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157 encounters
July 2003 Sanford, Seminole County, Florida Class B #44404

Memory told of a possible night encounter while camping near Sanford

The witness and a relative left camp near a lake at night to collect firewood in a clearing. The witness heard a growl and then saw a tall dark upright figure that stood up and shook small trees. The relative came over, then both fled back to camp. The witness said the figure did not match any identifiable animal and fit descriptions of Bigfoot.

Partial sightingSilhouetteGrowl
15 March 2003 South East Orlando, Orange County, Florida Class B #25577

Kayaker smells a terrible odor and then sees a hair-covered figure on the Econlockhatchee River

The witness was kayaking ahead of a companion on a narrow river on a cool clear morning when a thick musty odor hit. The witness then saw a wide mass of long shiny fur rise near the bank and run away through dense woods, snapping small trees. The odor lingered so strongly the witness held breath and paddled away for fresh air.

Partial sightingOdorTree break
14 November 2002 Jay, Santa Rosa County, Florida Class B #10192

Possible vocalizations and tracks found by hunter on state land near Jay

The witness was scouting for deer sign on a swampy island reachable only with chest waders on a cold clear early afternoon. After the woods became quiet, the witness heard a single call that started like owl hooting and ended with monkey-like sounds and felt another presence nearby. The witness later reported finding large tracks with distinct toes.

VocalizationTracks
January 2002 St. Augustine, St. Johns County, Florida Class B #7109

Possible vocalizations heard by hunters and a biologist in Guana River WMA

The witness and a companion had finished hog hunting and were talking with the check-station attendant about an hour after dark when they heard several loud, high-pitched screams lasting several seconds from woods behind the station, followed by brief sounds of vegetation movement. The group, all familiar with local animal sounds, could not identify the source and agreed it did not match bobcat, hog, bird, or small prey. Shaken by the intensity, the brothers left the area.

ScreamMovement only
29 June 2001 New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County, Florida Class B #2848

Large humanoid figure seen at night near beach

The witness and a companion were standing on a boardwalk at night when they saw a dark upright figure walking at the edge of the surf. The figure moved south with a smooth, long stride and swinging arms before disappearing down the beach. No footprints were left because it was walking slightly in the water.

Full-body sighting
March 2001 Chokoloskee, Collier County, Florida Class B #2915

Campers hear unfamiliar vocalizations at night in the Everglades

The witness stayed at a remote boat-access camp fishing from the bank while others were away night-fishing or asleep. Around 11:30 p.m. the witness heard two identical loud piercing screams about 30 seconds apart from an estimated 75-100 yards away. No source was seen and no boats were heard, and the witness later told the returning companions about the sounds.

Scream
15 October 2000 Summerfield, Marion County, Florida Class B #598

Vocalizations and Footsteps heard

On the night of October 28, 2000 the witness was hosting an adult-only backyard barbecue party with about a dozen guests. Around 10 p.m. the group heard loud unidentified sounds from the woods near the back of the property and heard heavy footsteps breaking branches that sounded bipedal. Two men entered the woods with a flashlight but the source stayed distant and was never seen, and no tracks were found in deep oak leaves.

VocalizationFootsteps
10 October 2000 Southport, Bay County, Florida Class B #13313

Possible vocalizations heard by four-wheelers near Southport

Three people were driving slowly in a Jeep through woods north of Panama City in fall 2000 and stopped to make a navigational decision. They twice heard an extremely loud, strange vocalization they described as screams or howls. Despite lifelong familiarity with local wildlife, all three agreed they could not identify the source.

ScreamHowl
July 2000 Live Oak, Suwannee County, Florida Class B #33784

Car pulling camper hits something on US 129 South of Live Oak

Four men were driving south late at night towing a loaded travel trailer when a tall dark form ran toward the road on two feet. The car passed in front of it, but the trailer struck it with enough force to lift the trailer off the ground. The occupants stopped, backed up, and inspected the vehicles and roadway but found no body, blood, hair, or damage.

Partial sightingRoad crossingVehicle contactPossible misidentification
Summer 1999 North Port ,Florida, Next To Back Side Of Myakka State Park, Sarasota County, Florida Class B #8561

Husband and wife hear early morning vocalizations near back of Myakka State Park

The witness and his wife were awakened around 2 a.m. by sounds outside their bedroom window and a very strong odor coming through the window. An unseen source then produced a loud, wild, almost human-like shriek. Their two dogs, normally fearless, refused to leave the room, and the couple did not go outside. The witness inferred whatever was at the window must have been at least seven feet tall to reach it.

Unidentified soundOdorScream
22 November 1998 Indiantown, Martin County, Florida Class B #26271

Hunter tells of possible encounters while in the DuPuis Reserve east of Lake Okeechobee

The witness was hunting hogs at dawn in a remote forest area while a companion was stationed about 150 yards away. After noticing paired trails in wet grass and hearing soft splashing from a cypress head, the witness heard a low powerful harrumph-like sound that caused alarm. The witness then took cover behind a dirt mound and watched the area for about an hour without seeing anything leave to the east, west, or south.

VocalizationUnidentified soundTracks
January 1998 Howard Creek, Gulf County, Florida Class B #7792

Woman has nighttime sighting from truck

The witness and two companions were driving on a dirt road at night using a spotlight to look for deer, with the witness sitting in the truck bed holding the light. The witness illuminated a huge bear-like figure with red eyes at the edge of the woods and estimated its height at about 6 feet 5 inches to 7 feet. The witness quickly climbed into the truck cab through the rear window. A companion on the same side of the truck also saw the figure.

Full-body sightingEyeshine
10 October 1997 Ochopee, Collier County, Florida Class B #15318

Possible vocalizations noted by fishermen at night off of SR 41

The witness and a companion went to night-fish a muddy runoff pond beside dense woods. From very close range they heard an extremely loud, powerful scream that felt physically intense but they could not locate any source despite scanning with flashlights. They left the area quickly without seeing anything.

Scream
October 1996 Alexander Springs, Ocala Nat. Forest,Aster, Lake County, Florida Class B #1480

3am observation in Alexander Springs (Ocala Nat. Forest) of tall upright animal. Coolers ransacked

The witness and a companion were camping in a tent at Alexander Springs. After playing cards until about 3 a.m., the companion fell asleep while the witness lay awake. The witness heard surrounding animal sounds fall silent, smelled a skunk-like odor, saw a tall upright shadow on the tent wall and heard a grunt-like noise. In the morning the coolers had been ransacked, and the pair left the campground early the next night after feeling uneasy.

SilhouetteVocalizationOdorProperty disturbanceMovement only
May 1996 Plant City, Hillsborough County, Florida Class B #18395

Possible sighting by motorist near the Four Corners phosphate mine

The witness was driving home from work in the early morning when an oncoming car flashed its high beams. While rounding a curve, the headlights illuminated a tall dark human-like figure by a fence that appeared to look toward the car with red reflective eyes, causing intense fear. The witness later wondered what the occupants of the other car had seen.

Partial sightingEyeshine
15 December 1995 20 MILES SOUTH OF BRISTOL FLA., Liberty County, Florida Class B #21254

78 year-old life-long woodsman finds tracks along the Apalachicola River

The witness was hunting in the woods at dawn when he came upon a trackway of very large barefoot human-like prints. The prints crossed the icy edge of a large frozen puddle, breaking the ice and leaving impressions in mud, with a stride of about four feet. He left the area promptly and later reported the tracks to local law enforcement.

Tracks
6 July 1994 Wellborn, Suwannee County, Florida Class B #20981

Two Fishermen describe a possible bluff charge outside Wellborn

Two people were fishing for catfish in a creek at night when they heard footsteps approaching through dense woods. After they called out, the footsteps paused and then rushed toward them, splitting into two individuals that ran past them through the creek while splashing and breaking limbs. The witnesses reported no visual contact due to darkness and woods and no vocalizations, then fled the area leaving their gear.

Footsteps
3 March 1994 Marion County, Florida Class B #11387

Screams Heard While Camping in the Ocala National Forest

On the first night of a family camping trip in Ocala National Forest in summer 1994, the witness was awakened by a loud rattle of a bag of soda cans beside the picnic table. After she spoke, the rattling stopped and she then listened for a long period to loud, almost continuous distant screams to the north that she could not identify. In the morning nothing at the campsite was disturbed, and she did not hear the screams again the next night.

ScreamProperty disturbance
Fall 1994 Coconut Creek/Coral Springs, Broward County, Florida Class B #1831

Foot steps heard while walking on trail at night

In the spring of 1994 the witness was camping with friends and walked alone on a trail around 1 a.m. He heard footsteps keeping parallel in dense brush to his right and judged from the stepping pattern that it was walking on two feet. Frightened as the sounds moved closer, he returned to camp, woke friends, and went back to search but found nothing.

Footsteps
Summer 1993 Ocala, Marion County, Florida Class B #19354

Woman recalls childhood incident -- red eyes looking into window near Withlacoochee River

In summer 1993, a five-year-old child went to the back bedroom of a raised mobile home to get toys from a chest. Upon sitting up, the child saw a pair of piercing red eyes in the middle of the bedroom window and stared before running to report it. The family suggested a neighboring dog, but the witness maintains the eyes were too high for a dog and too close to be an owl or perched animal.

Eyeshine