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459 encounters
September 2005 Lakeland, Hernando County, Florida Class B #22074

Possible early morning encounter by hunters in the Green Swamp

Two people were sitting around a campfire in early-morning darkness when they heard heavy footsteps approaching through the woods. A creature passed through the campsite toward the river, then ran back and into the woods behind the camp, seen only as a fire-lit silhouette. After hunting from stands, they returned and found large five-toed footprints in sand that they felt were too large to be human.

FootstepsSilhouetteTracks
September 2005 TALLAHASSEE, Gadsden County, Florida Class A #13298

Early evening sighting in backyard on the FL/GA border, north of Tallahassee

On September 18, 2005, the witness observed a large hairy creature walking upright through the backyard for about a minute. The creature was described as over six feet tall with a pointed head and moving very fast. The witness felt the creature wanted to be seen.

Full-body sighting
19 August 2005 Elkton, St. Johns County, Florida Class B #12351

Possible vocalizations heard by residents outside Elkton

The witness stepped onto the porch with two dogs for a cigarette when a very loud yell/scream was heard from the woods edge. The dogs ran about sniffing without barking while the witness got a light and gun, shouted a warning, then heard a second scream deeper in the woods that drew the dogs in for several minutes. The witness's wife also heard the sound from inside the house with windows closed.

Scream
27 July 2005 Esto, Holmes County, Florida Class B #24586

Possible daytime road-crossing by a juvenile outside Esto

While driving to work in the morning, the witness saw a large reddish-brown long-haired animal crossing the road on all fours. The animal moved smoothly and unhurriedly to the opposite side and disappeared into thick vegetation near a creek. The witness noted a flat human-like chest, head set directly on the shoulders, and knuckle-walking, and interpreted it as a juvenile.

Road crossingFull-body sighting
15 June 2005 Middleburg, Clay County, Florida Class A #21879

Teens have very Close Encounter with Creature

The witness and two young companions were fishing on a private wooded property around noon. When the witness approached palmettos to check a noise, he saw eyes, heard a growl, and watched the creature stand to about nine feet tall. The group fled and returned hours later to find food and fish missing, poles scattered, and their shirts draped high in a live oak.

Full-body sightingGrowlOdorProperty disturbance
June 2005 Ochopee, Collier County, Florida Class A #13514

Daylight sighting by motorist on U.S. 41 near I-29

Two people driving east on US 41 to go fishing reported seeing a creature about 50 yards north of the road. The creature turned, took three steps, and knelt down in the grass with its head still visible. The witnesses estimated it was about eight feet tall, and after turning around for another look they did not see it again.

Full-body sighting
24 May 2005 Ormond Beach, Volusia County, Florida Class B #12068

Possible intimidation behavior experienced while shining for alligators in Ormond Beach

Two people were shining lights for alligators beside a lake at night when vegetation beside the dock shook and repeated knocking like wood hitting a tree was heard. A nearby tree then fell, and as they ran toward safety they heard heavy steps and grunting keeping pace parallel to them. About an hour later they returned and found a tall tree freshly snapped about eight feet up with dripping sap and a hair on a branch.

Movement onlyWood knockTree breakTwistFootsteps +2
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
March 2005 Esto, Holmes County, Florida Class B #23399

Possible night-time visit at campsite near Esto

The witness and a companion camped in thick woods and settled in their tent for the night. After about an hour they heard loud thuds like heavy footsteps circling the campsite and limbs breaking, approaching within a few feet of the tent. They then heard deep gorilla-like grunts before the sounds moved away toward a creek, and they remained in the tent frightened until daylight without seeing anything.

FootstepsGrowlTree break
12 February 2005 Lake County, Florida Class B #12903

Stalking in swamp during Florida BFRO expedition

The witness camped in a forested swamp area after dusk and reported hearing large animals moving around the camp in a triangular pattern, breaking branches and knocking on trees, including between the camp and a nearby vehicle. Later that night with others present, the witness reported a strange gurgling sound followed by a prolonged bout of tree knocking. The witness suggested the sounds implied dexterous animals and doubted humans could move that quickly in the dark swamp.

Wood knockVocalizationTree break
6 September 2004 OCKLAWAHA, Marion County, Florida Class A #9282

Two bipedal animals seen in the aftermath of Frances

Early in the morning the household was awakened by tapping at a bedroom window and noticed a foul odor. Two family members went outside and saw large hairy bipedal creatures that ran toward the woods. The sighting lasted seconds, after which no tracks were found and dogs refused to approach.

Full-body sightingDoor or window contactOdor
August 2004 SUNNY HILLS GREENHEAD, Washington County, Florida Class A #9174

Man has nighttime sighting in his yard

Around 9:30 p.m. on a rainy night the witness heard miniature horses making noise in the yard and turned on a porch floodlight to look. From about 40 to 50 feet away in pines the witness saw a tall upright figure that looked toward the porch. The figure then turned and walked behind an outbuilding out of the light during a brief 2- to 3-second view.

Full-body sighting
15 June 2004 Salt Springs, Marion County, Florida Class A #23076

Road grader operator observes creature crossing logging road in Ocala National Forest

The witness was grading a remote forest road around noon when he spotted a large hairy creature about 200 yards ahead standing by the road and looking at him. After watching for about a minute, the creature crossed the road in three steps and disappeared into the woods. The witness drove to the crossing point and found large human-like footprints and broken branches, left food and water, and found them untouched on his return pass.

Full-body sightingRoad crossingTracksTree break
2004–2005 Mulberry, Polk County, Florida Class A #12732

Couple describes vocals and a sighting on their fence-line outside Mulberry

The witness was at home when she heard her dog whining and barking. She looked out the back door window and saw a tall, hairy figure standing at the fence line apparently watching the yard and fire area. Frightened, she quietly left the window with the dog and hid under blankets. She associates the visits with late-night fires and a strong foul odor.

Full-body sightingOdor
January 2004 Ft. Drum And Okeechobee, Okeechobee County, Florida Class A #7904

Woman observes small bipedal creature cross 441 near Ft. Drum

The witness was driving alone southeast on US Highway 441 between Ft. Drum and Okeechobee around dusk. A small upright hair-covered creature ran across the road ahead, paused briefly at the far edge, then leapt over a roadside ditch and barbed-wire fence. The witness braked to about 20 mph at the crossing point but saw no further movement.

Road crossingFull-body sighting
Spring 2004 Ft.Myers, Lee County, Florida Class B #9885

Possible vocalization east of Ft.Myers

The witness and a teenage helper were hauling cut branches on a relative's wooded property in the late afternoon when they heard three loud, deep whoop-like sounds from a swampy area. The witness could not match the sound to known local wildlife and briefly considered Bigfoot before dismissing it. He later checked whooping crane recordings online and concluded that was not the sound heard.

Whoop
October 2003 Caryville, Washington County, Florida Class B #42885

Possible daytime highway crossing on US-90 outside Caryville

The witness was driving east in daylight when an animal came up a hill from a two-track and ran across the highway on all fours. The witness first noticed it from a distance and watched it cross over a few seconds. The witness described a tall, thin, red-haired animal with its head held down and a cone-shaped head.

Road crossingFull-body sighting
15 August 2003 Okeechobee, Okeechobee County, Florida Class B #13961

Possible stalking of boar hunters at night outside Okeechobee

The witness and a companion were resting while hunting hogs with dogs when they heard distinct bipedal-sounding steps that appeared to mimic their own movements and approach them. Fearing it was a person, they fled across a swampy opening. After stopping, they heard loud thrashing and breaking of brush moving away from them through the treeline.

Footsteps
July 2003 Sanford, Seminole County, Florida Class B #44404

Memory told of a possible night encounter while camping near Sanford

The witness and a relative left camp near a lake at night to collect firewood in a clearing. The witness heard a growl and then saw a tall dark upright figure that stood up and shook small trees. The relative came over, then both fled back to camp. The witness said the figure did not match any identifiable animal and fit descriptions of Bigfoot.

Partial sightingSilhouetteGrowl
July 2003 Middleburg, Clay County, Florida Class A #14354

Night time sighting by three boys outside Middleburg

Three youths riding in the back of a pickup while spotlighting for deer saw a tall hair-covered figure standing off the road in trees. The spotlight lit it for a second or two, then the truck backed up and the figure was gone. The witnesses noticed a foul sour odor, became scared, and left the area.

Full-body sightingEyeshineOdor