Search results
Daylight sighting by fisherman 6 crow miles NE of Elkins
The witness was wading and trout fishing at a fork with a wooded island when a twig snap drew attention to the island. About 60 yards away, a very tall dark figure stood facing the witness then quickly turned and walked away bipedally downstream out of view, apparently carrying a large staff-like piece of wood. The witness reported freezing with fear, being unarmed, and leaving the area immediately.
Possible vocalizations heard from the Bear Heaven Campground east of Elkins
The witness spent the night alone in the cab of his truck at Bear Heaven campground without a tent or fire. Around 3 a.m. a loud double whoop was heard from very close range, followed after a pause by a second similar call. A fainter similar call was heard answering from a distance. The source was not seen.
Hiking couple has brief sighting, then hears primate vocals, then sees tree shaking, in Otter Creek Wilderness
A couple hiking in the Otter Creek Wilderness became disoriented after several hours. They noticed a large dark silhouette on a ridge about 100 yards away, then heard monkey-like sounds for about 30 seconds and saw a tall thin tree violently shaken. They interpreted the displays as threatening and quickly left the area.
Possible nighttime encounter while raccoon hunting outside Valley Head
Two people training a hound at night saw bluish-green eyes watching them from about 40 yards away in the woods. They approached the spot, found nothing, then on returning to the road saw the eyes again along with a second taller orange-red pair. Both pairs stared without apparent fear while the dog barked, then appeared to follow the truck for about half a mile as the witnesses drove away.
Possible vocalizations heard by backpackers in Otter Creek Wilderness
The witness and two companions were backpacking and camping in a wilderness area, working to start a fire at dusk when the witness and one companion heard a loud, long howl-like scream repeated three times from far up a hollow. The witness judged it unlike any known local animal call. Later that night after the fire burned down, the witness alone heard loud stomping and large branches snapping near the creek close to camp for a few minutes.
Possible whoops heard in logging area outside the Monongahela National Forest
The witness, a wildlife biology student surveying songbird nests in a clear-cut, heard a very loud repetitive whooping from a ridge about 100 yards above for 3 to 4 minutes. The witness scanned with binoculars but saw nothing, then hiked to the ridgetop about 10 minutes later and found it unusually quiet with game trails. The witness later concluded the sound matched an archival whoop recording and was not a known bird.
Family hears possible vocals on summer nights at their home near Dolly Sods Wilderness Area
The witness arrived home late at night and got out of the parked vehicle. Immediately after the car door closed, an extremely loud scream was heard from near the uphill tree line about 100 feet away. The witness ran inside, retrieved a shotgun and floodlight, and watched from inside the screen door but saw nothing and found no sign.