YEAR: 2012

SEASON: Spring

MONTH: May

DATE: 14

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Franklin County

LOCATION DETAILS: From Sesser, Illinois take Illinois Rt 154 east 3 1/4 miles. Turn left and drive 1/2 mile to Jackie Branch boat ramp.

NEAREST TOWN: Sesser

NEAREST ROAD: Rt.154

OBSERVED: My wife, and son were fishing Rend Lake....we launched our boat at the Jackie Branch boat ramp off of Rt. 54.....we were on the water an hour or so.....we were fishing north east of the boat ramp.....in a small inlet....we had been fishing in this area for approximatly 10 minutes or so.....and we all heard a rucuss on the bank behind some brush....we both saw a large long reddish brown haired creature running on two feet at a fast pace....it appeared to be taller than 6 feet....it reminded me of an orangutan...except taller.....my wife said...what the ### is that......I said I dont know but keep us away from the shore and lets stay on the water....she said you know I don't believe in big foot,,,,but what was that....I said I don't know...it's not a deer,,,,the hair was redder and long.......maybe a bear...I don't know......

OTHER WITNESSES: 1

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 1:30 p.m.

ENVIRONMENT: Rend Lake

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with the husband and his wife by phone.

In summary:

• The animal was over six feet tall.
• The animal's estimated weight was 400 lbs.
• The animal was muscular.
• Hair was six inches long, shaggy and reddish-brown in coloring.
• Only the wife was able to see the face.
• The face was flat looking and very hairy.
• The witnesses were 25 to 30 feet from the animal. It was their opinion that they had startled the animal and it was attempting to get further away from them.

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