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157 encounters
1 December 2006 Haines City And Avon Prk, Polk County, Florida Class B #16823

Family describes repeated incidents on their property near Lake Wales

The witness and spouse were preparing to grill in the evening when they noticed an extremely foul dead-like odor. The witness retrieved a gun, then three loud knocks or bangs sounded on the side of the shed. The spouse backed quickly away from the shed and wooded area, and they saw nothing upon looking around.

Wood knockOdor
26 November 2006 Between Sarasota & Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida Class B #17043

Possible daylight sighting by motorist on I-75 between Sarasota & Bradenton

A couple driving north on a highway in the morning reported seeing a large, apelike bipedal figure moving slowly south through a palmetto and scrub field near a highway billboard. The sighting lasted only a few seconds at highway speed. Their impression was that it was tall and uniformly brownish, with brush coming up to its thighs.

Partial sighting
5 October 2006 Probably Naples, Collier County, Florida Class B #16347

Possible mid-day sighting by motorist on I-75 (Alligator Alley) in the Everglades

The witness was driving east on Alligator Alley for a test-driving job when he noticed an upright hairy figure in a clearing south of the roadside canal. He watched it for a few seconds as it walked west, noting long arms, dark reddish-brown hair with a lighter chest, and a heavy build. Three companions traveling with him did not see it, and a later drive past the spot revealed no static object that could explain it.

Partial sighting
2 September 2006 Orlando, Orange County, Florida Class B #15694

Possible daytime sighting by motorist on FL Turnpike outside Orlando (near Ocoee exit)

The witness was riding as a passenger south on the turnpike near the Ocoee exit around noon when he watched a large brown-covered biped walking the same direction in a swampy meadow about 100 yards away for 5 to 10 seconds. The figure had an odd gait, uniform dark brown color including the hands, no identifiable clothing, and a pointed head with little visible neck. His wife was driving and did not see it, and he remained uncertain whether the figure was human.

Partial sighting
5 May 2006 Jacksonville Fl, Duval County, Florida Class B #14719

Surveyor describes possible stick formations in woods near Jacksonville

The witness was patrolling near wooded wetlands late in the morning and noticed unusual limb arches, teepee-like and X formations near the road. While investigating on foot he felt watched and heard brush movement that seemed to shadow him without fleeing, but he never obtained a clear visual. He also reported a wet-dog-like odor in the swampy, wooded area.

Movement onlyOdorTree breakStructure or nestAnimal behaviour
12 April 2006 Taylor, Baker County, Florida Class B #26276

Man growing up near Taylor recalls several incidents

The witness and a companion were hunting turkey near a swamp and clear-cut when the bird they were following went silent. While returning toward their truck they found a very large footprint at a water hole where the swamp crossed the road. They believed the track explained why the turkey stopped sounding and left the area quickly.

Tracks
11 March 2006 Altoona Or Astor, Lake County, Florida Class B #14100

Knocks heard in the Ocala National Forest

The witness and a companion drove to a prior sighting location in the afternoon to investigate. Shortly after exiting the vehicle they heard a loud whack followed by rhythmic knocking sounds. The witness walked into the surrounding woods while maintaining radio contact and heard loud bipedal-sounding footsteps ahead that continued for several minutes. When the witness returned, the companion said the knocks had stopped at the same time, and no tracks were found.

Wood knockFootsteps
March 2006 Geneva, Holmes County, Florida Class B #14181

Hunter hears vocalizations, relates other experiences in vicinity

The witness was waiting in a field to turkey hunt around dawn when he heard two distant, high-pitched calls from near the river a few seconds apart. He described the sounds as like a child's yell and unlike any animal he knew, and he heard no answering deeper call. No visual, odor, or tracks were noted with this vocalization event.

Vocalization
Fall 2006 Ashville, Jefferson County, Florida Class B #26393

Man experiences loud yells and tree-shaking while deer hunting near Ashville

The witness was hunting from a tree stand in the late afternoon when he heard very loud, unfamiliar yells from about 150-200 yards away. The yells repeated minutes later from apparently closer. He then watched a small sapling whip violently side to side for about a minute while surrounding grasses did not move similarly. Feeling uneasy as darkness approached, he climbed down and left the woods without ever seeing the source.

VocalizationMovement only
October 2005 Arcadia, Charlotte County, Florida Class B #27587

Couple hears an unusual scream while camping overnight on the Peace River

A couple canoed to a secluded riverbed camp and set up torches for the night. After dark they heard distant splashing followed by a long loud scream that shifted from high-pitched to angry and low. Frightened, the husband retrieved a gun and they remained uneasy through the night with no further incident.

ScreamGrowl
September 2005 Lakeland, Hernando County, Florida Class B #22074

Possible early morning encounter by hunters in the Green Swamp

Two people were sitting around a campfire in early-morning darkness when they heard heavy footsteps approaching through the woods. A creature passed through the campsite toward the river, then ran back and into the woods behind the camp, seen only as a fire-lit silhouette. After hunting from stands, they returned and found large five-toed footprints in sand that they felt were too large to be human.

FootstepsSilhouetteTracks
19 August 2005 Elkton, St. Johns County, Florida Class B #12351

Possible vocalizations heard by residents outside Elkton

The witness stepped onto the porch with two dogs for a cigarette when a very loud yell/scream was heard from the woods edge. The dogs ran about sniffing without barking while the witness got a light and gun, shouted a warning, then heard a second scream deeper in the woods that drew the dogs in for several minutes. The witness's wife also heard the sound from inside the house with windows closed.

Scream
27 July 2005 Esto, Holmes County, Florida Class B #24586

Possible daytime road-crossing by a juvenile outside Esto

While driving to work in the morning, the witness saw a large reddish-brown long-haired animal crossing the road on all fours. The animal moved smoothly and unhurriedly to the opposite side and disappeared into thick vegetation near a creek. The witness noted a flat human-like chest, head set directly on the shoulders, and knuckle-walking, and interpreted it as a juvenile.

Road crossingFull-body sighting
24 May 2005 Ormond Beach, Volusia County, Florida Class B #12068

Possible intimidation behavior experienced while shining for alligators in Ormond Beach

Two people were shining lights for alligators beside a lake at night when vegetation beside the dock shook and repeated knocking like wood hitting a tree was heard. A nearby tree then fell, and as they ran toward safety they heard heavy steps and grunting keeping pace parallel to them. About an hour later they returned and found a tall tree freshly snapped about eight feet up with dripping sap and a hair on a branch.

Movement onlyWood knockTree breakTwistFootsteps +2
April 2005 Down By Museum, Collier County, Florida Class B #18737

Campers report possible vocalization and footprint in Big Cypress National Preserve

The witness was family camping in the Big Cypress area when she noticed a tall black shape in the woods that vanished minutes later. Around 4 a.m. she awoke to a distant wailing sound with heavy breathing that approached the campsite, passed by the tents and left down a trail, waking several companions who also heard it. In the morning the group followed the direction of travel and found large wide footprints with a four-toe appearance in a sandy trail that had not been there the day before.

SilhouetteVocalizationTracks
March 2005 Esto, Holmes County, Florida Class B #23399

Possible night-time visit at campsite near Esto

The witness and a companion camped in thick woods and settled in their tent for the night. After about an hour they heard loud thuds like heavy footsteps circling the campsite and limbs breaking, approaching within a few feet of the tent. They then heard deep gorilla-like grunts before the sounds moved away toward a creek, and they remained in the tent frightened until daylight without seeing anything.

FootstepsGrowlTree break
12 February 2005 Lake County, Florida Class B #12903

Stalking in swamp during Florida BFRO expedition

The witness camped in a forested swamp area after dusk and reported hearing large animals moving around the camp in a triangular pattern, breaking branches and knocking on trees, including between the camp and a nearby vehicle. Later that night with others present, the witness reported a strange gurgling sound followed by a prolonged bout of tree knocking. The witness suggested the sounds implied dexterous animals and doubted humans could move that quickly in the dark swamp.

Wood knockVocalizationTree break
Spring 2004 Ft.Myers, Lee County, Florida Class B #9885

Possible vocalization east of Ft.Myers

The witness and a teenage helper were hauling cut branches on a relative's wooded property in the late afternoon when they heard three loud, deep whoop-like sounds from a swampy area. The witness could not match the sound to known local wildlife and briefly considered Bigfoot before dismissing it. He later checked whooping crane recordings online and concluded that was not the sound heard.

Whoop
October 2003 Caryville, Washington County, Florida Class B #42885

Possible daytime highway crossing on US-90 outside Caryville

The witness was driving east in daylight when an animal came up a hill from a two-track and ran across the highway on all fours. The witness first noticed it from a distance and watched it cross over a few seconds. The witness described a tall, thin, red-haired animal with its head held down and a cone-shaped head.

Road crossingFull-body sighting
15 August 2003 Okeechobee, Okeechobee County, Florida Class B #13961

Possible stalking of boar hunters at night outside Okeechobee

The witness and a companion were resting while hunting hogs with dogs when they heard distinct bipedal-sounding steps that appeared to mimic their own movements and approach them. Fearing it was a person, they fled across a swampy opening. After stopping, they heard loud thrashing and breaking of brush moving away from them through the treeline.

Footsteps