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157 encounters
February 1992 Miami, Monroe County, Florida Class B #1283

Heard and then chased by creature

The witness was walking alone at night on a pond path toward a cabin when he heard footfalls and breaking twigs that stopped when he stopped and resumed closer each time he walked. He shouted and then ran toward a clearing near the director's trailer while the sounds followed closely, including breathing heard from above head height behind him. On reaching the clearing the sounds retreated into the woods and went silent. The director was told and fired several shots, suggesting an escaped exotic cat as an explanation.

FootstepsUnidentified sound
11 January 1991 Yankee Town, Levy County, Florida Class B #48599

Family retells documenting a possible mile-long line of tracks north of Yankeetown

The witness's family discovered a long trail of large footprints on their hunting property on a winter weekend in 1991. They followed the trail for over a mile past creeks and cabins and through a barbed-wire fence, making plaster casts of a right and left print. They also reported finding a palm-frond bedding area and palms with hearts eaten nearby.

TracksTree breakStructure or nestProperty disturbance
June 1990 Tarrytown, Sumter County, Florida Class B #12628

Possible sighting in woods separating farms west of Tarrytown

The witness returned with a dog to an abandoned campsite to collect leftover camping items. While crossing a field, the witness saw a reddish-brown figure with long arms and an oval head standing motionless in the treeline about 300-400 feet away. The witness then ran away.

Full-body sighting
June 1987 Immokalee, Collier County, Florida Class B #20420

Possible nightime encounter near Lake Trafford

Late at night the witness's family was at home when a dog outside sounded distressed. A relative went out, saw a large shadow by the shed, retrieved a firearm, then saw something flee down the driveway and fired, after which a loud growl-howl was heard followed by silence. The next morning the family found unfamiliar footprints and believed the visitor had leapt across a nearby canal.

SilhouetteMovement onlyGrowlHowlUnidentified sound +1
November 1986 Lake Butler, Union County, Florida Class B #23498

Bow hunter describes possible tracks, sounds and scat north of Lake Butler

The witness was archery hunting from a ground blind near a hog wallow when he heard close grunting and breathing that he could not see. After the sounds stopped he inspected the area and found very large scat and large deep tracks leading to and away from the scat. He first assumed hogs and then a very large bear made the sign, but later judged the scat too large for a Florida black bear.

VocalizationTracksScatOdor
November 1985 Fedhaven, Osceola County, Florida Class B #8935

Various occurences between Lake Kissimmee and Tiger Lake that may be BF-related

Two people riding in a jeep to stock pig feeders and gather firewood noticed a very tall, dark-furred figure with no visible neck standing between two isolated pines about a hundred yards away. Its upper torso rose well above the tall grass and it filled much of the gap between the trees. When the witness glanced down and looked back a moment later the figure was gone, leaving both people badly frightened.

Partial sighting
August 1985 Coral Springs, Broward County, Florida Class B #17011

Man describes teenage incident -- possible intimidation approach at 2 AM in Coral Springs, at the edge of the Everglades

Three children were camping in a tent in a backyard near a canal when they heard loud dumpster noises and deep grunting from across the canal. They then heard heavy footsteps approaching and a large splash about 50 yards away as something appeared to enter the canal toward them. They fled screaming to the house, and the adult found the tent leveled, moved from its stakes, and covered in water and mud.

VocalizationFootstepsProperty disturbance
26 August 1983 Orlando, Orange County, Florida Class B #34787

Memory told of hearing a loud breathing-growl while camping at Disney's Fort Wilderness

The witness was awake alone inside a pop-up camper at night while relatives were away and two children slept. She heard very loud heavy breathing and growling immediately outside an open window about seven feet off the ground. She shouted for it to leave, the sound stopped at once, and the children woke. She later inferred the source must have been 7 to 8 feet tall and believes it may have been a Bigfoot looking into the camper.

Growl
16 July 1983 Brooksville, Citrus County, Florida Class B #595

Father and son were out scouting for deer when they spot large eyes 8 foot off the gound, also hear loud scream.

Two people were spotlighting deer in a wildlife management area in central Florida around 2 a.m. for bow-season scouting. They observed a pair of eyes estimated about 7 to 8 feet off the ground and about a foot apart from roughly 150 feet away. As they left they heard an extremely loud piercing scream and drove away quickly without later searching for sign.

EyeshineScream
7 July 1983 N. Ft. Myers/Riverdale, Lee County, Florida Class B #20333

Possible Nighttime Encounter by Girls on Horseback north of Ft. Myers

The witness and a companion were riding horses at night along a dirt road bordered by ditches, woods and pastures when the horses became nervous. The witness heard something moving parallel to them in the woods, keeping pace even as they urged the horses from a gallop to a full run across several fence lines. The parallel movement stopped where the woods ended at the edge of the witness's property. A later search by truck found where something had been, but the creature was never seen.

FootstepsOdor
November 1981 Perry, Fla, Taylor County, Florida Class B #28263

Man recalls his terrifying encounter near the Econfino State Park while camping with his family

The witness and relatives were sleeping in lean-tos at a family hunting camp when the witness was awakened by shouting and gunfire. A relative said a tall, hairy figure had loomed over the shelter and then fled into the woods with loud crashing sounds. The group reported a strong foul odor around the camp and wood knocks shortly afterward, then left at sunrise.

Partial sightingVocalizationOdorMovement onlyWood knock
October 1981 Casselberry, Seminole County, Florida Class B #1079

Foot steps heard in wood line. Weeks later more sounds heard

Two companions walking at night to a school dance heard loud crashing steps near a wooded sanctuary. They turned and saw two trees being parted high above the ground. The witness states he never saw the source and both fled home in fear.

FootstepsMovement only
15 August 1981 Inglis, Levy County, Florida Class B #430

Brothers hear howl while trailblazing

Two brothers were trailblazing through dense brush at the edge of a marshy swamp in the morning when they heard a very deep, loud howl that echoed. The sound then changed to match a purported Bigfoot scream recording the witness knew, continuing for about half an hour. They also believed they heard a faint answering call from elsewhere in the swamp.

HowlScreamVocalization
July 1980 NAPLES, Collier County, Florida Class B #13889

Man describes incidents in teen years in swamp area outside Naples

The witness and two companions were exploring a swampy wooded area when they found a large steel cage trap baited with fresh meat. After noticing a foul musty odor, they heard a very loud roar from behind them and fled as a large log flew over their heads. They ran home to tell the witness's mother and stayed out of those woods for a long time.

VocalizationObject throwingOdor
30 June 1980 Pittman, Lake County, Florida Class B #5510

Man finds and casts large footprints after hearing of sighting

After hearing about a reported sighting, the witness went with a companion the next morning to the described location to look for footprints. They found large footprints crossing a sandy road from a clear-cut area into a swamp, noted a long stride, depth, and disturbed tree blossoms, and made plaster casts. No creature was seen during this visit.

Tracks
1980–1981 Lady Lake, Lake County, Florida Class B #13976

Possible tracks and sounds outside a home near Lady Lake

As a child staying at a relative's house near lakes and woods, the witness heard growling, snorting and footsteps outside a bedroom window late at night and stayed in bed frightened. The noises lasted several minutes. The next morning the witness found two very large human-like bare footprints in a sand pile in the driveway and measured them, but relatives dismissed them. The witness now interprets the incident as involving a bigfoot.

GrowlVocalizationFootstepsTracks
Fall 1979 Dunnellon, Marion County, Florida Class B #7692

Possible brush nest, tracks, smell, noticed by DeMolay teens visiting rural home Dunellon

Three teenagers walked down a dirt road at night to take time-exposure photos of stars away from house lights. They noticed a strong foul odor and an unusual silence, became frightened, and ran back to the house. The next morning they returned and found an area of flattened brush and a very large footprint in damp soil nearby, which they photographed in black-and-white before having to leave.

OdorTracksStructure or nest
Summer 1978 Hudson, Pasco County, Florida Class B #7627

Man recalls childhood encounter near Hudson

On a summer night the witness and a young relative awoke in their shared bedroom and saw a dark figure looking down through a small high window, noticing glowing red eyes. Both remained motionless from fear until the figure left.

Partial sightingEyeshine
Fall 1975 Everglade City, Collier County, Florida Class B #14271

Possible tracks noticed by hunters in the Everglades outside Everglades City

The witness was hunting with five relatives and family friends in a remote part of the Everglades in the fall. About an hour into the evening hunt, the group found large footprints in mud at a dried water hole near a tree line, with disturbed brush beyond. The group left the area soon after, ending the trip. The witness later interpreted the tracks as those of a skunk ape.

Tracks
December 1974 Ocala, Lake County, Florida Class B #27778

Possible late night campsite intrusion in the Ocala National Forest

As a teenager camping with relatives in Ocala National Forest, the witness slept apart in a sleeping bag on the ground. After falling asleep, the witness awoke to bipedal footsteps entering the camp and heavy breathing with deep sniffs very close to the head. The witness lay still in terror, sensing the intruder watching, until it left silently and normal night sounds resumed. Nothing was seen or smelled, and no tracks were checked.

FootstepsUnidentified sound