YEAR: 2004

SEASON: Fall

MONTH: October

DATE: 29

STATE: Oregon

COUNTY: Coos County

LOCATION DETAILS: Near Storm Ranch / New River

NEAREST TOWN: Bandon

NEAREST ROAD: US Highway 101

OBSERVED: Late Oct 2004. I was picking Matsutaki mushrooms near Storm Ranch in Coos County. I noticed free range cattle acting spooked so I kept my path moving in a clock wise motion. Periodically the cattle would sound off, but always behind me, roughly at my 7 o'clock.

This happened for around 3 hours and when I decided to call it a night and hiked out to the road. When I got there I heard the cattle again. This time a huge bi- pedal animal ran up the side of the road directly at me. It was 7+ feet tall, huge shoulders, covered in reddish blonde, brown hair, no neck, pointed head, long arms and shorter legs.

I could hear the bare feet slapping the road surface as it ran. I was frozen with fear. This thing came within 100 feet of me and stopped. I could see its breath as it stood there breathing heavily.

After a few seconds, it turned away from me and with 2 bounds it cleared a two lane road, then jumped over a patch of sala brush. The brush stood 4' tall and extended off the road 20 feet. I never heard it land and the rest of the walk out I heard what sounded like Racoons chattering all around me.

ALSO NOTICED: I heard what sounded like intelligent chatter almost like racoons make but more deliberate

OTHER WITNESSES: 1

OTHER STORIES: 18" Track found by a friend within 3 miles of this incident

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 6-9:30 pm

ENVIRONMENT: Pine trees with scattered hardwood

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stephen Willis:

The witness stated he felt the animal he saw was young. While large in features, it did not look as muscular as other reports indicated. He could not see any facial details as the creature was standing under a street light.

A second person was present when the possible bluff charge occurred. They were waiting on the 3rd member of the party and did not want to leave without him. I will advance the theory that when the charging animal in full view of his target did not react by fleeing, it caused it to pause and take the safest course of action by hiding itself.

He stated during the wait for #3 of the group, what sounded like a long conversation took place all around them. The "Raccoon chatter" sounded to the witness like they were communicating with each other.

When the 3rd member arrived, he had an ashen appearance like the blood was drained out of his face. He refused to discuss what had him spooked until they walked to the parked vehicle. There he revealed he was followed for the past hour by something walking on two legs, staying just outside visual range in the forest. It had him totally spooked.

The witness stated none of them wanted to walk near the road side brush. All were afraid of being grabbed by one of the creatures escorting them out of the woods.

About BFRO Investigator Stephen Willis:

Grew up in central West Virginia. Retired from the US Army in 2003. Small manufacturing business owner. Lived for almost 7 years in Germany and 1.5 years in the Mideast.