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46 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
February 2018 Lyndon, Whiteside County, Illinois Class B #71815

Law enforcement officers find and follow fresh snow tracks 33 miles NE of Moline

After midnight an on-duty officer searching for a stolen snowmobile along a river heard loud crashing and heavy running in a treeline. He then found large human-like footprints in snow, with two larger sets and one smaller set, showing a long stride and signs of running. He and two deputies photographed the tracks and interpreted the trail as individuals scouting, pausing, and circling before leaving, then withdrew from the area.

FootstepsTracks
15 January 2016 St. Clair County, Illinois Class B #50965

Possible footprints found and cast east of Belleville near Illinois Route 4

The witness reported finding several large footprints in dirt where a prairie grass field meets woods during a sunny afternoon. The prints were documented by video and preserved by casting, with five toes visible and a reported size of fifteen inches long by six inches wide. No creature was seen during this find. The witness noted it was the second such discovery in the same area after June 2015.

Tracks
12 November 2015 Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois Class B #55144

Hunter describes strange encounters and finds a possible footprint near Kickapoo State Park

The witness was bowhunting deer alone from a tree stand in the evening and shot a buck. While climbing down and tracking the deer in near-dark, the witness heard loud screaming-growling noises, smelled a strong pungent odor, and saw a huge silhouette about 30 yards away on a hillside. The witness left the woods while still hearing the noises and returned the next morning to find the blood trail ended with no deer.

ScreamGrowlSilhouetteOdor
10 June 2015 St. Clair County, Illinois Class B #50967

Possible footprints found east of Belleville near Illinois Route 4

The witness was walking through woods near a river toward a field used for searching for artifacts in the evening. They heard loud crashing described as something moving fast and hard and breaking limbs. They then found several footprints in mud left after rain, one of which was photographed and measured.

Unidentified soundTracks
19 January 2015 Bedford Park, Cook County, Illinois Class B #47720

Possible footprints in the snow found in Bedford Park (with photos)

The witness was performing pest control service when they found a trail of large prints with toe impressions in snow. They took photos and video and tried to follow the trail until it ended where there was no snow. They did not see the maker of the prints. A follow-up phone call recorded estimates of 18 inches long by 8 inches wide with five toes and short steps.

Tracks
10 March 2013 Beach Park, Lake County, Illinois Class B #40314

Homeowner finds possible footprints near Beach Park

The witness was in the process of buying a vacant house and found a line of large barefoot-like impressions in snow and mud along the side of the garage toward the backyard. The prints showed toes, deep toe depression and a short stride close to the building, and were photographed with the witness's shoe for scale. The witness reported seeing only incoming tracks and requested review of the photos, noting doubt about a hoax due to the secluded location.

Tracks
14 December 2012 Litchfield, Montgomery County, Illinois Class A #39568

Nighttime sighting from a window by a young woman near Lake Lou Yaeger

The witness was in bed around 2 a.m. when a powerful stench prompted a look out the bedroom window. A partially cut tree about 100 feet away began to topple, and a camera flash revealed a large brown hunched figure about ten feet from the house, possibly with a second figure near the woodline. The figures left into the woods, and the next day the witness found the tree down with the saw bar displaced and many tracks and cracked walnuts nearby.

OdorPartial sightingTree breakTracks
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
23 January 2012 Albany, Whiteside County, Illinois Class B #33264

Photos taken of possible footprints found on rural property near Albany

The witness and spouse found two distinct sets of human-like bare footprints in snow near their home on a clear mid-morning. One set measured about 10 inches long and the other about 12 inches long, with clearly visible toes. Photos were taken and the spouse followed the prints for several hundred yards.

Tracks
8 December 2011 Greenville, Bond County, Illinois Class B #31419

Possible nighttime sighting and vocalizations in a backyard near Old Ripley

The witness was in bed late at night when barking dogs prompted them to go outside. They saw a dog run under the porch and something retreat into the woods. After shouting and tossing a small stone into the trees, the witness heard a shriek/howl and the stone was thrown back to land at their feet. The witness ran inside, then returned with a flashlight to find twisted vegetation and snapped branches and noted a foul smell.

Partial sightingScreamHowlRock throwingObject throwing +3
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
7 September 2011 Midlothian, Cook County, Illinois Class B #30601

Possible vocalization and footprint found near Bachelors Grove Cemetery

The witness and a companion visited Bachelor's Grove in the afternoon to check structures described in a prior report. They observed hand-made tree pyramids, an X, and an arch, heard a siren-like sound and faint mumbling voices, and saw no unknown animals. After the companion left, the witness found a large old footprint with visible toes and additional faint impressions forming a long-stride trackway.

TracksStructure or nestUnidentified soundVocalization
14 August 2011 Peoria County, Illinois Class B #30510

Possible footprint found near Peoria

The witness was walking along a creek bed in heavily wooded terrain when they found a very large footprint with five distinct toes. After photographing it with makeshift scale items, they heard movement and a large branch being twisted on the hillside and left the woods. An investigator later visited the site with the witness and summarized the track as a 17-inch-long left-foot impression.

TracksMovement onlyTwist
2 August 2011 Olive Branch, Alexander County, Illinois Class B #40474

Hunter finds a possible footprint near Olive Branch

The witness arrived at a hunting area well before dawn and waited in the car, noticing a chill and a faint skunky musky odor. After sunrise he walked to a pond and then east along a fire access road, where he found a single very fresh footprint with visible toes in the dust of a turkey scratch. He photographed the track beside his boot, but wind erased the dust detail by the next day.

TracksOdor
28 June 2011 Glenarm, Sangamon County, Illinois Class B #32634

Two paranormal investigators find possible evidence at Cumberland Sugar Creek Cemetery

Two paranormal investigators visited a rural pioneer cemetery late at night for a walkthrough after hearing about recent rock throwing and large tracks nearby. Near an opening in the fence at the southeast corner they found three large barefoot footprints in soft clay leading away from the cemetery and photographed them with a cell phone. About 75 feet away they noted a small tree that had been snapped and bent over outside the fence. They left after about an hour without seeing any animal or person.

TracksTree break
16 June 2011 Glenarm, Sangamon County, Illinois Class B #31062

Possible footprint found near the Sugar Creek Covered Bridge

A relative reported finding a large footprint in mud in woods near a creek. The print was described as 18 inches long and 8 inches wide with plainly visible toes. An investigator visited the area days later but recent rain had erased the imprint.

Tracks
15 June 2011 Chatham, Sangamon County, Illinois Class B #29495

Possible footprint found on edge of Chatham

Two residents found a single large footprint in mud under an apple tree in their suburban backyard that backs onto woods. The print was measured at about 18 inches long and seven inches wide, with missing fruit noted on the tree above it. No creature was seen. Police and later an investigator each visited the residence to view the footprint and speak with the witnesses.

Tracks
3 May 2011 Metropolis, Massac County, Illinois Class B #29227

Possible footprints found near Metropolis

A family visiting their newly purchased wooded property for a picnic found a large bare footprint on a mowed slope. The witness's spouse spotted the print after the witness had walked over it without noticing. The witness then found two additional partial impressions nearby and a strange stick structure behind the cabin, which were photographed with scale and measurements.

TracksStructure or nest
3 February 2011 Algonquin, Kane County, Illinois Class B #29448

Possible footprints found near Algonquin

After a major blizzard, the witness and her husband noticed a long line of large footprints crossing their snow-covered backyard. The trackway appeared to start near the patio by the garage, pass toward an outhouse, and continue toward a fence and adjoining trail and woods. No creature was seen, and no photos of the tracks were taken before the snow melted.

Tracks