YEAR: 2005

SEASON: Winter

MONTH: January

DATE: 1/23/05

STATE: New Mexico

COUNTY: Colfax County

LOCATION DETAILS: Approx 1 mile from the top of Raton Pass going south on I-25

NEAREST TOWN: Raton, NM

NEAREST ROAD: I-25

OBSERVED: I was driving at night on I-25 on raton pass. This happened last night. It was late and then I noticed something on the side of the road. I thought it was a bear or something. Then it took of and ran across the road behind my car. I was so surprised and shocked I did not stop. It was about 6 ft plus and it crossed the road in three steps or so.

ALSO NOTICED: It happened so fast I cannot think of anything else

OTHER WITNESSES: just me

OTHER STORIES: No.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Night about 9:00pm. Clear and cold. Snow in patches

ENVIRONMENT: Oak brush, forest and pine tress

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Tony Gerard:

I spoke with the witness by phone. The witness first saw what he took to be the rear of a bear or elk on the side of the road and turned his lights to bright. "It seemed like it must have been bent over or something, but then it went upright and across the road". It crossed the two lane road on two legs and did so in two or three steps. The witness stressed the length of the strides. It crossed immediately after his car passed. His view at this time was in the rear view mirror. He most clearly could see it from the lower torso down, but he did not get a good look at the upper torso or head. The gait was described as "just like a person doing a quick stride" - a fast walk, not an actual run.
He described the hair color as dark brown and comparable to an Irish Setter in length. He saw "a definite outline of hair moving, like a woman's hair would flow when they move quickly".
He estimated the height to be between six and one half to seven feet. He described the body build as " very stocky". At no time did he see any eye shine from the creature.

About BFRO Investigator Tony Gerard:

Tony Gerard is a community college biology professor.