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245 encounters
4 July 2002 Strawberry, Tuolumne County, California Class B #4650

Campers find stacked rocks and hear unusual rock banging near Strawberry

The witness was camping with two companions and hiked to a large rock formation in the evening. After feeling watched and returning to camp, the group heard repetitive clinking/banging sounds that seemed to answer from different directions for about twenty minutes. The next morning while packing, they heard the sounds again and the witness tried to mimic them with rocks and wood without getting a clear response.

Unidentified sound
26 June 2002 Lake McCumber, Shasta County, California Class B #4637

Family hears late night vocalizations near Lake McCumber

The witness and companions stayed overnight near a meadow at Lake McCumber and heard a strange high-pitched, human-like howling from the meadow off and on between 3 and 5 a.m. Two companions stayed up on the deck listening while the witness listened from bed. No creature was seen. The next morning a fawn without its mother was noticed in the meadow.

Howl
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
December 2001 Hiouchi (near Crescent City), Del Norte County, California Class B #4845

Calif. Del Norte County Jed Smith Park

The witness and two children were reading inside their trailer in the park campground one evening when they heard an extremely loud, unfamiliar echoing vocal sound described as between a cat-call and a moo. The sound seemed to come from across the river despite closed windows, and was louder than human campground noise the witness had previously heard. The witness, experienced with local wildlife sounds, said it matched nothing previously heard.

Vocalization
November 2001 Six Rivers Nat'l Forest, Humboldt County, California Class B #4043

Forest Service employees see footprints in Six Rivers National Forest

Two forestry technicians stopped for lunch at Onion Lake while closing seasonal gates. During a walk around the lake, the witness found tracks coming out of the shallow water and going into the forest. Both workers examined the prints, measured them with a tape, recorded details in notebooks, then left to finish work without telling supervisors.

Tracks
November 2001 Arnold, Alpine County, California Class B #8463

Fisherman hears afternoon scream at Lake Alpine

The witness was fishing on a lake in the afternoon when long, deep howls were heard from the far side of the lake. Each howl lasted about 20 seconds and was repeated three or four times from an estimated quarter-mile away. The witness stated the sounds did not match familiar local mammals or bird calls. No creature was seen.

Howl
22 September 2001 Huntington Lake, Fresno County, California Class B #5418

Hikers find footprints and hair near Huntington Lake

Three hikers in the Rock Creek area found a line of very large footprints crossing a meadow to the north. They counted over a dozen identifiable tracks with deep impressions and long strides, and saw no other human footprints. Beside one print they found a broken branch with hairs on the bark, and later reported photos and analysis of the hair.

TracksHair
6 September 2001 Three Rivers, Tulare County, California Class B #3121

Hiker hears loud scream in Sequoia National Park

The witness was camping alone in the backcountry of Sequoia National Park and preparing dinner just after sunset. The witness heard loud repeated screams described as non-human and unnerving, lasting about 30 seconds before ending abruptly. About 15 minutes later coyotes were heard barking nearby. The witness stayed alert that night but reported no further occurrences for the remainder of the trip.

Scream
September 2001 Dardanelle, Tuolumne County, California Class B #16448

Possible vocalizations awaken campers in Clark Fork Campground

The witness and companion were camping in a tent at Clark Fork campground. After 2 a.m. they were awakened by very loud, long screaming sounds from the river direction that lasted about five minutes. About an hour later the witness heard a loud metal bang interpreted as a bear-proof dumpster lid being lifted and dropped in the closed, unoccupied loop.

ScreamProperty disturbance
September 2001 Strawberry, Tuolumne County, California Class B #4649

Women hear late night vocalizations at Sand Bar Flat Campground

The witness and a relative were staying in a tent at a campground when they heard prolonged screaming vocalizations nearby for about two hours. The sounds included return calls from farther down the river, suggesting two sources. The witness stated familiarity with local animals and did not recognize the sounds as those animals.

Scream
September 2001 Klamath, Del Norte County, California Class B #7702

Men hear two Bigfoot calling to each other

Late at night the witness and a companion sat in a parked truck at the end of a river road and heard deep howling and moaning calls from across the river. Fainter similar calls then answered from a different direction, suggesting two sources calling back and forth for about 20 seconds. Dense fog prevented any visual confirmation when the lights were turned on.

Howl
18 August 2001 Arnold, Calaveras County, California Class B #3021

Campers hear early morning screams near Calaveras Big Trees

A group camping in the Sierra foothills was awakened before dawn by prolonged loud screaming vocalizations occurring in repeated series. The sounds began at 4:45 a.m. and continued for about 20 minutes, with additional shorter series afterward and again around 6:30 a.m. from a different direction. Six campers heard the sounds, which the reporter felt resembled reference recordings and were not known forest animal sounds.

Scream
9 August 2001 Viola, Shasta County, California Class B #3029

Couple hears late night screams near Viola

The witness and his wife were sleeping in a small cabin near Viola when the wife woke the witness after hearing a strange sound. The witness then heard a loud, repeated scream-like call lasting about 25 seconds from some distance away. He did not recognize it as a known animal but later found it matched sounds on bigfoot-related sites, while stating he could not say what it was.

Scream
7 August 2001 Weaverville, Trinity County, California Class B #8729

Young couple have unusual late night experience near Weaverville

A couple sleeping in a rented fifth-wheel trailer at a campground were awakened around 2 a.m. by sounds outside. The wife reported padded footsteps circling the trailer, followed by pressure on the exterior step that shook the trailer while their normally vocal dog stayed silent. The occupants remained inside in fear and later closed windows and fell asleep; companions camped nearby said they heard nothing.

FootstepsVehicle contact
1 August 2001 Sugar Pine, El Dorado County, California Class B #3794

Campers hear more nighttime vocalizations at Sugar Pine Campground, on the west side of Lake Tahoe

The witness and a relative were camping overnight when they heard a loud whooping sound nearby followed by loud crunching like branches breaking. A girl was heard screaming after the whooping. In the morning they found large footprints near their tent measuring about 12 to 16 inches long, which they felt were too large for a bear.

WhoopMovement onlyTracks
June 2001 Mineral King, Tulare County, California Class B #6922

Campers have rocks thrown at them near Mineral King

Four people camped overnight in a remote pine forest after hiking all day to the spot. Around 1 a.m. large rocks began falling around their tents for several hours, despite no cliffs or steep grade that could explain natural rockfall, accompanied by very loud branch cracking. The witness got up repeatedly to look but saw nothing that could explain the activity, except a deer that stayed in camp until the disturbance stopped.

Rock throwingUnidentified sound
15 May 2001 Twain Harte, Tuolumne County, California Class B #7299

Couple hear strange nighttime screams near Twain Harte

The witness and his wife had just finished dinner at home when he let two small dogs out after sunset. He then heard a loud scream and rustling, called for the dogs to be let in, but only one returned and the other was never found. He contacted wildlife authorities and continued to hear similar sounds from the forest behind the home.

ScreamPossible misidentification
3 May 2001 Mammoth Lakes CA, Mono County, California Class B #3105

Campers hear late night scream near Mammoth Lakes

The witness and a companion were at a cabin late at night preparing a truck for departure when they heard three very loud, long screams that started very close and then sounded progressively farther away. They checked the area with headlights, saw nothing, noticed lights from another cabin in the distance, and then secured themselves inside for the night. The witness felt the sound was threatening and unlike familiar animal sounds, but retained doubt about a natural explanation.

Scream
1 May 2001 Mammoth Lakes, Mono County, California Class B #2942

Brothers hear late night howl in Mammoth Lakes

The witness was sleeping in a tent at a campground in Mammoth Lakes when the dog woke them whining and pacing. They then heard a long repeating howl that lasted several minutes and also woke the witness's brother. Both later agreed the sound matched howl recordings on the BFRO website. The dog remained frightened throughout the howling.

Howl
22 April 2001 Long Barn, Tuolumne County, California Class B #3071

Man see large prints outside of Long Barn

A witness hiking on snowshoes along a gated forest road in fresh snow found six large prints crossing the road. He photographed the prints and measured them with a ski pole, noting a straight-line trackway with a long stride and no other footprints nearby. He did not leave the road to follow the trail, and the prints were melting rapidly when he passed again about an hour later.

Tracks