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12 encounters
11 April 2012 Not Disclosed At This Time, Hillsborough County, Florida Class B #35053

Hitch-hiker tells of his possible nighttime encounter along I-75

The witness was hitchhiking and camped for the night in a hammock under a river bridge. During the night he heard unknown noises, a cough/grunt sound, whistles, rocks thrown toward him, and a very loud crash near his hammock. He smelled a skunk-like odor and felt watched as he packed up and left, then continued his trip by bus.

Unidentified soundVocalizationWhistleRock throwingWood knock +1
4 May 2011 New Smyrna Beach, Brevard County, Florida Class A #29529

Fishing guide with clients approached by a Florida Skunk-Ape in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (includes witness sketch)

The witness was guiding a fishing charter by boat in a remote refuge in the morning when a reddish-brown hairy biped was seen searching a sand bank. The creature approached to close range, stood erect and faced the boat for several seconds, vocalized, then left quietly into mangroves. The sighting lasted about two minutes and was watched by the guide and two clients.

Full-body sightingVocalization
12 July 2007 Leesburg, Lake County, Florida Class A #19958

Dusk sighting by hikers in Flat Island Preserve

The witness and a companion were walking a nature trail at night when they heard repeated wood-on-wood knocking. They approached the sound and saw a tall muscular figure that looked at them briefly before running away. Both witnesses were later interviewed separately and estimated the figure at 7 to 8 feet tall.

Full-body sightingWood knockVocalizationFootsteps
June 2007 Paltka/Bardin, Putnam County, Florida Class B #25979

Man finds possible footprint outside Palatka

The witness was hiking alone on the Florida Trail when he found very large bare human-like footprints on a dirt road that had been clear of prints shortly before. He did not see the track-maker but reported feeling watched and then hearing a yelp described as half dog and half human. He did not photograph the prints and hurried back to his truck.

TracksVocalization
17 November 2006 Middleburg, Clay County, Florida Class A #16727

Nighttime sighting by teen at Lake Asbury off HWY 739 outside Middleburg

The witness was at a wooded church camp at night when a tall black-haired biped trotted across about 50 feet away for about seven seconds. The witness noted a dome-like head, very large shoulders, and long arms hanging straight down while the shoulders twisted with movement. About a minute later a strong foul odor was noticed, followed minutes later by a series of loud hoots. The next morning the witness found large human-like barefoot tracks in sand.

Full-body sightingVocalizationOdorTracks
April 2005 Down By Museum, Collier County, Florida Class B #18737

Campers report possible vocalization and footprint in Big Cypress National Preserve

The witness was family camping in the Big Cypress area when she noticed a tall black shape in the woods that vanished minutes later. Around 4 a.m. she awoke to a distant wailing sound with heavy breathing that approached the campsite, passed by the tents and left down a trail, waking several companions who also heard it. In the morning the group followed the direction of travel and found large wide footprints with a four-toe appearance in a sandy trail that had not been there the day before.

SilhouetteVocalizationTracks
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
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
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
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
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
in November when in high school Florida #gid://art19-episode-locator/V0/tlRGHMrE5m2HIKPOHxBWxhPt_WvpEE_Gpp438UyZmYY

Vocalization in Florida

During a large group campout the witness and friends heard a powerful roar from an oak hammock after the campfire flared up. Three went to investigate and found a large round hay bale thrown from a flatbed truck with a bounce indentation and mud. Next morning large human-like tracks were found circling the entire campsite.

VocalizationObject throwingTracks