YEAR: 2009

SEASON: Winter

MONTH: February

DATE: 14

STATE: Georgia

COUNTY: Cherokee County

LOCATION DETAILS: Our neighborhood is near Red Top Mountain and Lake Allatoona.

NEAREST TOWN: Red Top Mountain Area

NEAREST ROAD: New Hope

OBSERVED: At 8:12 pm on Saturday, Feb.14, 2009 my husband and I were in our upstairs bedroom with the windows open when we heard a very unusual sound from outside. I turned down the television and we listened at our open window and heard the sound again. It was an animal sound coming from the wooded areas around our house. I could only describe the sound as a monkey-like whooping sound. The animal made this series of whooping sounds only twice.The neighborhood dogs responded by barking. My husband quickly told me that he had heard unusual animal calls the night before while letting our dogs out in the yard.

We are very familiar with the usual wildlife that frequents this area and neither of us have ever heard anything similar before.

ALSO NOTICED: My husband and I drove around the area briefly, but did not hear the noises again.

OTHER WITNESSES: My husband. We were inside our house.

OTHER STORIES: I have read the other reports on BFRO of incidents in the past near our area.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 8:12 pm. The skies were clear. The temps were in the lower 50s.

ENVIRONMENT: Our neighborhood is wooded and is not in a heavily developed area of the county. Our woods are mainly hardwoods with some pines. There is a pond in our neighborhood and some small creeks that are formed from run-off. The woods in the surrounding areas near Red Top and the lake are mainly pine.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Morris Collins:

I and a relative of mine met the witness and her husband at their home on Feb. 11, 2012 near Allatoona Lake. Both are graduates of a major research university with degrees in engineering and biology. Both were adamant that they were familiar with typical wildlife in the area and that the sounds were not those of coyotes. This area, while having undergone development, does contain numerous connected undeveloped acreage east and north of Allatoona reservoir. There have been other reports in the vicinity including near/on Interstate 75. It is possible that there was bigfoot activity in the area due to the sounds described as "deep howl/whoop" which occurred multiple times over a two month period.

About BFRO Investigator Morris Collins:

Morris holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Auburn University and additional coursework toward an MBA in International Business. He is an avid backpacker and SCUBA diver. Morris attended Georgia 2006, 2008, 2009 & 2011; North Carolina 2006 and SC 2007 expeditions. He is a member of the SE BFRO Tracking Team and has completed a first course in visual tracking.