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8 encounters
25 October 2001 Huntington Lake, Fresno County, California Class A #9296

Hunter has daytime sighting near Huntington Lake

While hunting in dense pines the witness repeatedly heard loud expulsions of air and branches breaking moving around him. After returning to the area with his father, deer were spooked by the same sound. The witness then saw a large black-haired figure sitting under a pine about 30 yards away and stared at it before it stood and bounded away making the same noise.

Partial sightingVocalizationFootstepsTree break
17 July 1996 El Dorado County, California Class A #2137

Placerville track found and cast

The witness reports discovering several large footprints near a small stream northeast of Placerville, with broken branches nearby. Only one print was clear enough to photograph, and the witness returned the next day to make a plaster cast. The cast was shown to Fish and Game staff who dismissed it, and it has since been kept in storage.

TracksTree break
June 1995 Weaverville, Trinity County, California Class A #2819

Campers menaced after dark by what they assume was a family group

A group camping above a swollen river heard mumbling voices and stick-breaking approaching, followed by loud chanting, shouting and stomping that shook a log seat and was taken as a demand to leave. The sounds stopped after deep hooted calls and later receded to distant screams up the valley and across the mountain. Later, while in a tent, the witness saw the firelight blocked by a squatting silhouette that touched the zipper with five digits, with felt breath and strong odor, before withdrawing. In the morning the witness noted hairs and deep depressions on the trail.

SilhouetteVocalizationScreamWhoopTree break +3
13 August 1993 Above Kennedy Meadows, Tuolumne County, California Class A #24574

Man remembers seeing an animal move through a ravine near Yosemite

The witness was camping with four companions near Sonora Pass at dusk when the group heard loud crashing from a nearby ravine. The witness then watched a dark, hair-covered figure run upright across granite rocks and through fallen trees at high speed, breaking branches as it moved. The companions retreated in fear while the witness moved closer to observe to within about 100 feet.

SilhouetteUnidentified soundTree break
September 1987 Nevada City, Nevada County, California Class A #12649

Man recalls daytime sighting in a canyon outside Nevada City

Two companions were pushing their bicycles up a steep old mining road when they heard crashing from across a canyon. They watched a tall dark-haired biped run down the opposite slope toward them, snapping small trees in its path. Frightened, they fled uphill on their bikes until they neared the top and lost sight and sound of it.

Full-body sightingTree break
June 1986 Old Shasta, Shasta County, California Class A #2845

Unusual "Wild" Smell from Animal Walking Around Camper's Truck Near Sheep Camp

The witness and a companion were sleeping in a truck bed while camping when they were awakened by something circling on foot. The circling continued for about 1.5-2 hours with branch-breaking sounds, grunting, and a strong wild odor, while they remained lying down without looking. Near dawn the sounds moved off to the southwest, and in daylight they found disturbed pine needles and broken tree limbs nearby.

FootstepsVocalizationOdorTree break
December 1985 Del Norte County, California Class A #1551

Campers hear screams, and find large footprints

The witness and a companion were walking a dog on a loop trail in redwood forest when the dog lunged up a steep embankment toward crunching and branch-breaking sounds from above. They followed a short distance to a ridge and found freshly broken lower tree branches up to about ten feet high and large human-like foot impressions in the duff that lacked claw marks. The source of the noise was gone by the time they reached the top, and they returned cross-country to the main trail.

FootstepsTracksTree break
August 1963 Myers Flat, Humboldt County, California Class A #6961

Teen has daytime sighting near Myers Flat

The witness was hunting with two friends and hid alone in berry bushes to startle them. While waiting, the witness smelled a strong odor and saw a large hairy biped stand up nearby and walk away through thick brush, hearing snapping and leaf crunch as it left. The witness ran to the friends and later returned with them to find a squatted feeding spot and small broken trees.

Full-body sightingOdorFootstepsTree break