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10 encounters
5 November 2022 Lewiston, Trinity County, California Class B #79360

Fisherman hears heavy wood knocks 1 mile below Trinity Dam

The witness was fishing alone at Lewiston Lake on a foggy, drizzly morning. Between 8:05 and 8:08am the witness heard one loud distant wood-on-wood knock from above, followed about a minute later by two more solid knocks in close succession. No source was seen.

Wood knock
October 2019 Julian, San Diego County, California Class B #63560

Whoops and knocks at campground near Julian

While camping near town, the reporter waited outside a restroom before dawn and heard a loud tree knock from the north. Shortly after returning to the trailer, the reporter and a companion heard a single whoop from the east, followed by a brief burst of calling jays. Later that morning the group heard additional knocks and whoops from the west, southeast, and south.

Wood knockWhoop
30 September 2015 Lee Vining, Mono County, California Class B #49896

Possible encounter at night by hunters camping at Virginia Lakes

A family was camped in a trailer near a treeline with a deer carcass stored nearby. During the night the family was awakened by rocks hitting the trailer, knocking sounds, growls, screams and whoops. The witness later went outside with a flashlight and saw a single glowing red eye high in the treeline. In the morning stacked rocks were gone, footprints were found, and a large pine by the carcass had been pushed over.

Rock throwingWood knockGrowlScreamWhoop +3
22 July 2012 Pine Valley Ca, San Diego County, California Class B #36070

Possible knocks and chatter at Burnt Rancherias Campground, Laguna Mountain

The witness was camping with his wife and sister-in-law when he was awakened around 3:14 a.m. to accompany his wife to the restroom. While preparing to leave the tent he heard 4 or 5 loud wood-knock-like sounds spaced a few seconds apart, followed by faint voice-like gibberish with grunts. His sister-in-law later confirmed she also heard the knocking sounds.

Wood knockVocalization
August 2008 Idyllwild, Riverside County, California Class B #24644

Camper hear knocks and camp stalking at Marion Mountain Campground

The witness awoke in his tent around 4:50am to a loud knock like wood hitting a tree trunk, followed by very heavy bipedal footsteps moving uphill through a ravine and across the campground. He heard branches breaking, a rock-like object thrown against a tree near his tent, dogs whimpering, and crickets falling silent. He unzipped his tent window as a neighboring camper emerged to quiet her dogs, after which the footsteps stopped.

Wood knockFootstepsRock throwing
29 July 2007 Mineral, Tehama County, California Class B #23030

Possible vocalizations heard by campers near Eagle Lake

A couple camping with their children woke around 3 a.m. to repeated loud, deep yells lasting several seconds each. About 10-15 minutes later they heard an extremely loud bang from a nearby hill that sounded like wood striking a large tree. Other campers nearby reacted with alarm and left early the next morning, while the host suggested sirens.

HowlWood knock
16 November 2003 Orleans, Humboldt County, California Class B #7452

Campers Hear Unusual Evening Sounds

Two campers spent a rainy night at a campground after noticing a skunk-like odor on arrival. Through the night they heard ape-like hoots, single-note whistles, repeated wood-on-wood whacks from several directions, heavy two-legged footsteps, and nearby rockslides. They saw nothing in the dark and left the next morning, noting the steep bowl-shaped hillside could carry sounds from far uphill.

VocalizationWood knockFootstepsWhistleOdor
September 2002 Oroville, Butte County, California Class B #4917

Campers hear late night "banging" near Oroville

The witness and four companions camped overnight at Feather Falls campground and went to sleep around 1 AM. Sometime later while still dark, the witness heard rhythmic banging like a large branch struck against tree trunks from two separate distant locations, with patterns repeated back and forth and never overlapping. Companions who heard the sounds attributed them to a woodpecker, which the witness doubted because of the nighttime hour and irregular intervals. No vocalizations were heard.

Wood knock
16 April 2002 Sunland, Los Angeles County, California Class B #14953

Possible intimidation in the late afternoon reported by hikers in the Big Tujunga Canyon area

Two hikers returning up a dry creek bed in late afternoon smelled a strong foul odor and noticed a dead squirrel placed over a boot print. From a short distance away they heard loud banging like wood striking trees, saw treetops swaying, then heard very loud groaning and screaming vocalizations. The sounds paused while they walked away and resumed when they stopped, until they left the area.

Wood knockScreamGrowlOdorMovement only
1978–1979 Leggett, Mendocino County, California Class B #4182

Hiker finds an “A” frame type of nest in the Mammoth Lakes area

The witness, his mother, younger brother, and dog were hiking a trail while camping in a Mendocino County state park. They heard something moving parallel to them, then heard loud wooden knocks followed by a loud guttural huff from near a tree. Without seeing the source, they ran back to camp.

Wood knockGrowlUnidentified sound