Search results

146 encounters
23 October 2013 Keensburg, Wabash County, Illinois Class A #43148

Hiker has close daylight sighting in Beall Woods State Park

The witness was walking a dog on a trail at Beall Woods State Park when the dog stopped and stared into a large ravine. The witness watched an entity at the bottom for about thirty seconds before it moved and turned toward them, then took two steps forward as the witness backed away. After the dog barked forcefully the entity stepped back, and the witness left while hearing it climb out of the ravine and move through the woods.

Full-body sightingFootsteps
22 June 2013 Kellerville, Adams County, Illinois Class A #41718

Motorcyclist has daylight sighting south of Kellerville

The witness was riding on a motorcycle with her husband when she noticed a tall, hair-covered figure standing motionless beside the road. She observed its side view clearly as they passed at 40-45 mph, noting its muscular build, reddish-brown body hair, and grey-white face. When they returned about 20 minutes later, the figure was gone.

Full-body sighting
23 March 2013 Blandinsville, McDonough County, Illinois Class B #40714

Motorist has possible nighttime sighting near Blandinsville

The witness was driving home at night and scanning a field when they noticed an unfamiliar light-colored, long-haired animal on all fours standing still. The animal was described as larger than a dog but shorter than a buck deer, very heavily built, and kept its head down as the witness drove past. The witness was alone and stated they had never seen anything like it.

Full-body sighting
4 March 2013 Edinburg, Christian County, Illinois Class A #40220

Motorist spots a tall hairy biped chasing deer near Edinburg

The witness stopped at a stop sign at night and saw several deer running fast across an open field. She then saw a very tall, hairy bipedal creature chasing the deer. Both the deer and the creature ran into trees at the edge of the field, and the frightened witness drove home and told her parents.

Full-body sighting
March 2013 Palos Park, Cook County, Illinois Class B #47521

Possible early morning sighting in Palos Park

Just before sunrise in March 2013, the witness was on the side of the road and saw a tall black figure in the rear-view mirror pass behind the vehicle and cross the road in three strides. The witness first thought it was a person out walking, but later noted the walking trail was ahead while the area behind was a guardrail and steep drop-off that was very difficult to walk.

Full-body sightingRoad crossing
26 February 2013 East Peoria, Tazewell County, Illinois Class A #40075

Daylight sighting along levee in East Peoria

The witness was sitting in a vehicle near a levee on the east Peoria side of the river in the morning. A tan, hair-covered figure was seen running along the top of the levee about 100 yards away for 5 to 6 seconds. The figure moved very fast with bent legs in fluid motion, its head steady and down. The witness emphasized its remarkable speed.

Full-body sighting
February 2013 Lake In The Hills, McHenry County, Illinois Class A #47776

Nighttime sighting by homeowner in Lake in the Hills

Around 3:30 a.m. the witness stepped onto the back patio and saw a tall muscular figure walking through a neighbor's yard toward nearby trees. The figure struck the neighbor's above-ground pool with its hand as it passed. The witness went upstairs to watch from a window, after which something was thrown at the house and the witness stopped watching.

Full-body sightingObject throwing
20 December 2012 Matteson, Cook County, Illinois Class A #38395

Motorists have nighttime sighting north of Matteson

The witness was driving southbound through a forest preserve at night with his wife and daughter with headlights on high beam. Less than 50 feet ahead, a huge dark figure crossed the road from left to right in fewer than two steps. All three occupants saw it, noting its long, massive muscular arms and very large size.

Road crossingFull-body sighting
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
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 November 2012 Carlinville, Macoupin County, Illinois Class B #38524

Homeowner has possible sightings east of Carlinville

The witness got up early to use the restroom and looked out the back door toward the field at sunrise. From about 200 yards away, the witness saw a large dark figure cross the field from one treeline to another. The figure was described as much larger than an adult human and moving gracefully.

Full-body sighting
9 November 2012 Marsallies, La Salle County, Illinois Class B #38032

Bow hunter sees an animal resembling a gorilla near Marseilles

The witness was bow-hunting from an elevated stand in river bottomland in the morning. A tall, dark-brown, gorilla-like animal about 40 yards away walked through a thicket from south to north, reportedly heading from dense pines toward the river. The witness watched it for about 20 seconds as it kept moving without vocalizing.

Full-body sighting
4 October 2012 Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois Class B #39098

Possible sighting near University of Illinois Springfield soccer fields

While driving home from school in the afternoon, the witness noticed a tall, brown, hair-covered human-shaped figure standing at the tree line beside soccer fields. The figure was still and was gone when the witness glanced away and back. An investigator later summarized the description as a massive 8-foot-tall animal with very long flowing hair seen from about 150 feet away.

Full-body sighting
August 2012 Colchester, McDonough County, Illinois Class A #36406

Daylight sighting by a camper in Argyle Lake State Park

The witness was eating at a picnic table when several children ran past on a trail. Shortly after they passed, the witness saw a small stocky reddish-haired figure moving on two legs about 80 yards away on the same trail. After the children came back, the figure reappeared behind them, squatted in the brush, and disappeared.

Full-body sighting
June 2012 Shipman, Macoupin County, Illinois Class B #37758

Ongoing activity described at a home near Shipman

In May/June 2012 around 10:30 p.m. the witness and a relative heard a loud guttural vocalization outside the home. They went to the porch and watched a large dark furry animal low to the ground run on all fours past a neighboring home, triggering motion lights. Coyotes vocalized shortly afterward, and another relative later said the sound had awakened them.

VocalizationFull-body sighting
29 May 2012 Orland Park, Cook County, Illinois Class B #35593

Possible nighttime sighting by motorists along border of Orland Grove Forest Preserve

The witness was driving home late at night with a relative when they noticed a tall dark ape-like figure standing on the shoulder beside a wooded area. They slowed but did not stop, then turned around to look again and the figure was gone. The next day the witness reported the sighting to local police.

Full-body sighting
14 May 2012 Sesser, Franklin County, Illinois Class A #35427

Family has daylight sighting while fishing on Rend Lake

The witness was fishing from a boat with companions near an inlet when they heard a commotion on the bank behind brush. Two of them then saw a tall, muscular, reddish-brown haired biped running quickly away from the shore. They remained on the water while debating whether it could have been a deer or bear. An investigator later spoke with the couple by phone and recorded additional details about size, hair, and distance.

Full-body sightingUnidentified sound
6 March 2012 Murphysboro, Jackson County, Illinois Class A #39267

Motorist reports his second sighting near railroad tracks west of Murphysboro

The witness was driving across railroad tracks in late morning when he noticed two dark figures near vegetation about 100 yards away. One figure was standing upright while the other was sitting. He remained in his truck and watched for about a minute before traffic behind him and an approaching train caused him to drive on.

Full-body sighting
20 October 2011 Marseilles, La Salle County, Illinois Class A #30896

Second nighttime sighting by motorcyclist north of Marseilles

The witness was riding a motorcycle home from work at about 2:30 a.m. when they noticed large yellow eyeshine at the edge of a cornfield. As they slowed and approached, they saw a large human-like figure about a foot taller than the corn. The figure walked slowly away from the road, looked back, then entered the corn without making sound or seeming concerned.

EyeshineFull-body sighting
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