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11 encounters
June 2012 Durbin, Pocahontas County, West Virginia Class B #36700

Lone hiker wakes to rock clacks and heavy foot falls on the Allegheny Trail near Durbin

The witness camped overnight in a tent at a shelter along the Allegheny Trail. At dawn he was awakened by stones clacking together that moved back and forth north to south for an extended period. Shortly after the clacking stopped, he felt and heard heavy footsteps approach from behind the shelter and step on a plastic tarp beside it. He shouted from inside the tent, after which he heard no further movement.

Unidentified soundFootsteps
1 November 2010 Brandywine, Pendleton County, West Virginia Class B #30154

Turkey hunters hear possible howl and bipedal steps approach their camp near Brandywine

The witness and two companions hiked into rugged forest to camp overnight for turkey hunting. Late at night they heard a prolonged unfamiliar howl, and a few hours later heard slow heavy footsteps approach within feet of their tent before withdrawing when spoken to. The next morning they found a large scat pile uphill and then left the area.

HowlFootstepsScat
July 2009 Iaeger,, McDowell County, West Virginia Class B #26354

Rural residents describe loud vocalizations and strange incidents near Iaeger

The witness was sitting on the front porch late at night when he heard a loud scream at a distance, followed later by crashing brush and a series of loud moans, growls and howls from across the road. He judged the vocalizations as extremely powerful and unlike any known animal and inferred the source was very large. He went inside and locked the doors.

ScreamVocalizationGrowlHowlFootsteps
15 October 2008 Huntington, Wayne County, West Virginia Class B #28382

Possible activity outside a residence near Lavalette

The witness and a relative were sitting on a hill near outbuildings watching a hollow at night when a passing car's lights revealed a tall standing figure below them. The figure turned toward them, and after the car passed they heard breathing and running coming uphill toward them. Both fled to the nearby house and heard nothing further that night.

SilhouetteMovement onlyFootstepsUnidentified sound
January 2007 Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia Class B #17449

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.

HowlScreamFootstepsTree break
September 2005 Philippi, Barbour County, West Virginia Class B #13141

Possible vocalizations heard by camper near Tygart Valley River

The witness spent the summer camping in a tent in a meadow while working away from home. On many nights he was awakened after midnight by repeated long moaning sounds and at times heard walking sounds near camp, but a flashlight search revealed nothing. He also reported occasionally hearing wood knocks and bipedal footsteps trailing him along the woodline, with the source staying hidden behind vegetation.

VocalizationFootstepsWood knockPossible misidentification
30 October 2004 Marlinton, Pocahontas County, West Virginia Class B #14739

Possible vocalization and stalking near Spruce Flat

The witness and a companion were walking along a road late at night when they heard a strange drawn-out hoot-like vocalization and heavy footsteps approaching through a field. The unseen source circled around them in the dark, vocalized again, and reportedly knocked down an old barbed-wire fence ahead of them. The pair never saw the source of the sounds.

VocalizationFootstepsProperty disturbance
June 2001 Milton, Cabell County, West Virginia Class B #2786

On-going encounters makes rural family cautious

In June 2001 the witness's children discovered large footprints in the field behind the family mobile home and photographed them. About a week later the children heard something running across the hillside while playing at the creek, and the family dog chased it and later returned covered in slime. The children later encountered large rocks rolling toward them on the hill, and the witness heard a loud prolonged growl, with a horrible unidentified odor lingering after the hillside activity.

TracksFootstepsRock throwingGrowlOdor
11 October 1996 Circleville, Pendleton County, West Virginia Class B #13122

Possible repeat approaches outside Circleville

The witness and a companion were working for about a month at a remote camp near Spruce Knob. On one night by the campfire the witness heard low vocal sounds and three grunts directly behind him. Both men yelled and ran toward the woods, hearing something large moving away through the trees but seeing nothing when a flashlight was used.

VocalizationGrowlFootstepsMovement only
10 August 1990 Holden, Logan County, West Virginia Class B #16228

Possible sighting by a security guard at strip mine outside Holden

The witness was working an overnight security shift at a strip mine when he heard movement in brush behind the trailer. Shining a flashlight, he saw a large bipedal animal squatting behind a thicket that covered its face with huge hands before running away. About half an hour later he heard a chilling scream from inside the locked trailer, and he left the mountain for good that night.

Partial sightingScreamFootsteps
1988–2003 Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia Class B #15475

Hunter describes being paralleled along railroad tracks northeast of Morgantown

While hunting alone along railroad tracks in late fall, the witness heard rustling and then footsteps paralleling his movement through the woods. The source kept pace at a distance, stopping when he stopped and moving when he moved, with heavy footfalls and loud branch breaking. It followed him to the edge of an open field near his parked truck. He never saw the source and called out without reply.

FootstepsUnidentified soundAnimal behaviour