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122 encounters
June 2009 Seneca, Grundy County, Illinois Class A #28936

Daytime sighting by a motorist east of Seneca

In summer 2009, the witness was driving along a road bordered by woods in the late afternoon. A tall dark creature crossed the road ahead into an old tree farm entrance in three steps at a casual pace. The witness stopped at the entrance but the animal was gone, leaving a strong musky animal odor.

Road crossingFull-body sightingOdor
8 April 2009 Godfrey, Madison County, Illinois Class A #25809

Resident has recent daylight sighting while retrieving cattle near Godfrey

The witness was walking through heavily wooded hills looking for a relative's escaped cows on a clear sunny morning. After stopping to rest, the witness looked east and saw a large, shaggy, man-like figure covered in long black hair moving north and breaking tree limbs as it walked. The figure continued up and over a hill without looking toward the witness.

Full-body sighting
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
8 November 2008 Girard, Macoupin County, Illinois Class A #25273

Possible sighting, wood knocks and vocalizations west of Girard

The witness described living at a wooded property for about a year with repeated nighttime disturbances. On one occasion in heavy fog the witness saw a large dark bipedal shape, later estimated at about seven feet tall and very muscular. The sighting occurred amid other reported howls, tree knocks, and signs of activity around the house and woods.

Silhouette
28 September 2008 Taylorville, Christian County, Illinois Class A #28703

Motorist has daylight sighting southwest of Taylorville

A woman driving in the afternoon reported a very large hairy creature emerging from a ditch beside the highway. It crossed the road in front of her car, stepped over a guardrail easily, and walked into nearby timber. The animal was described as tall and powerfully built, walking at a normal pace without acknowledging the vehicle.

Full-body sightingRoad crossing
19 September 2008 Mount Vernon, Washington County, Illinois Class A #24766

On-going activity experienced by a family east of St. Louis

The witness and a relative were wood-knocking in the backyard at night. After the witness knocked five times, they heard a high-pitched chatter from one direction and a grumbling sound from another direction for about a minute. Additional knocking produced no further response that evening.

ChatterGrowl
September 2008 Algonquin, McHenry County, Illinois Class A #32400

Jogger has daylight sighting on Prairie Trail near Algonquin

The witness was jogging north on a prairie trail in daylight when they saw a large furry figure walking ahead with its back to them. As they approached, the figure looked larger and hair-covered, then went around a bend near a stream and retention pond. The witness continued ahead but found no one on the trail, and on the return looked into a dark opening by a fence near the water before leaving.

Full-body sighting
25 August 2008 Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois Class A #36571

Dusk sighting in a backyard near Edwardsville

At dusk the witness heard a weed-eater-like whirling sound from the woods behind the backyard and walked back to investigate. He saw a dark figure sitting with its back to him that stood up, gathered something to its chest, and quickly left into the woods. He described the figure as female, about six feet tall, about 30 yards away.

Full-body sightingVocalizationAnimal behaviour
23 May 2008 Otterville, Jersey County, Illinois Class A #29265

Motorists have sighting at night near Otterville

The witness was driving at night with a relative as passenger when an entity ran from a field onto the road in front of the car. The witness described seeing it at very close range in the headlights as it crossed and then ran up a steep embankment without slowing. Both occupants reportedly agreed it did not appear human.

Full-body sightingRoad crossing
5 May 2008 Taylorville, Christian County, Illinois Class A #28899

Father and son have daylight sighting on Illinois Rt 48 near Taylorville

The witness was traveling by vehicle with a parent toward Taylorville in late morning. The parent reacted to something ahead, and the witness then saw a very tall upright animal cross the road, step over a guard rail, and disappear under a bridge. A dog in the vehicle reacted to a smell at the time. Neither occupant saw the animal's face.

Full-body sightingRoad crossing
May 2008 Rozetta, Henderson County, Illinois Class A #23949

Turkey hunter has early morning sighting near Rozetta

The witness was turkey hunting in heavy hilly forest at daybreak when branches breaking drew attention. The witness watched a large hairy figure with long arms and a hunched back travel down a draw until it disappeared into the woods. The figure was estimated at 7 to 8 feet tall, very muscular, seen from about 100 yards in low light.

Full-body sighting
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
27 October 2007 Princeville, Peoria County, Illinois Class A #28429

Deer hunter has sighting at dusk near Jubilee College State Park

The witness was resting on a log while deer hunting when a tall figure crossed through a clearing about 120 yards away. The figure did not look at the witness and walked quickly out of sight. The witness was alone after splitting from three hunting companions who did not see it.

Full-body sighting
27 October 2007 Carlyle, Clinton County, Illinois Class A #24997

Hiker has nighttime sighting near Carlyle

Late at night the witness walked up a slight incline from a riverbank through timber and heard a loud scream from the east. The witness then watched an animal drop from a tree about six to eight feet up, land on its hind legs, take a few upright steps, then move to all fours and run quickly into the treeline. The witness fled toward the highway. The animal was described as large, muscular and fur-covered, tan or light brown in the moonlight.

Full-body sightingScream
November 2006 Rock Falls, Whiteside County, Illinois Class A #44649

Memory told of a daytime sighting on a farm south of Rock Falls

In late morning in November 2006 the witness was walking a dog with a companion on a farm with cornfield and pine grove. The witness looked up and saw an upright honey-brown figure standing sideways with its head down, banging large rocks together. The companion did not see it, and when the witness looked back the figure was gone. The witness became frightened and asked to turn back.

Full-body sightingAnimal behaviour
16 October 2006 Sorento, Bond County, Illinois Class A #23395

Deer hunters have close sighting along Dry Fork Creek

The witness was hunting with two young companions and entered the woods to track a wounded deer. They heard pounding on a tree, thrashing and shaking of vegetation, and screaming/squealing sounds, and encountered a very foul rotting-meat odor that was strong near the truck. A young companion reportedly saw a black, hairy, muscular animal about six feet tall descend from a tree and shake brush, though the face could not be seen.

Wood knockPartial sightingScreamOdor
26 August 2006 Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois Class A #28534

Runner has sighting near home south of Jacksonville

The witness was out running in the evening to get in shape and stopped at a road. He saw a very tall, dark brown, muscular figure standing in the road watching him, saying he could see its whole body but was too far away to identify it. He estimated it was close to nine feet tall and then turned around and went home.

Full-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
8 June 2006 Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois Class A #14872

Nighttime sighting and possible footprints found by homeowner near Edwardsville

The witness was pulling into the driveway late at night when she saw a tall grayish figure standing near a bush about 10 feet away in street light. The submitter, her husband, was at the residence and was not a witness. Around the time of the sighting night sounds became quiet and still for about 10 minutes and a dog refused to go outside, then sounds returned to normal.

Full-body sighting
Fall 2006 Mt.Zion, Macon County, Illinois Class A #23104

Motorist and son observe road crossing near Spitler Woods State Park

The witness was driving home at night with her mother after dropping off a friend. A tall, broad animal covered in brownish-red hair ran across the road about thirty feet ahead, crossing in a few steps over about five seconds. Both occupants observed long arms, long straggly hair and red eyeshine, but no facial features.

Road crossingFull-body sightingEyeshine