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113 encounters
July 2011 Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois Class B #40841

Motorist has possible nighttime sighting just north of Springfield on Veterans Parkway

The witness was driving alone at night when a large bipedal figure was seen crossing the opposite lanes ahead. With bright lights on, the witness described it as tall and massive with long arms and a hunched posture, moving very fast in a few long strides. It was gone by the time the vehicle reached the crossing area, and the face was not seen.

Road crossingPartial sighting
July 2011 Manteno, Kankakee County, Illinois Class B #29836

Family experiences strange occurences while fishing Kankakee River

Four people were night fishing when the two who stayed by the fire reported footsteps and brush movement behind them. The witness later heard walking sounds, a grunt/growl from 20-30 yards away, noticed a strong pungent odor, and heard a whooping sound from the same direction. As the group walked out around 12:30 a.m. the witness felt they were being followed toward the bridge. No creature was seen.

FootstepsGrowlWhoopOdorAnimal behaviour
28 June 2011 Glenarm, Sangamon County, Illinois Class B #32634

Two paranormal investigators find possible evidence at Cumberland Sugar Creek Cemetery

Two paranormal investigators visited a rural pioneer cemetery late at night for a walkthrough after hearing about recent rock throwing and large tracks nearby. Near an opening in the fence at the southeast corner they found three large barefoot footprints in soft clay leading away from the cemetery and photographed them with a cell phone. About 75 feet away they noted a small tree that had been snapped and bent over outside the fence. They left after about an hour without seeing any animal or person.

TracksTree break
23 June 2011 Chatham, Sangamon County, Illinois Class B #29612

Vocalizations recorded and possible footprint found near Sugar Creek

The witness was outside at home in the early evening with a west breeze when his dog became fearful, barking and running in circles while facing west. The witness reported a foul odor at the same time, similar to a previous foul-smell incident that had left the dog unsettled for days. No creature was seen, only the odor and the dog's fear behavior were reported.

Odor
16 June 2011 Glenarm, Sangamon County, Illinois Class B #31062

Possible footprint found near the Sugar Creek Covered Bridge

A relative reported finding a large footprint in mud in woods near a creek. The print was described as 18 inches long and 8 inches wide with plainly visible toes. An investigator visited the area days later but recent rain had erased the imprint.

Tracks
15 June 2011 Chatham, Sangamon County, Illinois Class B #29495

Possible footprint found on edge of Chatham

Two residents found a single large footprint in mud under an apple tree in their suburban backyard that backs onto woods. The print was measured at about 18 inches long and seven inches wide, with missing fruit noted on the tree above it. No creature was seen. Police and later an investigator each visited the residence to view the footprint and speak with the witnesses.

Tracks
3 May 2011 Metropolis, Massac County, Illinois Class B #29227

Possible footprints found near Metropolis

A family visiting their newly purchased wooded property for a picnic found a large bare footprint on a mowed slope. The witness's spouse spotted the print after the witness had walked over it without noticing. The witness then found two additional partial impressions nearby and a strange stick structure behind the cabin, which were photographed with scale and measurements.

TracksStructure or nest
3 February 2011 Algonquin, Kane County, Illinois Class B #29448

Possible footprints found near Algonquin

After a major blizzard, the witness and her husband noticed a long line of large footprints crossing their snow-covered backyard. The trackway appeared to start near the patio by the garage, pass toward an outhouse, and continue toward a fence and adjoining trail and woods. No creature was seen, and no photos of the tracks were taken before the snow melted.

Tracks
February 2011 Godfrey, Madison County, Illinois Class B #41487

Property owner describes possible sighting and activity near Godfrey

The witness was driving into his home lane from the paved highway when he saw an animal walking up a ridge through the woods about 80 yards away. He watched it for about 15 seconds until it went out of sight over the ridge. He described it as 7 to 8 feet tall, huge, and dark brown in coloring.

Full-body sighting
4 January 2011 Winfield, Du Page County, Illinois Class B #28679

Hiker finds possible footprints in Timber Ridge Forest Preserve (w/photos)

The witness was hiking on a new gravel path through a forest preserve at lunchtime. In wet crushed gravel that preserved other footprints, the witness noticed bare footprints about 13 inches long with five toes that appeared deeper than shoe prints and traced them back to thick grass. The witness photographed the prints with a glove for scale and found the step distance too long to comfortably match.

Tracks
December 2010 Richview, Washington County, Illinois Class B #38295

Homeowner describes possible activity near Richview

At night the witness used a high-powered spotlight from an ATV at the edge of woods on the property to illuminate an upright figure about 40 yards away. The animal was described as about eight feet tall, very wide and very dark-haired, with the face not visible. After being lit, it walked further back into the timber out of sight.

Full-body sighting
18 November 2010 Rushville, Schuyler County, Illinois Class B #33040

Possible sighting by a deer hunter west of Rushville

The witness was deer hunting in a valley at dawn when a loud scream was heard nearby. The yell was loud enough to startle turkeys roosting overhead. Looking toward the sound, the witness saw a tall black animal about 70 yards away that then disappeared.

Full-body sightingScream
2 November 2010 Midlothian, Cook County, Illinois Class B #28525

Possible vocalizations and stick structures found in Bachelors Grove Cemetery

On the morning of 2 Nov 2010 the witness, a companion, and an investigator were in heavily wooded preserve land by a cemetery looking at tree structures when sirens sounded. They distinguished a different howl-like sound about 200 to 300 yards to the north, heard three times in total. The sound was captured on audio and a segment was later isolated. No creature was seen.

Howl
7 August 2010 Shelby County, Illinois Class B #28144

Wood knocks, vocalizations and possible footprint found in rural cemetery near Shelbyville

Over a couple months of visits to a small rural cemetery, the witness and companions repeatedly heard wood knocks surrounding them, logs or objects being thrown, and a walnut thrown back toward them. They also heard growls, hissing, grunts, yells and screams on separate occasions, and once heard a large unseen thing charge to the cemetery edge then go silent. They never saw the source, reported no departing footsteps, and described a persistent feeling of being watched and warned from entering the woods.

Wood knockObject throwingGrowlVocalizationScream +2
August 2010 Matteson, Cook County, Illinois Class B #39851

Motorists have possible nighttime sighting in Green Belt Forest Preserve

A couple driving through a forest preserve at night with high beams on saw a large figure standing by a tree. They reported its head and shoulders turned to follow the car as they passed. They drove toward a nearby police station but decided not to report it, then later revisited the site in daylight.

Full-body sighting
5 May 2010 Princeville, Peoria County, Illinois Class B #27692

Mushroom hunter hears vocalizations and finds footprints near Jubilee College State Park

The witness was hunting with a dog on a sunny afternoon when the dog became agitated and a strong odor was noticed. The witness heard grunt-like noises followed twice by a loud scream or yell, plus cracking and movement in trees and brush, while the dog returned frightened with raised hair. After driving to a more open area across a shallow creek, the witness found two very large barefoot-like footprints that seemed too large and out of place to be human.

VocalizationScreamOdorTracksMovement only
28 February 2010 Dixon, Ogle County, Illinois Class B #27387

Large unknown bipedal animal seen possibly chasing deer near Dixon

The witness was at a rural wooded home on a winter afternoon and saw deer running fast through the woods about 75 to 100 yards away. Behind the deer was a much larger brown upright biped that kept pace with them for about 10 seconds. The witness felt the speed, gait and terrain ruled out a person flushing the deer.

Partial sighting
January 2010 Ellisville, Fulton County, Illinois Class B #27146

Deer hunters hear possible vocalizations and find strange footprints near Ellisville

Early on Jan. 5, 2010 the witness was dropped off to hunt when an extremely low growl was heard and horses in a nearby field ran in apparent fear. About thirty minutes later after moving to a stand, the witness heard single wood knocks coming from three different directions, along with sounds resembling screech owls from the same directions. No source was seen.

GrowlWood knockUnidentified sound
18 December 2009 Hamel, Madison County, Illinois Class B #27042

Possible daylight sighting by motorist on Illinois Route 4 outside Hamel

The witness was driving north on Illinois Route 4 through a wooded area when they spotted a large upright figure about 50 feet from the roadway for a second or two. The figure was described as very tall, thick and broad with orangish fur. The witness did not stop due to lack of safe parking, and a later site visit found no footprints or other evidence.

Full-body sighting
24 September 2009 Kappa, Woodford County, Illinois Class B #26874

Possible footprints found near Mackinaw River

The witness was building a house near the Mackinaw River and searching the disturbed mud for arrowheads. Beginning in late September, they noticed bare footprints in the mud larger than their own size 13 foot, including during cold weather. The follow-up clarified a total of three prints estimated at about 14 inches long and 6 inches wide without actual measurement, with photos too unclear to publish. The witness doubted anyone would walk barefoot in cold mud at a construction site.

Tracks