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40 encounters
4 April 2002 Salem, Roanoke County, Virginia Class A #4077

Night sighting on the edge of Salem, within a few miles of Roanoke River

The reporting relative relayed an account from the witness, who was painting a vacant house at night. Around 10:45 p.m. the witness stepped into the front yard to smoke and heard dogs barking and something crashing through trees. A very large, hairy creature ran past at high speed making loud grunting sounds before crossing the road and disappearing.

Full-body sightingRoad crossingVocalization
16 February 2002 Woodstock, Shenandoah County, Virginia Class A #30006

Hikers startled by encounter at remote cabin near Woodstock

Three backpackers camping at a remote stone cabin heard loud heavy bipedal footsteps circling their site for an extended period and retreated inside. After the sounds stopped outside a shuttered window, the shutters were opened to reveal a large dark hairy face with large eyes staring in from very close range. After a few seconds of mutual staring the creature left quickly and no further sounds were heard overnight. They left in the morning and found no tracks due to ice.

FootstepsPartial sightingEyeshine
December 1998 Between Louisa And Mineral VA, Louisa County, Virginia Class A #7294

Witnesses in van catch brief glimpse of bipedal figure walking along road near Louisa

After a late work shift, the witness was riding in a van with coworkers on a rural road at night. In the headlights the witness saw a tall, thin dark figure cross the road and enter roadside woods, moving in an unfamiliar gliding manner that first caused fear. Another woman in the van confirmed she was watching the same spot and shared the fear reaction, and both later described wonder at seeing something unfamiliar.

Road crossingSilhouette
May 1998 Montgomery County, Virginia Class A #2284

While driving home, witnesses observe 5-6 ft. tall hairy creature in middle of road

The witness and spouse were driving on a narrow road when they noticed a hunched, hairy creature standing in the middle of the road. The creature looked toward them and then moved quickly off the left side of the road into the woods. The witnesses remained in the car and left the scene.

Full-body sighting
March 1997 Giles County, Virginia Class A #2281

Shocked hikers watch hairy human-like animal run by them 10 feet away

The witness and a companion were hiking in the evening when they heard a muffled gibberish-like scream and called out with no response. As they walked toward the sound, they heard crashing and saw a large, hunched, hairy human-like figure run past about 10 feet away down the mountainside. They were too shocked and scared in the fading light to follow it.

ScreamFootstepsFull-body sighting
February 1994 Quantico. Main Base VA, Prince William County, Virginia Class A #71904

Sasquatch sighting near Quantico. Main Base VA, Virginia (1994)

During a nighttime training exercise, a squad of Marines heard something paralleling their movement through a power-line cut and woods. After taking a defensive position near a road crossing, two members using night-vision goggles observed a tall figure with broad shoulders partly obscured behind a large oak tree. The group continued the mission and later reported the incident to the commanding officer, who dismissed it.

Partial sightingUnidentified soundAnimal behaviour
July 1993 Greene County, Virginia Class A #2283

While out hiking in the woods with his dog, witness smelled a horrible smell.

The witness hiked into a mountain with a dog to collect moss and was returning with a heavy sack. While descending through a ravine the witness felt watched and glimpsed something standing tall about 100 yards ahead that vanished instantly as the dog bolted and later returned subdued. The witness approached the spot, smelled a strong foul odor, found no tracks, and continued home.

Partial sightingOdorAnimal behaviour
22 December 1992 5 Miles From Fries And 17 Miles From Fort Chiswell, Carroll County, Virginia Class A #17730

Late night sighting by motorists on Hwy 94 near the Wythe County border

The witness and a companion were driving at night when they saw an upright figure standing in a field beside the highway. They stopped and watched it from the road for about 10 minutes while illuminating it with a spotlight. The figure shielded its eyes, then walked slowly back toward the treeline, glancing back periodically.

Full-body sighting
July 1992 Bath County, Virginia Class A #1769

A sighting by two motorists

The witness and a companion were driving home from a fishing trip when a deer ran across the road and they stopped. The witness then noticed a large dark animal on the passenger side of the road that stayed motionless for a long time while being observed. It eventually jumped over a guardrail and disappeared down a brushy embankment while continuing to watch them.

Full-body sightingEyeshine
11 August 1990 Pearisburg, Giles County, Virginia Class A #22865

Hairy creature seen watching a college party on Butt Mountain

The witness was camping near an abandoned fire tower with a companion when he noticed movement across a gap while other campers were below cliffs. He watched a dark hair-covered bipedal creature observe the noisy campers for several minutes, noting its build, face and eyes before it looked at him and left uphill. His companion only glimpsed something dark and thought it was a bear, and the witness did not tell her otherwise until the next day.

Full-body sighting
April 1984 Wythe County, Virginia Class A #2285

Boy sees "Bigfoot" in the woods while looking out the car window

During spring break 1984 the witness was traveling by car through Virginia with family toward Florida. While looking out the window the witness noticed a large upright dark hairy figure walking in woods near the freeway, and a younger brother in the car also saw it while the driver did not. The witness described the figure as about eight feet tall with black hair covering head to toe and a long striding walk.

Full-body sighting
September 1981 Ft Lee, Prince George County, Virginia Class A #40645

Memory told of observing a hairy biped close to Civil War fortifications near Fort Lee

In early fall 1981 the witness and two friends rode bikes back to a stream in the battlefield woods to retrieve rock chips. They saw a dark, hairy figure bent over in the stream that stood upright, turned toward them, and then ran silently north along the stream on two legs. The group fled, returned later with older kids to search, and found no tracks except additional turned-over rocks.

Full-body sightingOdor
August 1978 Either Jamaica Or Church View, Middlesex County, Virginia Class A #4103

Daytime sighting on Route 17 near Church View

In 1978 while driving on Route 17 in Virginia, the witness slowed for a dead animal in the road and noticed a strong swampy odor. He glimpsed a dark figure crouching at the woods edge, then watched in the rearview mirror as it entered the roadway in a few long strides, paused in a hunched posture over the carcass, and retreated quickly when another car approached. He was shaken and later wondered if the figure could have been a sasquatch, but states he cannot identify what he saw.

Partial sightingSilhouetteOdor
10 October 1976 Danville, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Class A #30462

Witness remembers several incidents including a close encounter on a dark road near Danville

The witness and a companion were walking down an overgrown abandoned road at night to collect cans for money. The witness swept a light across the road and saw a dark broad figure step into the trail about 10 feet away and stand looking at them. After a couple seconds the witness shouted and ran, while the figure did not approach.

Full-body sighting
November 1973 Buchanan, Botetourt County, Virginia Class A #18623

Memory told of an early morning encounter with hairy biped near Buchanan

After bedding down in an open three-sided shelter, the witness awoke around midnight to a strong odor and saw a tall hairy bipedal silhouette backlit by the campfire. The figure urinated onto the adjacent occupant's sleeping bag before stepping off the shelter floor and leaving. The group then left the isolated shelter for a more populated campground nearby.

SilhouetteFull-body sightingOdorProperty disturbance
Summer 1973 Springfield, Newington Forrest, Fairfax County, Virginia Class A #23400

Upright creature crosses road in the path of a car near Newington Forest

In summer 1973 the witness was driving on Pohick Road with her children in the evening when a tall hair-covered bipedal creature stepped into the road in front of her car. It stopped two to three yards from the hood, turned toward the headlights and stared for a few moments. It then crossed to the shoulder in one stride with a smooth gait and went into the woods.

Partial sightingRoad crossing
September 1970 Strasburg, Shenandoah County, Virginia Class A #24569

A couple remembers their daylight sighting while driving thru the Shenandoah National Park many years ago

A couple driving west over Skyline Drive in the morning saw a large hairy biped running toward the road. The driver slowed as the creature crossed about 10 feet in front of the car, continued past the car, then went up a steep embankment into dense foliage and out of sight. The witnesses said it ran on two legs the entire time, never slowed, and ignored them.

Full-body sightingRoad crossing
15 May 1970 PURCELLVILLE VA, Loudoun County, Virginia Class A #35477

Memory told of a nighttime sighting while joy riding on train tracks near Purcellville

In May 1970 the witness and a companion were riding in a Jeep along railroad tracks at night. About 70 to 100 yards ahead, a large bipedal hair-covered creature crossed the tracks in a few steps. The pair stopped, then reversed quickly to leave the area.

Full-body sightingRoad crossing
July 1957 Quantico VA, Prince William County, Virginia Class A #679

Marine had late night sighting on military base in Quantico

The witness was on night guard duty at a Marine camp when a dog walking with them began barking. The witness looked up and saw a tall figure covered in light-brown hair standing nearby that did not move when encouraged to chase it. After the witness chambered a round in a rifle, the figure ran away on two legs and was not seen again.

Full-body sighting
BFRO YEAR: 1970? Clarksville, Mecklenburg County, Virginia Class A #7392

Youth catches standing figure in flashlight glow during camp-out

Around May 1970 the witness was camping with family at a lakeside campground and lay awake in a tent near midnight. After hearing trash being disturbed, the witness stepped out barefoot with a flashlight and saw a small upright furry creature looking into a hanging trash bag. The creature turned, made a squeal-grunt cry, and dashed away while the witness ran shouting to wake relatives. No tracks were found afterward because the area was trampled.

Full-body sightingVocalizationProperty disturbance