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7 encounters
6 September 2016 Marlinton, Pocahontas County, West Virginia Class B #55554

Possible sighting by motorists half mile from Cranberry Mountain Nature Center

The witness and a companion were driving south on a scenic highway in the evening, stopping for views and photos. They noticed a furry figure in tall roadside weeds ahead and continued driving toward it. As they closed to about 80-100 feet, the figure turned with a crouch, jumped up the bank using a branch, and vanished silently into the woods. They estimated its height at about 7 to 7.5 feet from weed height relative to their truck and described brown to brown-gold fur.

Partial sighting
November 2012 Franklin, Pendleton County, West Virginia Class B #37565

Hunters hear possible vocalizations, large head seen peeking from behind boulders near Franklin

On the afternoon of opening day, the witness climbed toward a treestand set among boulders and thick vegetation. From the boulders behind him he heard a growl and rock-clashing sounds, then saw a large dark head and shoulders duck behind a boulder. He backed away to about 100 yards while watching, saw it peek out and hide again, then left the area.

Partial sightingGrowlUnidentified sound
July 2012 Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia Class B #80146

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.

Partial sightingSilhouetteVocalizationTree break
16 July 2006 Arnoldsberg WV, Calhoun County, West Virginia Class B #15250

Possible sighting by child near home outside Arnoldsberg

A woman and a child went to a relative's house to feed a dog. The child chased the dog around the house out of sight, then screamed and ran back saying a monkey-like creature growled and ran into the woods, later adding there was a little one with its mother. The woman did not see the creature but heard movement in the brush.

Partial sightingGrowlMovement only
13 August 2002 Pennsboro, Ritchie County, West Virginia Class B #26279

Logging reveals a brief sighting of a bipedal creature near Pennsboro

In late summer 2002 the witness was walking alone on a logged ridge in the early evening and heard a tree fall nearby. Shortly after, the witness saw a very large brown figure lope between trees on the ridge, perceiving only an arm and leg and no head. Days later the witness returned and judged from the tree positions that the figure would have been seven to eight feet tall if human.

Partial sightingUnidentified sound
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
July 1975 Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia Class B #4237

Three youths have a menacing encounter near Beckley

Three boys were hiking back up a hollow after a day of fishing when they heard rustling on a logging road above them. Large boulders then came down the hillside toward them, prompting them to flee uphill. As they ran, the writer glanced back and saw a large black shape disappearing over the hillside.

Partial sightingRock throwingUnidentified sound