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YEAR: 2008
SEASON: Fall
MONTH: October
DATE: 18th
STATE: New Jersey
COUNTY: Morris County
NEAREST TOWN: Rockaway
NEAREST ROAD: Rt 80
OBSERVED: My wife and I were hiking at the Wildcat Ridge near Rockaway, NJ on Saturday October 18th around 1 pm. I work in the area and we decided to explore the trails. We were on the black trail near the Hibernia Bat Cave when we heard two wood knocks. We responsed back with two knocks but heard nothing after. The weather was a typical seasonal day with a clear sky. There were not many people on the trails that day. A family of three and single hiker. They were not in the area when we hear the knocks so we do not know if they heard them as well. We discovered your site and found another report from 2006 in the same area.
ALSO NOTICED: We didn't hear or see anything to indicate the knocks were from construction in area , definately was not a woodpecker, and no noise from traffic.
OTHER WITNESSES: two - Myself and Wife. We were sitting a log while looking around and resting
OTHER STORIES: Saw on this site a similar incident in the area.
TIME AND CONDITIONS: 1p.m. Clear sky.
ENVIRONMENT: Rugged terrain, forest area
Follow-up investigation report:
I spoke with both witnesses over the phone on October 29, 2009. The following details can be added:
I did visit the location twice shortly after the report was filed last year but did not hear or find anything unusual. I spoke with a Wildlife Officer that works in the area and found out there is hunting for small game during this time of year. This raised the question if what was heard was wood knocks or gun fire.
The individuals that filed the report are avid hikers and enjoy the outdoors. They have hiked many of the New Jersey State Parks and Wildlife Management areas. As a result they have heard gun fire in the past and are adamant that this was wood on wood and not gun fire. After speaking with the witnesses I do believe they heard wood knocks near the Hibernia Bat Cave at Wildcat Ridge. This does not surprise me as I recorded what I believe to be the wood knocks of possibly three sasquatch in the same area back in March of 2006. This report and link to hear the wood knocks I recorded can be accessed by clicking the link above for Report 21977.