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10 encounters
October 2013 Ocala, Marion County, Florida Class A #42726

Nighttime sighting by a man walking his dog in a subdivision next to the Ocala National Forest

The witness was walking a dog at the dark end of a subdivision backing to forest when the dog reacted to a large crouched figure nearby. The witness shouted warnings and shined a flashlight, seeing reflective eyeshine and a hair-covered, ape-like form. The figure then stood to great height and walked away behind trees, and the witness left the area with the dog.

Full-body sightingEyeshine
8 August 2013 Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida Class A #41892

Woman is startled to see a large hairy biped climbing her fence outside Clearwater

Around 1:55 a.m. the witness stepped outside to smoke and heard the chain-link fence rattle and brush breaking. Under a nearby security light she saw a large hairy creature straddling the fence; it turned, made eye contact, then swung its leg back over and dropped into the woods. She woke her daughter and both heard movement and smelled a foul odor, later finding the fence top bent and branches broken.

Partial sightingEyeshineOdorMovement only
December 2012 Folkston, Nassau County, Florida Class A #39080

Late night sighting by a stranded boater on the St. Marys River

After their boat motor failed, two companions camped overnight by a campfire on the riverbank. Around midnight they heard something approaching through the woods, followed by loud growling, grunting, stomping and tree knocks. One of them shone a light across the narrow river and saw a head, shoulder and red eyes looking back before it retreated, continuing noise for over an hour. They left at first light and were later towed back to the landing.

Partial sightingEyeshineGrowlVocalizationWood knock +3
November 2009 Middleburg, Clay County, Florida Class A #27347

Nighttime sighting of two upright creatures by a motorist outside Middleburg

The witness was driving home from work at night and turned onto a road in Middleburg. Her headlights illuminated two large gray-haired creatures just off the road near a speed-limit sign. One appeared crouched making rapid arm movements over its lap while the other stood watching, and both looked toward her car with red eyeshine before she drove away frightened.

Full-body sightingEyeshine
5 March 2009 Holiday, Pasco County, Florida Class A #25582

Man observes a bigfoot in his headlights near Holiday

The witness was driving at night when headlights caught eye-shine at the edge of woods by a road curve. A tall hair-covered biped that had been walking out of the tree line stopped, stepped back into the brush, and watched the stopped car for about a minute to a minute and a half. After the witness called out, the creature moved further back and was heard running off into the woods.

Full-body sightingEyeshineFootsteps
July 2003 Middleburg, Clay County, Florida Class A #14354

Night time sighting by three boys outside Middleburg

Three youths riding in the back of a pickup while spotlighting for deer saw a tall hair-covered figure standing off the road in trees. The spotlight lit it for a second or two, then the truck backed up and the figure was gone. The witnesses noticed a foul sour odor, became scared, and left the area.

Full-body sightingEyeshineOdor
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
Spring 1993 LEESBURG, Lake County, Florida Class A #23696

Huge creature stands in headlights on rural road near Leesburg

Two companions driving on a dirt road toward their house at night stopped when a large creature stood in the road a short distance ahead. With headlights and then high beams on, they watched it for a couple of minutes as it stood and moved its head from side to side. They then drove past it and rushed into the house to tell the occupants and check everyone was alright.

Full-body sightingRoad crossingEyeshine
10 April 1987 Cassia, Lake County, Florida Class A #32249

Memory told of close encounters while working as a fence contractor near Cassia

The crew was camped on the bank of Blackwater Creek eating dinner when a splash revealed their cooler in the creek was missing. Shortly after, a companion returned shaken saying something had watched him from across the creek. The witness shone a spotlight across the narrow creek and the group saw a large hair-covered biped stand up, its eyes shining, block the light with its forearm, vocalize, and flee. The men then left for a motel for the remainder of the job.

Full-body sightingEyeshineGrowlHowlOdor +1
BFRO YEAR: Late 80's Spring Hill / Brooksville, Hernando County, Florida Class A #6708

Man has brief encounter near lake

The witness reported a dusk encounter at about 20+ yards with a dark, stocky creature that had a wide upper torso and no visible neck in a remote pine-oak area. Waning light limited observable detail, but a reddish reflection from the eyes was noted. The witness was alone at the time.

Partial sightingEyeshine