YEAR: 2002

SEASON: Summer

MONTH: June

STATE: New York

COUNTY: Chenango County

LOCATION DETAILS: This was on my rural property surrounded by reforested land near Bowman Lakes and Pharsalia Game lands. I'd prefer not to have a lot of people poking around, the hunters are itchy up here.

NEAREST TOWN: Plymouth

NEAREST ROAD: rt 19

OBSERVED: On two occasions in the last summer, my dad and I have heard what could only be described as a long, drawn out yowl. Not like a coyote (wooooooo), but more waaaayoooahoooo), sounds stupid, but that's the best I can describe it. Kind of harsh, too. We heard it close by our campsite, and heard something moving. When I shone my flashlight in the area, it stopped and sounded like it moved away. To my knowledge, when a coyote howls, he gets answered, and doesn't just stop suddenly. It would seem like it(?) was trying to communicate something. A warning? surprise? I don't know. The second time, it was only my dad that heard it. Both times, it stopped after we "investigated"(read, shined all the lights around in Holy terror) There was never any evidence of what it was, and in the daylight was written off as a coyote. But after hearing some of those sounds, the way these were "articulated" convinces me it wasn't. P.S., it definitely was not a bear, I know what they sound like, dogs and coyotes also.

ALSO NOTICED: Other than the suddeness of the sounds, and how quickly they stopped when we shone the light, nothing led up to it.

OTHER WITNESSES: Two, we were gettting ready for bed.

OTHER STORIES: I have heard of no other incidence like this in the area. The nature guides say there are no bears around, but the locals say yes.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Dead of night, cool and clear. Stars were out, with a campfire going the first time we heard it.

ENVIRONMENT: It was on my rural, heavily forested property, which I use only for camping. State forest and one or two cow farms surround it, not many people.