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19 encounters
10 October 2015 Kopperston, Wyoming County, West Virginia Class A #74981

Ginseng hunter and stepson have lengthy encounter 20 miles west of Beckley

The witness and a companion were harvesting ginseng when they heard repeated unusual sounds including a low growl and a loud siren-like tone. Over several minutes they heard heavy fast footsteps and watched smaller trees shake violently while catching partial glimpses of a large bipedal creature that kept trees between itself and them. Several trees snapped and fell in the same direction, and rocks were later seen rolling down a nearby point. The pair inspected freshly broken trees before leaving the area the way they came.

Partial sightingVocalizationGrowlHowlFootsteps +3
June 2012 Durbin, Pocahontas County, West Virginia Class B #36700

Lone hiker wakes to rock clacks and heavy foot falls on the Allegheny Trail near Durbin

The witness camped overnight in a tent at a shelter along the Allegheny Trail. At dawn he was awakened by stones clacking together that moved back and forth north to south for an extended period. Shortly after the clacking stopped, he felt and heard heavy footsteps approach from behind the shelter and step on a plastic tarp beside it. He shouted from inside the tent, after which he heard no further movement.

Unidentified soundFootsteps
1 November 2010 Brandywine, Pendleton County, West Virginia Class B #30154

Turkey hunters hear possible howl and bipedal steps approach their camp near Brandywine

The witness and two companions hiked into rugged forest to camp overnight for turkey hunting. Late at night they heard a prolonged unfamiliar howl, and a few hours later heard slow heavy footsteps approach within feet of their tent before withdrawing when spoken to. The next morning they found a large scat pile uphill and then left the area.

HowlFootstepsScat
July 2009 Iaeger,, McDowell County, West Virginia Class B #26354

Rural residents describe loud vocalizations and strange incidents near Iaeger

The witness was sitting on the front porch late at night when he heard a loud scream at a distance, followed later by crashing brush and a series of loud moans, growls and howls from across the road. He judged the vocalizations as extremely powerful and unlike any known animal and inferred the source was very large. He went inside and locked the doors.

ScreamVocalizationGrowlHowlFootsteps
15 October 2008 Huntington, Wayne County, West Virginia Class B #28382

Possible activity outside a residence near Lavalette

The witness and a relative were sitting on a hill near outbuildings watching a hollow at night when a passing car's lights revealed a tall standing figure below them. The figure turned toward them, and after the car passed they heard breathing and running coming uphill toward them. Both fled to the nearby house and heard nothing further that night.

SilhouetteMovement onlyFootstepsUnidentified sound
2 July 2007 Petersberg, Pendleton County, West Virginia Class A #20101

Afternoon sighting by hiker at Seneca Rocks

The witness was descending from Seneca Rocks on a shortcut and became lost in rough rocky terrain. They heard heavy footsteps and branches cracking, then saw the back of a tall orange-brown haired creature moving uphill about 30 yards away. The creature continued uphill quickly over rocks and disappeared, and the witness returned to the trail to tell family.

Partial sightingFootstepsUnidentified sound
January 2007 Elkins, Randolph County, West Virginia Class B #17449

Possible vocalizations heard by backpackers in Otter Creek Wilderness

The witness and two companions were backpacking and camping in a wilderness area, working to start a fire at dusk when the witness and one companion heard a loud, long howl-like scream repeated three times from far up a hollow. The witness judged it unlike any known local animal call. Later that night after the fire burned down, the witness alone heard loud stomping and large branches snapping near the creek close to camp for a few minutes.

HowlScreamFootstepsTree break
October 2006 Agusta, Hampshire County, West Virginia Class A #16204

Repeat visitations described near rural home

The witness reported seeing a tall, large creature with yellow eyes watching her companion as he placed puppies in a fenced pen on 8 October 2006. She moved her young child to the porch while her companion remained unaware he was being observed. Later that night her companion encountered something very large approaching on foot, prompting him to run inside and lock the doors, concluding it was not a bear.

Full-body sightingEyeshineFootstepsPartial sightingPossible misidentification
July 2006 Big Run, Wetzel County, West Virginia #http://www.blogtalkradio.com/bigfoothotspot/2015/01/04/sc-ep69-bigfoot-chased-atv

Unidentified sound near Big Run, West Virginia (2006)

The witness was riding an ATV alone at night on ridgetop trails when he stopped in dense brush and a large rock passed just in front of his head, followed by a deep growl felt in the chest. He fled on the ATV but ran out of fuel a short distance away and while trying to restart heard loud heavy bipedal steps approaching from behind. He got the machine restarted and rode home without stopping, and later saw the rock sitting beside the trail for years.

Unidentified soundFootstepsRock throwingGrowl
September 2005 Philippi, Barbour County, West Virginia Class B #13141

Possible vocalizations heard by camper near Tygart Valley River

The witness spent the summer camping in a tent in a meadow while working away from home. On many nights he was awakened after midnight by repeated long moaning sounds and at times heard walking sounds near camp, but a flashlight search revealed nothing. He also reported occasionally hearing wood knocks and bipedal footsteps trailing him along the woodline, with the source staying hidden behind vegetation.

VocalizationFootstepsWood knockPossible misidentification
November 2004 Keyser, Mineral County, West Virginia Class A #23437

Night time sighting by motorist outside the town of Keyser

The witness was driving down a mountain road at night after dropping off a companion when headlights illuminated a large hairy figure sitting on a log beside the road. The figure stood, leapt into the roadway, and ran across into dense cover while the witness watched. The witness stopped, turned off the vehicle, and listened briefly to heavy crashing footsteps receding into the woods before driving on and noticing a nearby campfire gathering.

Full-body sightingEyeshineRoad crossingFootsteps
30 October 2004 Marlinton, Pocahontas County, West Virginia Class B #14739

Possible vocalization and stalking near Spruce Flat

The witness and a companion were walking along a road late at night when they heard a strange drawn-out hoot-like vocalization and heavy footsteps approaching through a field. The unseen source circled around them in the dark, vocalized again, and reportedly knocked down an old barbed-wire fence ahead of them. The pair never saw the source of the sounds.

VocalizationFootstepsProperty disturbance
June 2001 Milton, Cabell County, West Virginia Class B #2786

On-going encounters makes rural family cautious

In June 2001 the witness's children discovered large footprints in the field behind the family mobile home and photographed them. About a week later the children heard something running across the hillside while playing at the creek, and the family dog chased it and later returned covered in slime. The children later encountered large rocks rolling toward them on the hill, and the witness heard a loud prolonged growl, with a horrible unidentified odor lingering after the hillside activity.

TracksFootstepsRock throwingGrowlOdor
2001 Pawpaw, West Virginia #b1634e7e-d17d-4dcc-a091-ef6e3eacebbf

Cryptid sighting near Pawpaw, West Virginia (2001)

The witness was camping at a small private campground when he heard something crashing toward camp. He shone a flashlight and saw a black, bear-headed creature about 5-foot-9 tall with kangaroo-like arms and an odd posture. After a few seconds it dropped low and scuttled rapidly into the woods, leaving him uneasy.

Full-body sightingEyeshineFootsteps
11 October 1996 Circleville, Pendleton County, West Virginia Class B #13122

Possible repeat approaches outside Circleville

The witness and a companion were working for about a month at a remote camp near Spruce Knob. On one night by the campfire the witness heard low vocal sounds and three grunts directly behind him. Both men yelled and ran toward the woods, hearing something large moving away through the trees but seeing nothing when a flashlight was used.

VocalizationGrowlFootstepsMovement only
10 August 1990 Holden, Logan County, West Virginia Class B #16228

Possible sighting by a security guard at strip mine outside Holden

The witness was working an overnight security shift at a strip mine when he heard movement in brush behind the trailer. Shining a flashlight, he saw a large bipedal animal squatting behind a thicket that covered its face with huge hands before running away. About half an hour later he heard a chilling scream from inside the locked trailer, and he left the mountain for good that night.

Partial sightingScreamFootsteps
1988–2003 Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia Class B #15475

Hunter describes being paralleled along railroad tracks northeast of Morgantown

While hunting alone along railroad tracks in late fall, the witness heard rustling and then footsteps paralleling his movement through the woods. The source kept pace at a distance, stopping when he stopped and moving when he moved, with heavy footfalls and loud branch breaking. It followed him to the edge of an open field near his parked truck. He never saw the source and called out without reply.

FootstepsUnidentified soundAnimal behaviour
1970 Grantsville, Calhoun County, West Virginia #gid://art19-episode-locator/V0/FehuLvubnK9KtwJBrbKtRIhR4e32CZzQjhzuvX1Qopk

Sasquatch sighting near Grantsville, West Virginia (1970)

The guest and his younger brother were on summer vacation at their grandfather's hillside house in West Virginia. After the younger brother fled the back bedroom saying a hairy face had pushed through the unscreened window while sniffing the air, both boys ran outside and, in headlights reflected off the siding, watched a dark bipedal figure go down the rear embankment and crash through a dense briar thicket. The next morning their uncle turned pale when told and warned them to stay out of the back.

Partial sightingVocalizationFootstepsMovement only
my high school days West Virginia #209a4251-35b1-41b4-81b7-8bc74d8eb99b

Footsteps in West Virginia

As kids the witness and his brother were paced by something in the woods while walking past a mountain to the bus stop. It matched their pace, moved when they moved, and stopped after one or two extra steps when they stopped. At the time they thought it might be a panther.

Footsteps