YEAR: 1974

SEASON: Spring

DATE: 20

STATE: Ohio

COUNTY: Ottawa County

LOCATION DETAILS: I THINK CLYDE IS IN SENECA CO.

NEAREST TOWN: Port Clinton and Clyde Ohio

OBSERVED: I am 45 years old, ret. Navy and currently work as a correctional officer in Ca. I grew up in Ohio. I've had one visual sighting and on two occasions heard something that I could not identify.

The sighting took place in a marshy inlet off the Little Portage River near Port Clinton Oh. It was 1974 my buddy and I found a new place to set turtle hooks. We set the lines and decided to camp out over night and check the hooks early in a.m. There was a little island in this marsh, that we use to set traps that we set up camp. We made a fire, turned on the radio and talked.

It was approx. 1030 p.m. moon lit night and very still. My friend heard something in the water and ask "whats that" I told him to turn off the radio. We heard a splash...splash...splash. He asked if it was a deer. I said don't think so, a deer would swim if water is deep enough or lope through the water. We could now start to see ripples in the water in the moon light. Stll hearing splash...splash...splash. Then we could see something walking into the moon light. It was about 75 yards away it stopped and I assumed was looking at us. I said what the hell is that! My friend in a shaky voice said maybe it's Mr W. checking his traps? I said no look were he is standing. The water was 2 1/2 to 4 ft all through the marsh, plus 1 1/2 to 2 ft of muck and it is very hard to walk in. This thing was standing waist deep, stood there for about 45 sec. turned his head and continued to walk with ease through the marsh. I watch (in awe) till I could no longer see him. I turned to my buddy to get his opinion, he was already packing the boat. We left.

The first time I heard (it)? Was summer 1977 just got home from work. I was sitting, talking with my Dad in our back porch. It was about 1000 - 1030 p.m. We lived on a canal, across the road was a small marsh, so tipical night sounds ( frogs,crickets,owls and others). We heard this noise, that made your hair stand on end. It was like a scream, howl and yodel all rolled into one. I said what the @#&* was that? Dad ( shaken) said that was a great blue heron. I said no it wasn't. A bobcat? Nice try Dad! No it wasn't. Then he said I don't know. But that was the first time that I've seen my Dad lock the doors before we went to bed.

The next time that I heard a very similar sound, was 1983 in the fall I was squirrel hunting with my cousin in Clyde Oh. It was about 0430 in a large woods on his property. He never heard anything like that before.

ALSO NOTICED: yes the first time I heard it. For approx 15 min. no other sounds ( no frogs, crickets not even a dog bark.

OTHER WITNESSES: one each time.

OTHER STORIES: no

TIME AND CONDITIONS: clear, calm. all three were hrs of darkness

ENVIRONMENT: two were around water, one was in a woods.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Mark Maisel:

I spoke to the witness by phone on two occasions. The following can be added to this report.

While camping after setting out their turtle lines the witness had an unobstructed view of the animal. The distance was between seventy five to one hundred yards. He describes the animal the animal’s height from seven to eight feet tall. He was unable to describe features due to the distance and the darkness. He did go on to describe the animal as having a mound on his shoulders when I asked about the neck. He also states that the animal had a dome shaped head. Throughout this encounter he only saw the animal in profile. The witness is able to describe the arms and stated that they were hanging into the water. He further states that he thought they were helping to propel the animal through the marsh.

After the first encounter the witness states that the forest became very quiet after the vocalization occurred. There were no noises including crickets, frogs or dogs.

The habitat in this area is rich. Besides the marsh, Lake Erie is close by. There are also farms, orchards and vineyards in the area.

About BFRO Investigator Mark Maisel:

Mark Maisel is employed in the medical field in Ohio. He has attended the following expeditions: West Virginia, New York Adirondacks, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and North Carolina. Expedition organizer of the 2009 Ohio expedition and assisting with both of Eastern Ohio's in 2012 and Michigan UP 2012. Attended WV 2013