YEAR: 2008

SEASON: Winter

MONTH: December

DATE: 27

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Fulton County

LOCATION DETAILS: Drive east of Canton Lake on E Middle Lake Rd. Turn right onto Wilson Rd and then left onto N. Martin Rd.

NEAREST TOWN: Canton

NEAREST ROAD: N Martin Rd.

OBSERVED: I had been at my camper out past Canton Lake on N. Martin Rd. finishing a sculpture which was my project for the day. It had just gotten dark so I can guess the time.

Having no flashlight I stepped into the road to begin the long walk back to Canton. I lit a cigarette and heard a small knock in the thin group of trees behind me. I turned, looked in the trees, seeing nothing I began walking. Down the road I went. It was a bit chilly. I knew walking would warm me up. I had just enough light to see the road ahead, the night sky was a shade lighter than the trees.

About 10 minutes of walking I had just become more at ease with the night time walk when a great noise happened in the road ahead of me (about 30 ft.), like a cow falling into the loose gravel. I strained my eyes to see what it was.

A crumpled shadowy figure stood up. Human? I thought to myself, "that must have hurt." Yet I hadn't heard any groan or speech during the fall. It walked calmly across the road. This is when its legs were seen, a lighter shade of road behind them. Biped for sure, but, too muscley.

Some light glinted off the fur. It was animal. I know when I am seeing an animal, and not a snowsuit. Biped! I just seen sasquatch (a strange thin, tall, muscley one). And I still had to get on by where it disappeared into the shadows again.

A house to the left had a garage light, which dimly lit up the yard, nothing crossed the yard. My impression was that thing ducked behind a bush and was still laying there when I finished walking by.

I think these creatures are mostly nocturnal and curious, but they really just want to be left alone. I didn't want it to feel cornered or provoke a defensive attack, so I just kept walking.

ALSO NOTICED: None

OTHER WITNESSES: None

OTHER STORIES: Yes, my friend had a sighting this year.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 9 or 10 p.m.

ENVIRONMENT: Near woods, fields

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

The witness submitted this graphic drawing. He states "I took a photo of where the sighting occurred, turned it darker and drew the creature in according to what I saw."

I spoke with the witness by telephone.

In summary:

- The animal was six feet tall.
- The animal was thin but still muscular.
- The hair color was dark.
- It walked slightly leaned over.

About BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

Stan Courtney has a special interest in wildlife audio recording. He has attended numerous BFRO Expeditions. See Stan's blog StanCourtney.com for recordings he has collected over the years.

Stan Courtney can be reached at illinois@bfro.net