Search results

12 encounters
23 October 2013 Keensburg, Wabash County, Illinois Class A #43148

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.

Full-body sightingFootsteps
5 September 2010 Metroplis, Massac County, Illinois Class A #37972

Nighttime observation involving a pond on a farm near Metropolis

On Labor Day weekend 2010 at a family farm, the witness and companions shone a high-powered spotlight on a creature standing chest-deep in a pond about 30-40 yards away. They watched it move, pick objects from the water and chew on them until the light died. Immediately after, they heard a splash, movement through woods, and repeated series of booms followed by loud bellowing that seemed to answer from another part of the property.

Partial sightingVocalizationWood knockFootsteps
22 January 2009 Herod, Saline County, Illinois Class A #25362

Night time sighting by two witnesses at trailhead in Shawnee National Forest

The witness and her father were walking back to the trailhead parking area at night when the father noticed eyeshine in the trees to the side of the trail about 30-40 feet away. With headlamps on, they both observed shining eyes and the outline of a rounded head that turned to look at them before they turned their lights off. The figure then walked away downhill with heavy deliberate bipedal steps, paused, and remained nearby while the witness spoke softly before they left quietly. After returning home they photographed smudge marks on their vehicle that had not been noticed earlier.

EyeshinePartial sightingSilhouetteFootsteps
16 November 2007 Detroit, Pike County, Illinois Class A #24354

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.

FootstepsFull-body sighting
22 July 2006 Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois Class A #28484

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.

Full-body sightingTree breakFootsteps
26 October 2003 Pearl City, Stephenson County, Illinois Class A #15347

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.

Full-body sightingUnidentified soundFootstepsTracks
15 November 2000 Webster, Hancock County, Illinois Class A #3521

Deer hunter sees large hairy black creature that "plays peekaboo" near Webster

The witness was walking around timber at dusk during deer season and came upon a tall, black, hairy figure shaking a tree. The witness stopped to watch and spoke to it, then walked to an open field and shot at deer. After the shot, the figure was heard running away through the timber.

Partial sightingFootsteps
July 1983 Seneca, La Salle County, Illinois Class A #11911

Campers have lengthy nighttime encounter near Seneca

Two companions camped in a remote wooded area after clearing a small site and lighting a fire. For several hours something circled the camp a few yards away, producing walking and breathing sounds and a musky odor. One companion glimpsed the figure in firelight as a much taller and wider upright figure, and it followed them out and crossed a road in a few steps as they left.

Partial sightingRoad crossingFootstepsUnidentified soundOdor +1
1976–1977 Rochester, Sangamon County, Illinois Class A #28545

Man tells of the strange occurrences and his sighting as a teenager near Buckhart

Four people drove to a hilltop clearing at night and parked with the engine off to listen. After hearing twigs crunching as something circled their position, those in the back seat noticed a figure behind the vehicle. The witnesses in front then glimpsed a tall dark bipedal figure with red reflected eyes ducking behind a tree, prompting them to start the vehicle and leave immediately.

Partial sightingEyeshineFootsteps
29 October 1972 Chestline, Adams County, Illinois Class A #28423

Man recalls his face to face daylight encounter in Siloam Springs State Park

The witness was breaking camp for the weekend and walked down a path to smoke, sitting on a rock. After hearing a sound behind, the witness turned to see a large, bulky brown-gray hair-covered figure about twenty feet away downslope at eye level. They locked eyes for a few seconds while the witness noted facial details, then the figure swung around a tree and hurried down a gully making noise as the witness ran up the path.

Partial sightingUnidentified soundFootsteps
Spring 1945 Eldorado, White County, Illinois Class A #49954

Memory told of encounter at a remote cabin at Sandy Run

The main witness was sleeping in the front room of a remote lakeside cabin with a relative when she awoke at night to the porch screen door opening and footsteps. She watched a large, red-haired, bipedal figure pass three front windows and pause at the door to peer inside, bending down to look in. Frightened, she fled to sleep with her grandparents and did not speak of the incident for years.

Partial sightingFootstepsDoor or window contact
BFRO YEAR: 1980-81 Rock Falls, Whiteside County, Illinois Class A #10037

Youth has daylight sighting in corn field near Rock Falls

The witness was in a garage when the dog barked frantically and then hid in its doghouse. The witness then heard heavy running like a galloping horse and felt vibrations, and saw a large bulky humanoid with reddish-brown hair running through a cornfield. The figure glanced briefly, pushed through the corn with swinging arms, attempted to jump an irrigation ditch but fell short, then disappeared into brush.

Full-body sightingFootsteps