Search results

15 encounters
July 2013 Estacada, Clackamas County, Oregon Class B #41709

Possible activity experienced by campers at a popular campground in the Mount Hood National Forest

The witness and two companions camped in the Mt Hood National Forest with a barrel of animal entrails intended as bait. Over three days they reported loud screams from a nearby ridge, nighttime wood knocks, heavy steps and snapping twigs, and found their camp table apparently bitten through. They moved the bait pile away from camp, later found most of it missing with a wet sweet dog-like odor at the site.

ScreamVocalizationWood knockFootstepsMovement only +3
17 July 2004 Cottage Grove, Lane County, Oregon Class B #9020

Camping family has auditory and olfactory encounter in early evening southeast of Dorena Lake

A witness camping with two relatives heard repeated whoop sounds and felt watched during an early-evening hike, then ran back to camp. Overnight the group heard heavy slow footsteps outside the tent, and around 4 a.m. noticed a strong foul dirty-animal odor. By morning the tent and tarp were found marked with a strong urine-like smell, and the tarp was left behind.

WhoopFootstepsOdorProperty disturbance
9 September 2001 Grande Rhonde, Polk County, Oregon Class B #3064

Bowhunter finds twisted trees, tracks, scat, & unusual sounds

The witness was bow-hunting in coastal second-growth forest on the morning of 9/1/01. He heard whooping and scream-like vocalizations followed by a large tree falling, plus heavy footsteps, and later found large ground impressions, broken limbs and tops, and animal hair high on a tree. An investigator later reviewed photos of broken and twisted trees and received frozen scat and hair samples for examination.

WhoopScreamUnidentified soundFootstepsTracks +5
June 2000 Molalla, Clackamas County, Oregon Class B #85

16 year old has strange experience walking home

A teenager was walking a short distance between two houses on family property around midnight. He heard a loud thump nearby followed by sounds he interpreted as bipedal footsteps moving toward him. He ran to his house, locked the door, and stayed inside to calm down. He later recalled a musky smell in the area at the time.

FootstepsOdor
August 1998 Klamath Falls, Klamath County, Oregon Class B #455

Squaw Lake fisherman followed. Unrecognized stench, knocking, and high pitch howl heard while fishing along lake shore

The witness hiked into a wilderness lake to fish from the shore. While fishing, the witness noticed a very foul odor, then heard sounds like something striking a tree, followed by a high-pitched howling/scream-like sound and more tree-striking sounds. Feeling watched and unnerved, the witness left the area, and on the trail out noticed fresh broken branches on a pine tree.

OdorWood knockHowlScreamTree break
Fall 1998 Pilot Rock, Umatilla County, Oregon Class B #31488

Woman describes possible encounter while elk hunting near Pilot Rock

The witness and a relative were waiting in dense brush while bugling for elk when they heard approaching knocking, rustling and vocal sounds and noticed a strong unpleasant odor. They left the hiding spot as crashing sounds followed them uphill. Other members of the hunting party later said they had seen a figure walking on the hill where the pair had not been. The group later returned to the site and found unusual scat.

Wood knockVocalizationGrowlMovement onlyOdor +2
15 September 1995 Grand Ronde, Polk County, Oregon Class B #25907

Two archery hunters recall a strong smell and find large tracks near Grand Ronde

Two companions bowhunted for elk and hiked out after dark toward their truck parked behind a locked gate. Along the ridge and back to the road they repeatedly noticed a moldy, musky odor and felt as if they were being watched. Near the truck they found very large human-like footprints, about 16 inches long, overlying their own earlier tire tracks. They saw no live animal and left quickly.

OdorTracks
2 August 1993 Clackamas County, Oregon Class B #657

A man and woman report smelling a strange, powerful odor while on a forest road late at night

The witness and a companion reported smelling a strong indescribable odor while in the Cascade Mountains in the early morning. The companion reportedly fell asleep for about 30 minutes after smelling it. No creature was seen and no other encounter details were described.

Odor
June 1991 Douglas County, Oregon Class B #668

Two hikers witness large brown creature moving quickly through understory near Fish Mountain

The witness was hiking with a companion and two dogs in the morning when a large brown shape was seen moving quickly through dense understory. The dogs chased it for a few minutes and came back frightened, with one running all the way back to shelter. The witness reported a strong musty odor, unusual height and quietness of the object, and a securely tied tarp on one dog returning loosened to one knot.

Partial sightingOdor
July 1980 Silverton, Marion County, Oregon Class B #7642

Two men find rockpiles, nest at Abiqua River

The witness accompanied an older relative to watch fly fishing along a river. The relative pointed out stacked rock piles and later led the witness to a spot among trees described as a den, containing packed branches, reddish-brown hair tufts, feathers, and a strong decay-like odor. No creature was seen during the visit, and the identification as a den reflected the relative's interpretation.

Structure or nestHairOdor
July 1978 Cave Junction, Josephine County, Oregon Class B #6724

Two young campers have frightful, dawn encounter near Cave Junction

Two sisters sleeping in a tent trailer awoke early in the morning to scratching on the bottom, top and sides of their bunk. When they unzipped a window they smelled a strong foul odor and saw dark brown fur pressed against the mesh. They woke their parents, but whatever was there was gone by the time the parents went outside.

Partial sightingOdorProperty disturbance
1 September 1974 Clackamas County, Oregon Class B #655

A camper reports a foul odor and unusual sounds at 2:30 am, then finds numerous tracks at day break

The witness was sleeping at a sandy riverside camp when dogs barked then became frightened and quiet. With eyes kept shut, the witness heard something walking in the water, noticed a strong urine-like odor, and felt something brush their hair during an encounter lasting several minutes. At daybreak, very large foot-like indentations were found in dry and wet sand around the sleeping area, campfire and tent.

FootstepsOdorTracks
July 1970 Troutdale, Multnomah County, Oregon Class B #13037

Possible nest nest and food remains found by retired soldier near the Sandy River

In mid-summer 1970 the witness was driving along the Sandy River looking for a place to target shoot when he found saplings snapped off with the tops formed into a large bedding area. Nearby were several freshly gutted rabbits, a death-like smell, and unusually silent woods. He left to find a ranger station and returned with a ranger who photographed the site, after which both described themselves as becoming believers.

Structure or nestTree breakOdor
Summer 1968 Estacata, Hood River County, Oregon Class B #5816

Nighttime encounter by a worker at a logging site

In summer 1968 the witness was working alone at night installing radio equipment on a yarder at a remote logging landing in Oregon. After dark he felt watched and twice saw bright eyes, the second time discerning a large wide black shape about 20 feet away, accompanied by a repulsive odor. He left the site for the night and returned at daylight, finding no footprints. The next morning a crew member showed him heavy barrels that had been moved, which the witness associated with the animal.

Partial sightingEyeshineOdor
BFRO YEAR: 1979-80 Douglas County, Oregon Class B #2274

Late night up-close encounter in the Umpqua Nat'l Forest near Toketee Falls

The witness and a companion were sleeping on the ground at camp while deer hunting after forgetting tent poles. During the night the witness felt fingers touching his beard and smelled a strong odor. After he sat up and shouted, something large moved away through brush on two legs making loud leaf-crunching noise. No tracks were found with a flashlight, and the witness later concluded it was a Bigfoot.

OdorFootstepsMovement onlyAnimal behaviour