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442 encounters
January 1978 Brewster, Polk County, Florida Class A #24032

Multiple witness motorist sighting in daylight at the edge of the Alafia River

On New Year's morning in 1978 the witness was riding as a passenger south on Highway 37 over the Alafia River when she saw a large hairy figure squatting at the water's edge splashing water. She got out at the bridge rail for a closer look; the figure looked up, stood, briefly faced her, then climbed the bank into the woods. Her sister, the driver, saw it as it entered the woods, after which they left in the car.

Full-body sighting
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
November 1977 Naranja Near Homestead Fla., Dade County, Florida Class A #21951

Man describes figure looking into window outside Homestead

In fall 1977 a teen woke just before sunrise and looked out his screened window, exchanging grunts with something outside that made the screen vibrate. He and his father then went outside and watched a very large hair-covered creature near the woods that faced them before running into the woods, breaking two small pines as it left. The next day a neighbor reported seeing the creature as well.

Full-body sightingVocalizationTree break
October 1977 Palm Harbor, Pinellas County, Florida Class A #47378

Memory told of a close nighttime encounter while hunting rabbits in a rural backyard near Palm Harbor

Late one night the witness and his father turned on yard floodlights to shoot rabbits. The witness saw a stocky fur-covered biped rise from a crouch near the treeline about 30 yards away and stride rapidly into the pine forest with its head tilted to the left. The father, facing the opposite way, only heard loud crashing exit sounds, and both later heard distant hunting dogs barking in an unusually agitated way.

Full-body sightingFootsteps
November 1975 Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida Class A #16683

Daylight sighting at edge of woods near fishing hole outside Jacksonville

The witness had carried fishing gear to a creek and walked back to the parked car for more equipment when footsteps in the woods stopped. He turned toward the sound and saw a tall hair-covered figure at the woods edge pushing a branch aside. He called to two companions at the fishing spot, and when he looked back the figure was gone as loud footfalls moved rapidly away through the woods.

Partial sightingFootsteps
20 June 1975 Redland, Dade County, Florida Class A #49084

Memory told of a 'Hairy Man' crossing Hwy. 27 north of Homestead

Late at night in June, the witness was driving south on a dark two-lane highway through swampland with three children asleep in the back. She saw a large hair-covered figure come up from a roadside canal, stand on two legs and cross in front of her car. She slowed to almost a stop and watched it at very close range as it turned toward her before walking into the canal, then woke the children to tell them.

Full-body sightingRoad crossing
15 January 1975 Coral Springs, Broward County, Florida Class A #592

Two witnesses observed a large, black-brown human-like form between Wiles Rd. and Sample Rd

The witness and a relative were playing in a vacant lot across a narrow canal from a wooded area with a dirt-bike trail. They heard grunting and movement in bushes beside a large tree and saw a large black-brown human-like figure near the tree. The figure reportedly snapped a thick branch at its base with ease, then ran into the woods knocking down small trees.

Full-body sightingVocalizationTree breakMovement only
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
1975 Florida #http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bigfoothotspot/2016/05/15/sc-ep219-squallies-ape-human-hybrid

Sasquatch sighting in Florida (1975)

The guest had returned home late after evening classes and stopped for groceries before parking at his apartment complex bordering woods. While retrieving bags he noticed a hair-covered bipedal figure watching from the tree line near a dumpster about thirty to forty feet away. He slowly backed toward and up the stairs, and when he glanced away briefly the figure was gone.

Partial sightingSilhouette
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
September 1974 Lakeland, Polk County, Florida Class A #11812

Twilight sighting on the west side of Lakeland

Two people were sitting outside watching the sunset when they heard muffled tapping like wood being chopped from behind a house across the street. They stood to look and then watched a very large upright monkey-like animal climb a pine, jump to another tree, pause briefly, and jump down from an estimated 20 feet.

Full-body sightingWood knock
20 July 1974 Davie, Broward County, Florida Class A #44837

Years of South Florida Skunk Ape stories supported by witness accounts and newspaper articles

In July 1974 the witness and his older cousin were staying overnight in a relative's sitting room in southern Florida. Late at night under floodlights they watched a tall hairy biped outside the picture window scream, then walk around the property while they followed it from window to window. They saw it eat a watermelon with both hands and scoop water to drink before leaving on a wooded trail.

Full-body sightingScreamAnimal behaviour
Summer 1974 Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach County, Florida Class B #45551

Recollection of setting up camp and observing a tall bi-pedal animal running near Palm Beach Gardens

While setting up camp in the late afternoon near a wooded area with a man-made canal and large dirt pile, the witness saw a very tall, brown-haired bipedal figure run across an open field about 100 yards away. The figure paused to look toward the group, then ran quickly up the steep dirt pile, paused to look again, and disappeared over the other side. The group decided not to remain to camp that night.

Full-body sighting
1974–1976 Waukeena East Of Tallahassee, Jefferson County, Florida Class A #40784

Memory told of a large hairy biped approaching a family as they dumped their garbage near Waukeenah

Relatives stopping at a communal trash dump in daylight saw a very large, naked, reddish-brown hair-covered male figure emerge from the tree line about 70 feet away. The figure growled and grunted as it approached quickly to within about 30 feet, emitting a strong rotten odor. The family retreated to their car and drove away. The reporter states he was reportedly present but has no memory of the incident.

Full-body sightingGrowlVocalizationOdor
1974 Davie, Florida #http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bigfoothotspot/2017/02/03/sc-ep295-the-creature-was-hit-by-the-police-car

Sasquatch sighting near Davie, Florida (1974)

A few nights later a loud scream and shotgun blasts came from a cattle rancher's property. While following a deputy's patrol car, the witnesses saw the creature run from the dark and be struck, stopping the car. It got up limping, struck the hood, screamed, and left toward the swamp. At the pasture the prize bull was found dead with its torso in one place and head about 100 yards away, followed by an all-night search with dogs and helicopters that found nothing.

Full-body sightingVehicle contactProperty disturbanceScream
1974 Davie, Florida #http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bigfoothotspot/2017/02/03/sc-ep295-the-creature-was-hit-by-the-police-car

Sasquatch sighting near Davie, Florida (1974)

Around 3 a.m. the dogs reacted, floodlights came on, and a huge shadow crossed the wall. The witness peeked out the front picture window and saw a very tall hairy biped that flexed and screamed. It then walked along the fence, ate a wild watermelon, drank from a neighbor's man-made lake, and left toward the swamp. Next morning large footprints were found but were trampled before casting.

Full-body sightingScreamTracks
1974 Davie, Florida #http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bigfoothotspot/2017/02/03/sc-ep295-the-creature-was-hit-by-the-police-car

Odor near Davie, Florida (1974)

While staying at the witness's sister's house one night, the witness and cousin noticed a very strong skunk-like odor drift past. The house dogs became extremely agitated and had to be put in the garage. The next day the sister said the smell was the skunk ape that comes around in hot summers.

Odor
May 1973 The Closest Town Would Have Been Naples. But We Thought It Was Too Far To Lodge Or Get A Meal., Collier County, Florida Class A #2856

Construction worker has startling encounter outside hunting cottage

The witness and a relative camped overnight at two unfinished houses in swampy pine woods while on a work assignment. After dark by a campfire the witness saw eyes and then watched a tall upright figure cross an open area and take bacon left near the fire. The witness retreated into the house, retrieved rifles, and kept watch through the night. No usable tracks were found the next morning.

Full-body sightingOdorUnidentified sound
29 July 1972 Chuluota, Seminole County, Florida Class A #37304

Best friends recall watching their dirt bike being canvassed by a hairy biped while camping at Lake Mills

Two companions were sleeping at a lakeside camp when one was awakened around 4 a.m. by snapping brush. A tall reddish-brown furry biped entered camp, bent over a parked motorcycle and gently touched it with both hands while ignoring the witnesses, then stood and walked away through thick brush. The witnesses waited, fled on the motorcycle, and later returned by car to retrieve their gear.

Full-body sightingFootsteps
1970 Florida #gid://art19-episode-locator/V0/FehuLvubnK9KtwJBrbKtRIhR4e32CZzQjhzuvX1Qopk

Sasquatch sighting in Florida (1970)

As a small child sleeping in an isolated Florida ranch house on a bright summer night, the guest was awakened by livestock panic followed by silence and approaching footsteps. A massive dark form filled the bedroom window and seemed to look down at him while breathing heavily, terrifying him so badly he tried to hide under the mattress. He later identified the hairy arm seen in a movie as matching what was at his window.

Partial sightingFootsteps