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15 encounters
2 October 2021 Harrisburg, Saline County, Illinois Class B #72110

Two hikers describe hearing bigfoot-like sounds near Indian Point (Garden of the Gods)

The witness and a companion were hiking in Shawnee National Forest when they heard rocks thrown, wood knocks, and a tree being pushed over nearby, followed by running footsteps that stopped abruptly. While heading back they heard a growl, whoops and howls from multiple directions and felt they were being watched. The witness attempted a phone audio recording but it did not capture the sounds clearly.

Rock throwingWood knockTree breakGrowlWhoop +3
October 2020 Makanda, Jackson County, Illinois Class B #66182

Hammock Slapped, Bipedal Walking, and Two Vocalizations Experienced by Trio of Campers

Three campers spent the night in separate tent and hammock shelters arranged around a campfire at a remote site. During the night the reporting witness was awakened by a slap to his tarp, while the companions reported bipedal footsteps circling their shelters. Shortly after the footsteps left, two loud howls were heard about 15 minutes apart. No creature was seen and no footprints were found in the morning due to leaf cover.

FootstepsHowlDoor or window contact
2 December 2012 Decatur, Macon County, Illinois Class B #37988

Late night observation by a home owner near Lake Decatur

The witness was smoking on the front porch at night when rustling was heard nearby. A dark massive upright figure stood up about 30 yards away, looked both ways, then ran across the street into a wooded area. Later that night the witness noted a musty odor and heard a deep scream-howl sound on and off.

Full-body sightingRoad crossingEyeshineOdorScream +2
10 October 2012 Utica, La Salle County, Illinois Class B #40476

Possible activity experienced by a family near Utica

Two people were sitting around a campfire in their yard at night when they heard coyotes howling. The coyote howls were then joined by a much lower, deeper and louder howl. The witnesses considered a wolf as a possible source but were frightened and returned to the house without seeing anything.

Howl
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
15 April 2011 Equality, Hardin County, Illinois Class A #29165

Possible observations using thermal imager southeast of Equality

The witness was with two companions walking a forest trail back to camp near midnight while using a thermal monocular and making howls and whoops. After hearing four return howls, the witness saw a bright heat signature through the thermal that peeked from behind a tree, disappearing and reappearing on alternating sides for about a minute. A companion also viewed it through the thermal and reacted with surprise. When the companions moved closer, the source grew smaller, moved through thick vegetation from right to left, and disappeared, with the witness discerning only what looked like a head.

Partial sightingHowl
2 November 2010 Midlothian, Cook County, Illinois Class B #28525

Possible vocalizations and stick structures found in Bachelors Grove Cemetery

On the morning of 2 Nov 2010 the witness, a companion, and an investigator were in heavily wooded preserve land by a cemetery looking at tree structures when sirens sounded. They distinguished a different howl-like sound about 200 to 300 yards to the north, heard three times in total. The sound was captured on audio and a segment was later isolated. No creature was seen.

Howl
29 May 2006 Mitchellville, Saline County, Illinois Class B #14802

Possible vocalizations heard by camper near Williams Hill Pass in the Shawnee National Forest

The witness was camping with family and awoke early unable to sleep. While tending the fire in the early morning, she heard distant loud howls lasting several minutes, which were followed by distant dogs barking. The companion and children did not hear the sounds, but the family dog stopped and looked toward the sounds. The companion later played posted howl recordings, which the witness said were a close match.

Howl
September 1998 Carmi, White County, Illinois Class B #29360

Couple hears possible vocalizations a few miles outside of Carmi

While smoking outside under a tree late at night, the witness and companion heard prolonged loud moaning howls coming from behind a neighboring house. The sound lasted at least two minutes and was unlike any familiar local animal. Frightened, they ran inside, after which the sound could no longer be heard.

Howl
December 1977 Marion, Williamson County, Illinois Class B #15895

Possible vocalization heard in Marion, Illinois

During a holiday visit in heavy snow, the witness was awakened around 2 a.m. by a very loud, prolonged scream from outside the bedroom window. The witness stayed frozen listening, then found other household members awake, and was told it was probably a cat under the house. The next morning new snow covered the area, and later checks found no sign of cats, leading the witness to note its similarity to recorded alleged vocalizations.

ScreamGrowlHowl
15 August 1967 River Grove, Cook County, Illinois Class A #46494

Memory told of a daytime sighting in Schiller Woods

The witness was resting by the Des Plaines River during a bicycle ride when a hair-covered creature was seen across the river splashing in the water. After the witness coughed, the creature threw large rocks toward the witness, then crossed the river silently and confronted the witness at close range. The witness fled along a trail while hearing a loud howl and screaming and seeing additional shadowy figures across the river.

Full-body sightingSilhouetteRock throwingHowlScream
BFRO YEAR: 84 to 86 Atwood, Piatt County, Illinois Class B #47469

Memory told of possible vocalizations and footprints found near Atwood

On a winter evening around 10 p.m., the witness opened the door to let a dog out and heard an immense scream-howl from just north of the house. The sound felt like a physical impact and frightened the dog so it would not go outside. The witness's mother also heard the vocalization from inside the house.

HowlScream
Summer 1978 Granite City, Madison County, Illinois Related account #32196

Howl near Granite City, Illinois

The witness and a friend spending the night in the barn hay loft heard a loud howl at dusk and later heard heavy breathing and bipedal footsteps moving in the barn below without seeing the source.

HowlFootsteps
Date unknown Alton, Madison County, Illinois Related account #10535

Howl near Alton, Illinois

The witness reports having been howled at on another occasion in the same area.

Howl
frequently Godfrey, Madison County, Illinois Related account #41487

Howl near Godfrey, Illinois

Family members frequently hear distant howls that the witness says match recordings.

Howl