Search results

19 encounters
May 2026 Bergholz, Jefferson County, Ohio Class B #80158

Family is frightened from the woods by unseen creature and loud knocks near Yellow Creek

A family of four was sitting by a lake when they heard crashing and crunching of something large moving in the woods about 50 yards away. This was followed by three very loud knocks from the same area where two children had just been playing and chopping trees. The group left immediately while the adult male stood watch, and later searches found only game sign and a few possible tracks.

Wood knockFootsteps
March 2026 Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio Class B #79920

Wood knock near Ashland, Ohio (2026)

A couple hiking in a wetland preserve heard several loud wood knocks after crossing a boardwalk bridge. Later on the trail they found several large barefoot human-like tracks pressed deeply into mud, which the reporter photographed. No creature was seen and no other unusual events occurred at the time.

Wood knockTracks
September 2024 Stark/ Carroll County Line, Carroll County, Ohio Class B #78936

Wood knocks and branches thrown near strip mine ponds 9 miles southeast of Canton

The witness was fishing alone at a series of strip-mine ponds when he heard snorting, brush movement, and then loud wood-on-wood knocks that continued as he walked out. As he headed uphill to his truck he saw distant movement behind brush in dense cover. He interpreted the sounds and movement as Sasquatch warning him away, shouted that he was leaving, and drove off.

Wood knockMovement onlyFootstepsVocalization
4 April 2023 Hinckley, Medina County, Ohio Class B #75810

Distinct loud wood knock heard near Buckeye Trail -- 18 miles south of Cleveland

The witness was mushroom hunting alone on a ridgeline when they heard rustling in brush below their position. They froze and scanned but saw nothing, then heard a single sharp knock described as like a bat hitting a tree. The sound was not repeated.

Wood knockMovement only
18 June 2021 Loudonville, Ashland County, Ohio Class B #71751

Possible sighting in Mohican State Park near Loudonville

Two companions sat in a parked car in Mohican State Park after jokingly making whoop calls, then heard two tree knocks from a steep wooded slope close by. They moved to a more open picnic area where birds grew loud then suddenly stopped, a rock tumbled down a cliff, and the witness saw the left foot, leg and hip of a muscular, short black-haired animal slip behind a tree before they left.

Partial sightingWood knock
12 April 2020 Oregonia, Nearing The Ft. Ancient Area, Warren County, Ohio Class B #65393

Possible knock heard from Little Miami Bike Trail near Ft. Ancient

The witness was cycling back toward Morrow on the Little Miami Bike Trail when he heard a single loud, crisp knock from atop the hill to the east. He saw no other people on that stretch and found no obvious human or natural source for the sound. He stored the incident without seeing any animal or figure.

Wood knock
1 December 2015 Nashport, Muskingum County, Ohio Class B #50393

Two deer hunters experience a likely week-long encounter near Nashport

Two companions camped while hunting for five days near Dillon State Park. On successive nights they heard tree knocks from multiple directions, whistles, whoops, loud yells and screams that approached the camp, growling near the camper, and banging on vehicles in a nearby junkyard. By day they found numerous large human-like footprints in a shallow spillway and on a sandy bank, which they photographed with boots for scale. They reported no visual sighting but concluded the sounds and tracks were from a large, athletic creature.

Wood knockWhistleWhoopVocalizationGrowl +5
4 November 2015 Williamsburg, Clermont County, Ohio Class B #56346

Possible activity at a home south of Williamsburg

The witness was house-sitting at a friend's rural property and walking from the separate garage to the house around dusk when they heard two loud wood knocks from the woods behind the house. About a minute later they heard a close, distinctive whoop from the same area in the woods. They stayed outside several more minutes but heard nothing further.

Wood knockWhoop
December 2014 Williamsburg, Clermont County, Ohio Class B #47305

Bow hunter hears possible vocalizations and wood knocks in the East Fork Wilderness Area near Williamsburg

While hunting deer until dark, the witness heard owl-like hoots and a howl and then hit a tree with a branch to make knocks. While walking out the witness noticed bent trees and broken branches resembling a stick structure. A few minutes later two loud knocks and a drawn-out yip, also described as including a whoop, were heard from behind, after which the witness hurried back to the truck.

HowlWood knockWhoopVocalizationStructure or nest
February 2014 Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ashtabula County, Ohio Class B #44262

Possible daylight sighting by a couple at Geneva-on-the-Lake State Park

A family of four driving through Geneva State Park in daylight stopped after noticing a large dark bipedal figure moving through snowy woods. The figure was watched briefly for about ten seconds before disappearing. Shortly after from a nearby parking lot the adults made whoop calls and heard replies described as whoops, a scream or growl, and wood knocks, while also noticing a strong unpleasant odor.

Partial sightingWhoopScreamWood knockGrowl +1
17 August 2011 Mogadore, Portage County, Ohio Class B #31246

Possible nightime encounter while fishing at Mogadore Reservoir

Two companions were night fishing at a reservoir when they heard tree knocks and unfamiliar calls that seemed to get closer. They decided to leave and found one of two large catfish missing from the back of the truck, then the companion was struck in the chest by a small thrown rock. Frightened, they packed up and left quickly.

Wood knockVocalizationRock throwingProperty disturbanceMovement only
October 2010 Possibly Amanda, Fairfield County, Ohio Class B #28499

Possible bigfoot activity and interesting photos taken at Clear Creek Park

The witness was doing senior photos at a lake with two companions when rocks were repeatedly thrown into the water from across the lake, accompanied by tree knocks and limb breaking. The group took burst photos toward the sounds and then left the area. At home the witness found what he believed to be a black orangutan-faced figure holding a white object in two of the photos, plus a possible smaller shape in a tree.

Rock throwingWood knockTree breakPartial sighting
July 2010 Cambridge, Guernsey County, Ohio Class B #31439

Possible rock throwing display while night fishing at Salt Fork State Park

The witness and a companion were fishing at night when they heard knocking or banging sounds from trees. Shortly afterward rocks landed and bounced on the ground and road behind them, apparently thrown from a wooded area leading up a hill. They did not see the source, packed their gear, and left as the rock throwing stopped.

Wood knockRock throwing
August 2006 Auburn Township, Geauga County, Ohio Class B #15430

Mother describes possible sightings by her children outside their rural home in Auburn Township

A teenage visitor was outside at night preparing a fire when he noticed a large black figure moving between trees at the yard edge and watching him. He called the homeowner over thinking it was a prank, but the figure vanished when they glanced away. The family later took nighttime photos of the tree line.

Partial sightingWood knock
July 2004 Dennison, Harrison County, Ohio Class B #9022

While staying in cabins, sleepers awakened in early morning by strange sounds and notice unusual smell in Appalachian foothills

A group staying overnight in cabins was awakened around 3 to 4 AM by loud wood-on-wood knocking that continued on and off for about five minutes. The witnesses could not determine the direction or distance of the sounds. Some in the group had noticed a foul odor earlier that night, and a dog had reacted aggressively to something across the hollow the previous evening.

Wood knockOdor
10 October 2002 Dundee, Tuscarawas County, Ohio Class B #5076

Multiple wood on wood sounds heard in the Beach City Wildlife area

A couple hiking on state game land around a swamp stopped in the woods to listen and heard repeated series of loud, deep knocks from multiple directions and distances. They perceived the sounds as communication and felt uncomfortable enough to leave the area quickly. On the way back to the car they heard additional knocks from across the swamp and continued out without investigating the source.

Wood knock
11 November 1998 Nelsonville, Athens County, Ohio Class B #3533

Hunter hears late night wood knocking near Nelsonville, by Wayne Nat'l Forest

The witness was sleeping at a relative's house near Wayne National Forest in late November 1998 and awoke around 2:23 a.m. to hollow thudding like a branch or log struck against a tree trunk. The knocks came from a draw below the house and from farther away in alternating exchanges at regular intervals for about 20 minutes, with locations shifting but never converging. The witness stayed inside, saw nothing, and interpreted the sounds as deliberate communication, discounting animals, falling branches, or humans.

Wood knock
17 January 1972 Between Rio Grande And Centerville., Gallia County, Ohio Class B #63178

A couple is escorted out of the forest after finding a possible nesting area near Rio Grande

The witness and his wife returned in late January to a rock grotto where he had earlier found a possible bedding area. They found the bed intact but an old wagon moved from a ledge with drag marks in the rock. As they hiked out through a ravine, unseen actors on both ridges followed them for about an hour with knocks, whistles and other vocalizations, shaking and snapping saplings and throwing rocks until the pair reached the woods edge. Neither reported seeing anything.

FootstepsWood knockVocalizationWhistleTree break +3
BFRO YEAR: 2021/06/08 Cambridge, Guernsey County, Ohio Class B #69304

Salt Fork boaters hear a loud, deep howl ("Ohio Howl") from adjacent shore

Four people boating into a cove at Salt Fork heard a loud, bassy sound from a wooded shoreline that was audible over the boat motor and resembled a mechanical siren winding up. The operator shut off the engine to listen. The reporter later said the sound was very close to a posted Ohio Howl audio clip, except closer, and noted a companion reported knocking sounds he did not recall.

VocalizationWood knock