YEAR: 2000

SEASON: Fall

MONTH: October

DATE: 29

STATE: Ohio

COUNTY: Erie County

LOCATION DETAILS: State Route 269 in the Resthaven Wildlife Reserve.

NEAREST TOWN: Castalia

NEAREST ROAD: Route 269

OBSERVED: When a friend and I were training a hunting dog one night during the fall of 2000 our dog suddenly became very spooked and would not venture into the woods. We couldn't figure out what the dog's problem was. We stood puzzled for several minutes when suddenly there was a loud, deep throated shriek unlike anything either one of us had ever heard. The shriek came from a place no more than 200 yards from where we were. My friend and I were stunned for a few seconds and saw something huge and hairy walk through a nearby clearing. We could make out only the outline, but it was at least seven foot tall and very massive. The sighting occurred at Resthaven Wildlife Reserve which has no known bears or any large animals.

ALSO NOTICED: We could tell right away something was wrong when the dog refused to enter the woods (something it had never done before).

OTHER WITNESSES: There was myself and one other person training a hunting dog.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: The incident occurred approximately at 10:30 PM. It was partly cloudy with some moonlight.

ENVIRONMENT: The area is a wildlife reserve with thick forestry and several small lakes with stocked fishing.

Follow-up investigation report:

M.D. is fairly confident what they saw was neither a Bear or person. He said the creature sighted was less than 100 feet away and that the sighting only lasted a few seconds at best. The vocalizations they heard were very deep and low pitched. They were quickly ruled out as any type of owl, deer, etc.