounters
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
15 June 2004 Salt Springs, Marion County, Florida Class A #23076

Road grader operator observes creature crossing logging road in Ocala National Forest

The witness was grading a remote forest road around noon when he spotted a large hairy creature about 200 yards ahead standing by the road and looking at him. After watching for about a minute, the creature crossed the road in three steps and disappeared into the woods. The witness drove to the crossing point and found large human-like footprints and broken branches, left food and water, and found them untouched on his return pass.

Full-body sightingRoad crossingTracksTree break
15 March 2003 South East Orlando, Orange County, Florida Class B #25577

Kayaker smells a terrible odor and then sees a hair-covered figure on the Econlockhatchee River

The witness was kayaking ahead of a companion on a narrow river on a cool clear morning when a thick musty odor hit. The witness then saw a wide mass of long shiny fur rise near the bank and run away through dense woods, snapping small trees. The odor lingered so strongly the witness held breath and paddled away for fresh air.

Partial sightingOdorTree break
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
March 1999 Cocoa, Osceola County, Florida Class A #731

Motorist found six thirteen by eight and a half inch tracks near a small bridge that led to a large gate.

Late in the morning while driving, the witness stopped by the roadside and found a line of large footprints. The six prints spanned about 30 feet and appeared to cross the road, pass over a 4.5-foot gate, and continue toward a treeline and gully. The witness photographed the prints and noted their dimensions.

Tracks
2 January 1999 Osceola County, Florida Class A #736

while sitting on a tree stand hunter observed bi-pedal creature walking at high speeds.

The witness was hunting from a tree stand when a tall bipedal creature moved past quickly. The witness reported a strong zoo-like odor and described the animal as hunched with a coned head, wide shoulders, and black hair. Footprints were found in the area.

Full-body sightingOdorTracks
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
15 December 1995 20 MILES SOUTH OF BRISTOL FLA., Liberty County, Florida Class B #21254

78 year-old life-long woodsman finds tracks along the Apalachicola River

The witness was hunting in the woods at dawn when he came upon a trackway of very large barefoot human-like prints. The prints crossed the icy edge of a large frozen puddle, breaking the ice and leaving impressions in mud, with a stride of about four feet. He left the area promptly and later reported the tracks to local law enforcement.

Tracks
20 November 1993 Collier County, Florida Class A #720

Hunter reports finding strange tracks in the Everglades, near the area of the Dade County and Collier County line, between Big Cypress and Alligator Alley.

Several months after Hurricane Andrew, the witness and companions were hog hunting from swamp buggies near Big Cypress. After driving through the area overnight, the witness found large human-like bipedal tracks in mud near a water pool, with unusual depth and stride, and later found fresh tracks at the same spot and another set miles away. The group videotaped the tracks and compared them with their own footprints. No creature was seen, and the witness later wondered whether the tracks were from a skunk ape or a prank.

Tracks
11 January 1991 Yankee Town, Levy County, Florida Class B #48599

Family retells documenting a possible mile-long line of tracks north of Yankeetown

The witness's family discovered a long trail of large footprints on their hunting property on a winter weekend in 1991. They followed the trail for over a mile past creeks and cabins and through a barbed-wire fence, making plaster casts of a right and left print. They also reported finding a palm-frond bedding area and palms with hearts eaten nearby.

TracksTree breakStructure or nestProperty disturbance
June 1987 Immokalee, Collier County, Florida Class B #20420

Possible nightime encounter near Lake Trafford

Late at night the witness's family was at home when a dog outside sounded distressed. A relative went out, saw a large shadow by the shed, retrieved a firearm, then saw something flee down the driveway and fired, after which a loud growl-howl was heard followed by silence. The next morning the family found unfamiliar footprints and believed the visitor had leapt across a nearby canal.

SilhouetteMovement onlyGrowlHowlUnidentified sound +1
November 1986 Lake Butler, Union County, Florida Class B #23498

Bow hunter describes possible tracks, sounds and scat north of Lake Butler

The witness was archery hunting from a ground blind near a hog wallow when he heard close grunting and breathing that he could not see. After the sounds stopped he inspected the area and found very large scat and large deep tracks leading to and away from the scat. He first assumed hogs and then a very large bear made the sign, but later judged the scat too large for a Florida black bear.

VocalizationTracksScatOdor
June 1984 Pasco County, Florida Class A #737

creature seen in an open field by witness.

The witness group was in an open field when they heard a howling/growling noise from the tree line. They approached and saw a creature crouched down that then stood about eight feet tall before running quickly toward a swamp. They did not follow into the swamp but found bark shredded from the tree where it had been.

Full-body sightingHowlGrowlTree break
2 July 1980 Lake County, Florida Class A #725

Large tracks found investigated by Federal authorities

A contractor doing roadwork found about half a dozen large footlike prints near a bulldozer in a remote part of the Ocala National Forest. Law enforcement and forestry personnel made casts of the prints, described as 17 inches long with an arch, five toes and a four-foot stride. Most investigators viewed the prints as a possible hoax but ordered casts because of lingering doubt.

Tracks
30 June 1980 Pittman, Lake County, Florida Class B #5510

Man finds and casts large footprints after hearing of sighting

After hearing about a reported sighting, the witness went with a companion the next morning to the described location to look for footprints. They found large footprints crossing a sandy road from a clear-cut area into a swamp, noted a long stride, depth, and disturbed tree blossoms, and made plaster casts. No creature was seen during this visit.

Tracks
1980–1981 Lady Lake, Lake County, Florida Class B #13976

Possible tracks and sounds outside a home near Lady Lake

As a child staying at a relative's house near lakes and woods, the witness heard growling, snorting and footsteps outside a bedroom window late at night and stayed in bed frightened. The noises lasted several minutes. The next morning the witness found two very large human-like bare footprints in a sand pile in the driveway and measured them, but relatives dismissed them. The witness now interprets the incident as involving a bigfoot.

GrowlVocalizationFootstepsTracks
Fall 1979 Dunnellon, Marion County, Florida Class B #7692

Possible brush nest, tracks, smell, noticed by DeMolay teens visiting rural home Dunellon

Three teenagers walked down a dirt road at night to take time-exposure photos of stars away from house lights. They noticed a strong foul odor and an unusual silence, became frightened, and ran back to the house. The next morning they returned and found an area of flattened brush and a very large footprint in damp soil nearby, which they photographed in black-and-white before having to leave.

OdorTracksStructure or nest
November 1977 Naranja Near Homestead Fla., Dade County, Florida Class A #21951

Man describes figure looking into window outside Homestead

In fall 1977 a teen woke just before sunrise and looked out his screened window, exchanging grunts with something outside that made the screen vibrate. He and his father then went outside and watched a very large hair-covered creature near the woods that faced them before running into the woods, breaking two small pines as it left. The next day a neighbor reported seeing the creature as well.

Full-body sightingVocalizationTree break