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113 encounters
16 August 2001 Rosiclare, Hardin County, Illinois Class B #3018

Late night screams heard near Rosiclare

The witness was visiting relatives at a farm bordering national forest with three relatives when they went to sit on the front porch at night. They heard a continuous eerie calling sound that rose from low to higher pitch with a human-like quality for several minutes from near a pine forest a short distance away, while dogs barked and the surroundings were otherwise quiet. None of the group had heard such a sound before, and the witness interpreted it as possibly from a yeti. No visual contact or physical evidence was reported.

Vocalization
May 2001 Warsaw, Hancock County, Illinois Class B #2992

Unusual vocalizations from Mississippi River bottoms between Hamilton and Warsaw

The witness and his wife repeatedly heard a nighttime vocalization from home that the witness says matched recordings on a Bigfoot website. Each episode lasted a few minutes, caused their dog to growl and bark, and was followed quickly by coyotes howling. They were typically asleep and were woken by the sound. The witness had previously assumed it was a hurt animal and now says he will not investigate it.

Vocalization
March 2000 Albion, Edwards County, Illinois Class B #34919

Motorist has a possible nighttime sighting west of Albion

Late at night the witness was driving home from work when a strong odor was noticed through an open vehicle window. The witness then saw a very large dark figure beside the road between a ditch and a field about 120 feet away in the headlights, moving upright and pausing as the vehicle passed. The witness was frightened and said the figure was not a coyote, wolf, or bear known from the area.

Full-body sightingOdor
9 October 1999 Atwood, Moultrie County, Illinois Class B #29241

Memory of possible vocalizations and rock throwing southwest of Atwood

The witness, then a child, was walking through woods and field toward ponds to feed fish when a loud high-pitched scream came from the woods and trees shook in a visible path without wind. After waiting, the witness continued to the pond embankment where a boulder-sized rock landed nearby from higher ground. Two sisters were present for the rock incident, and the witness reported repeated rock-throwing at that embankment and occasional feelings of being watched.

ScreamMovement onlyRock throwing
Summer 1999 Cuba, Fulton County, Illinois Class B #38765

Recollection of possible encounters at a cemetery in the village of Cuba

Late at night four friends walking past a graveyard noticed a very large object resting on a branch in a large tree. After they shone a flashlight at it, the object dropped about twenty feet and ran quickly toward woods behind the graveyard. The witness returned at sunrise and found very large impressions in the grass with a stride neither he nor a taller companion could match, leading him to estimate the creature at seven to nine feet tall.

Partial sightingTracks
26 September 1998 Vandalia, Fayette County, Illinois Class B #18059

Possible footprints found five miles east of Vandalia

The witness and a companion were walking a foot path around a lake in a small park. They found two large footprints crossing the path from the lake side into the woods and photographed them. The area was unusually quiet and the witness recalled feeling as if they were being watched.

Tracks
September 1998 Carmi, White County, Illinois Class B #29360

Couple hears possible vocalizations a few miles outside of Carmi

While smoking outside under a tree late at night, the witness and companion heard prolonged loud moaning howls coming from behind a neighboring house. The sound lasted at least two minutes and was unlike any familiar local animal. Frightened, they ran inside, after which the sound could no longer be heard.

Howl
11 October 1997 Otterville, Jersey County, Illinois Class B #30645

Motorists have possible late night sighting south of Otterville

The witness and a companion were driving at night after dinner when their headlights illuminated a dark furry figure on the side of the road. The figure was bent over and then stood up as they passed, showing only its backside, with its hips roughly level with the hood of a small pickup. The witnesses drove back to look again but the figure was gone. The witness kept the account private for years for fear of ridicule.

Partial sighting
Summer 1990 Mounds, Pulaski County, Illinois Class B #5742

Young man hears nighttime vocalizations and is followed in woods near Mounds

On a summer night in 1990 the witness walked up a field road near his home when he heard a loud whistle followed by screams from nearby ridges. As he fled back toward his house he heard another scream close by and was followed to the creek behind his house, where he heard heavy breathing, growling and bipedal footsteps. He fired a large amount of ammunition toward the sounds without seeing the source, then stayed inside overnight, and the next day found bullet damage to trees and a flattened depression but no blood or tracks.

WhistleScreamGrowlFootstepsOdor
1990–1991 Chandlerville, Cass County, Illinois Class B #6820

Tracks found on a creek bed near Chandlerville

The witness and a relative were taking a break from farm work to shoot targets on ice by a creek behind the farm. The witness noticed a large five-toed footprint in the ice, described as twice the size of a normal human foot, with a heel print on the opposite bank and no additional prints. The witness, who described experience with animal tracks from trapping and hunting, thought the prints could have been made by a big foot.

Tracks
15 November 1986 Erie, Whiteside County, Illinois Class B #12919

Youth has nighttime sighting along Rock River

The witness was home alone in the evening when the dogs became agitated and ran toward the pasture and river. The witness followed carrying a shotgun and observed a hairy humanlike figure near where the dogs stopped at the river edge. After a shot was fired into the air the figure departed with a distinctive walk and the witness returned quickly to the house. Large footprints were noted in the snow between the pasture and the river.

Full-body sightingTracks
January 1986 Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois Class B #41907

Memory told of a possible sighting at night in a pasture east of Jacksonville

On a winter night in 1986-87 the witness was alone on his turn riding a three-wheeler through a snowy pasture near a wooded creek in Morgan County while a companion waited elsewhere. From about 30 yards away he watched a roughly 7-foot tall, dark-haired, roughly 400-lb figure walk across a narrow strip of pasture between two stands of woods. The figure looked toward him and then kept walking as if unconcerned.

Full-body sighting
July 1985 Vermilionville, La Salle County, Illinois Class B #34980

Fisherman recalls his possible nighttime sighting near Vermilionville

A fisherman was driving out on a dirt road by a river after dark with headlights on while his dog ran ahead. The headlights revealed an upright animal standing in the road ahead, which then dropped to all fours and ran out of sight. The dog ran back to the truck and jumped in through an opened door, and the witness drove away without getting out.

Full-body sighting
17 November 1984 Burlington, Kane County, Illinois Class B #11295

Coon hunters hear vocalizations and footprints found near Burlington

Two people were sitting on a log in the woods late at night when a loud unfamiliar scream was heard from close behind them. After a second scream, a similar sound answered from a distance. Both individuals left immediately without seeing the source.

Scream
April 1978 Murphysboro, Jackson County, Illinois Class B #23760

Memory told of possible vocalizations and rocks thrown at Lake Kinkaid

In 1978 two people were fishing from a boat on a lake at dusk and stopped in a cove. They heard grunting and saw trees shaking violently on a brushy cliff, but saw no animal. Two large rocks were thrown from shore toward the boat, landing very close, prompting them to leave.

VocalizationRock throwingMovement only
Summer 1978 Pawnee, Sangamon County, Illinois Class B #28370

Memory told of a possible encounter and footprint found along Horse Creek north of Pawnee

Two companions walking along a wooded driveway in the afternoon heard unidentified tapping sounds and entered the woods to investigate. They found freshly matted grass and a human-like bare footprint with five toes in dried mud. Shortly after, the companion shouted to run as loud timber-breaking crashes and movement occurred in dense undergrowth behind him. The reporter did not see the source, but the companion reportedly saw something about seven feet tall, after which both fled to the driveway.

Unidentified soundTracksTree breakMovement onlyPartial sighting
Spring 1978 Carlinville, Macoupin County, Illinois Class B #2901

Couple in car terrified by loud howl/scream near Carlinville

In spring 1978 the witness and a companion were parked in a car off a rural road in creek-bottom woods when a foul odor filled the area. They then heard nearby low grunts that erupted into an extremely loud, shrill scream that seemed to shake the car. Panicked, the witness drove away immediately and avoided the area afterward.

ScreamVocalizationOdor
December 1977 Marion, Williamson County, Illinois Class B #15895

Possible vocalization heard in Marion, Illinois

During a holiday visit in heavy snow, the witness was awakened around 2 a.m. by a very loud, prolonged scream from outside the bedroom window. The witness stayed frozen listening, then found other household members awake, and was told it was probably a cat under the house. The next morning new snow covered the area, and later checks found no sign of cats, leading the witness to note its similarity to recorded alleged vocalizations.

ScreamGrowlHowl
October 1977 Pontiac, Livingston County, Illinois Class B #36702

Memory told of a possible sighting at dawn by a hunter in his tree stand southeast of Pontiac

The witness arrived before sunrise on opening day to bow-hunt from a tree stand at the edge of a bean field. While in the stand the witness heard loud bipedal footsteps moving through dense saplings and then saw a tall hair-covered figure standing about 20 yards away. The two stared at each other for several minutes before the figure walked away, after which the witness fled to a companion's vehicle and did not return.

Partial sightingFootsteps
September 1977 Granite City, Madison County, Illinois Class B #39852

Memory told of a possible sighting while parked in a car near Granite City

While a dating couple sat talking in a parked car near woods and lakes, the woman saw a large dark figure standing behind the car about 10 to 15 feet away. She reacted with sudden shock and told her companion what she had seen. The figure moved away and had disappeared by the time both occupants looked back, so only the woman directly saw it.

Full-body sighting