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20 encounters
February 2018 Lyndon, Whiteside County, Illinois Class B #71815

Law enforcement officers find and follow fresh snow tracks 33 miles NE of Moline

After midnight an on-duty officer searching for a stolen snowmobile along a river heard loud crashing and heavy running in a treeline. He then found large human-like footprints in snow, with two larger sets and one smaller set, showing a long stride and signs of running. He and two deputies photographed the tracks and interpreted the trail as individuals scouting, pausing, and circling before leaving, then withdrew from the area.

FootstepsTracks
12 November 2015 Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois Class B #55144

Hunter describes strange encounters and finds a possible footprint near Kickapoo State Park

The witness was bowhunting deer alone from a tree stand in the evening and shot a buck. While climbing down and tracking the deer in near-dark, the witness heard loud screaming-growling noises, smelled a strong pungent odor, and saw a huge silhouette about 30 yards away on a hillside. The witness left the woods while still hearing the noises and returned the next morning to find the blood trail ended with no deer.

ScreamGrowlSilhouetteOdor
10 June 2015 St. Clair County, Illinois Class B #50967

Possible footprints found east of Belleville near Illinois Route 4

The witness was walking through woods near a river toward a field used for searching for artifacts in the evening. They heard loud crashing described as something moving fast and hard and breaking limbs. They then found several footprints in mud left after rain, one of which was photographed and measured.

Unidentified soundTracks
19 January 2015 Bedford Park, Cook County, Illinois Class B #47720

Possible footprints in the snow found in Bedford Park (with photos)

The witness was performing pest control service when they found a trail of large prints with toe impressions in snow. They took photos and video and tried to follow the trail until it ended where there was no snow. They did not see the maker of the prints. A follow-up phone call recorded estimates of 18 inches long by 8 inches wide with five toes and short steps.

Tracks
27 December 2014 Plainview, Macoupin County, Illinois Class B #47412

Motorist has possible night time sighting near Plainview

Late at night the witness was driving home near a wildlife area when headlights revealed a large bipedal figure beside the treeline about 15-20 feet from the road. The figure appeared to be walking away into the trees showing its back, and when the witness stopped the headlights had moved past it so nothing could be seen. The witness then left the area alone.

Full-body sighting
16 December 2013 Hettick, Macoupin County, Illinois Class B #43319

Possible sighting by a motorist near Hettick

The witness was driving on a rural road in the evening when a large dark hairy quadruped resembling a bear was seen standing in a field beside the car. The animal reportedly kicked a back leg, turned to look at the witness, and remained standing. The witness later returned with a camera and photographed footprints in the snow, and noted a dead deer carcass nearby.

Full-body sightingTracks
10 March 2013 Beach Park, Lake County, Illinois Class B #40314

Homeowner finds possible footprints near Beach Park

The witness was in the process of buying a vacant house and found a line of large barefoot-like impressions in snow and mud along the side of the garage toward the backyard. The prints showed toes, deep toe depression and a short stride close to the building, and were photographed with the witness's shoe for scale. The witness reported seeing only incoming tracks and requested review of the photos, noting doubt about a hoax due to the secluded location.

Tracks
23 January 2012 Albany, Whiteside County, Illinois Class B #33264

Photos taken of possible footprints found on rural property near Albany

The witness and spouse found two distinct sets of human-like bare footprints in snow near their home on a clear mid-morning. One set measured about 10 inches long and the other about 12 inches long, with clearly visible toes. Photos were taken and the spouse followed the prints for several hundred yards.

Tracks
7 September 2011 Midlothian, Cook County, Illinois Class B #30601

Possible vocalization and footprint found near Bachelors Grove Cemetery

The witness and a companion visited Bachelor's Grove in the afternoon to check structures described in a prior report. They observed hand-made tree pyramids, an X, and an arch, heard a siren-like sound and faint mumbling voices, and saw no unknown animals. After the companion left, the witness found a large old footprint with visible toes and additional faint impressions forming a long-stride trackway.

TracksStructure or nestUnidentified soundVocalization
14 August 2011 Peoria County, Illinois Class B #30510

Possible footprint found near Peoria

The witness was walking along a creek bed in heavily wooded terrain when they found a very large footprint with five distinct toes. After photographing it with makeshift scale items, they heard movement and a large branch being twisted on the hillside and left the woods. An investigator later visited the site with the witness and summarized the track as a 17-inch-long left-foot impression.

TracksMovement onlyTwist
2 August 2011 Olive Branch, Alexander County, Illinois Class B #40474

Hunter finds a possible footprint near Olive Branch

The witness arrived at a hunting area well before dawn and waited in the car, noticing a chill and a faint skunky musky odor. After sunrise he walked to a pond and then east along a fire access road, where he found a single very fresh footprint with visible toes in the dust of a turkey scratch. He photographed the track beside his boot, but wind erased the dust detail by the next day.

TracksOdor
28 June 2011 Glenarm, Sangamon County, Illinois Class B #32634

Two paranormal investigators find possible evidence at Cumberland Sugar Creek Cemetery

Two paranormal investigators visited a rural pioneer cemetery late at night for a walkthrough after hearing about recent rock throwing and large tracks nearby. Near an opening in the fence at the southeast corner they found three large barefoot footprints in soft clay leading away from the cemetery and photographed them with a cell phone. About 75 feet away they noted a small tree that had been snapped and bent over outside the fence. They left after about an hour without seeing any animal or person.

TracksTree break
16 June 2011 Glenarm, Sangamon County, Illinois Class B #31062

Possible footprint found near the Sugar Creek Covered Bridge

A relative reported finding a large footprint in mud in woods near a creek. The print was described as 18 inches long and 8 inches wide with plainly visible toes. An investigator visited the area days later but recent rain had erased the imprint.

Tracks
3 May 2011 Metropolis, Massac County, Illinois Class B #29227

Possible footprints found near Metropolis

A family visiting their newly purchased wooded property for a picnic found a large bare footprint on a mowed slope. The witness's spouse spotted the print after the witness had walked over it without noticing. The witness then found two additional partial impressions nearby and a strange stick structure behind the cabin, which were photographed with scale and measurements.

TracksStructure or nest
4 January 2011 Winfield, Du Page County, Illinois Class B #28679

Hiker finds possible footprints in Timber Ridge Forest Preserve (w/photos)

The witness was hiking on a new gravel path through a forest preserve at lunchtime. In wet crushed gravel that preserved other footprints, the witness noticed bare footprints about 13 inches long with five toes that appeared deeper than shoe prints and traced them back to thick grass. The witness photographed the prints with a glove for scale and found the step distance too long to comfortably match.

Tracks
5 May 2010 Princeville, Peoria County, Illinois Class B #27692

Mushroom hunter hears vocalizations and finds footprints near Jubilee College State Park

The witness was hunting with a dog on a sunny afternoon when the dog became agitated and a strong odor was noticed. The witness heard grunt-like noises followed twice by a loud scream or yell, plus cracking and movement in trees and brush, while the dog returned frightened with raised hair. After driving to a more open area across a shallow creek, the witness found two very large barefoot-like footprints that seemed too large and out of place to be human.

VocalizationScreamOdorTracksMovement only
24 September 2009 Kappa, Woodford County, Illinois Class B #26874

Possible footprints found near Mackinaw River

The witness was building a house near the Mackinaw River and searching the disturbed mud for arrowheads. Beginning in late September, they noticed bare footprints in the mud larger than their own size 13 foot, including during cold weather. The follow-up clarified a total of three prints estimated at about 14 inches long and 6 inches wide without actual measurement, with photos too unclear to publish. The witness doubted anyone would walk barefoot in cold mud at a construction site.

Tracks
6 October 2005 Pekin, Tazewell County, Illinois Class B #12836

Family hears vocalizations and finds footprints in their backyard east of Pekin

The witness's brother was sleeping in a tent in the yard and woke around 12:30 a.m. feeling uneasy after hearing something outside. He looked around the tent, saw nothing, and went inside the house to sleep on the couch. The next morning very large footprints were found right outside the tent in wet sand and were photographed.

TracksUnidentified sound
14 June 2003 Franklin Grove, Lee County, Illinois Class B #11121

Hikers find large footprint along Franklin Creek

The witness and companion were hiking in the Franklin Creek area when they found a large footprint by the creek about two miles from the parking lot. They had to leave to return before dark and heavy rain. The creek later flooded and washed the print away.

Tracks
26 September 1998 Vandalia, Fayette County, Illinois Class B #18059

Possible footprints found five miles east of Vandalia

The witness and a companion were walking a foot path around a lake in a small park. They found two large footprints crossing the path from the lake side into the woods and photographed them. The area was unusually quiet and the witness recalled feeling as if they were being watched.

Tracks