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10 encounters
22 January 2023 Custer Park, Will County, Illinois Class A #75453

Family describes multiple incidents in Custer Park, 45 SE of Chicago

Two children walking in a field reported seeing a figure standing in a ditch along a treeline watching them. They said it moved a short distance when they looked away and stopped when they looked back. They took photos of it and reported finding footprints.

Full-body sightingTracks
3 December 2012 Litchfield, Montgomery County, Illinois Class B #38337

Possible nighttime sighting from a home by a young woman near Lake Lou Yaeger

The witness, staying at a house for a short time, was looking out a window in the early morning and saw a tall figure by the clothesline pole. The figure was described as about a foot taller than the 7-foot-8-inch pole, brown on top with gray speckled lower areas, moving hunched over and scratching its back, with a strong skunk and manure-like odor. After watching for several minutes, the witness saw it take two steps into the nearby woods.

Full-body sightingOdor
10 October 2011 Olive Branch, Alexander County, Illinois Class A #36246

Hiker has daylight sighting near Olive Branch

The witness reported walking back along a trail after making calls with no response when he found a very large footprint and a scat pile containing vegetation and shell fragments. Moments later he saw a very tall, heavily built, dark brownish creature about 70-80 feet away that had been digging at a ground hornet nest. The creature then ran rapidly down one ridge and up another at a speed the witness felt could not be matched, and disappeared. The witness then collected his things and left for his car.

Full-body sightingTracksScatAnimal behaviour
8 June 2006 Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois Class A #14872

Nighttime sighting and possible footprints found by homeowner near Edwardsville

The witness was pulling into the driveway late at night when she saw a tall grayish figure standing near a bush about 10 feet away in street light. The submitter, her husband, was at the residence and was not a witness. Around the time of the sighting night sounds became quiet and still for about 10 minutes and a dog refused to go outside, then sounds returned to normal.

Full-body sighting
26 October 2003 Pearl City, Stephenson County, Illinois Class A #15347

Deer hunter has early morning sighting from tree stand near Pearl City

The witness climbed into a tree stand before dawn to bow hunt. While it was still dark, something breathed heavily beneath the stand for about 10 minutes then walked away to the southeast. Shortly after sunrise in light fog, the witness saw a large human-like figure about 100 yards away walking east at a fast pace. After climbing down, the witness followed its footprints eastward.

Full-body sightingUnidentified soundFootstepsTracks
29 November 1986 Hennepin, Putnam County, Illinois Class A #27374

Man remembers his daytime sighting as a youth living south of Hennepin

The witness was riding a BMX bike on a snow-covered road in the afternoon when they saw a tall, long-haired figure crossing the road about 50 yards ahead. The figure was described as about eight feet tall with light brown hair. The witness ran inside for a camera but could not find one, and the next day found footprints with a relative.

Full-body sightingRoad crossingTracks
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
1980–1999 Ottawa, La Salle County, Illinois Class A #36667

Memory told of encounters on a farm near Ottawa

The witness was walking back to the house on a relative's farm at night after feeding dogs when a tall, hairy, foul-smelling being stood in the path near the driveway. The witness froze as the being bent down and stared directly. A relative opened the door and reacted, after which the being looked up and walked away.

Full-body sightingOdor
1980 Carbondale, Jackson County, Illinois Class C #2806

The "Big Muddy Monster" flap of Murphysboro

In the late 1970s to early 1980s, residents around the Big Muddy River reported a foul-smelling, hairy hominid-like creature. Witnesses described seeing and hearing it near the river and finding footprints, with size and color accounts varying. The writer compiled these secondhand accounts and notes the creature was never reported as violent.

Full-body sightingVocalizationOdorTracks
7 November 1964 Villa Grove, Douglas County, Illinois Class A #30367

Memories told of encounters experienced by a family living near Villa Grove

On a clear November mid-afternoon in 1964, several children and later their mother watched a distant upright black figure standing in a harvested corn field. The children shouted at it, it appeared to turn toward them then away, and a dog chased after it out of view. The mother, frightened, brought the children inside. Decades later the witness still interprets the figure as a bigfoot.

Full-body sighting