YEAR: 1990

SEASON: Fall

MONTH: October

STATE: Missouri

COUNTY: Texas County

LOCATION DETAILS: There was a red pole-barn or out-building behind the row of cedars, set back maybe 50-60 feet. The cedars looked as if they were planted as a sight-screen. The site was maybe 1000-1500' north of the bridge over Hog Creek.

NEAREST TOWN: Houston

NEAREST ROAD: US Highway 63

OBSERVED: I was driving to work one morning between Houston and Willow Springs, Missouri. I was southbound on US 63, approximately 4 miles south of Houston. As you approached the bridge over Hog Creek, the road descends a hill and curves to the left. On the right side of the road there are some farm buildings, with a row of cedar trees planted right along the right-of-way.

As I descended the hill, I saw a large, dark creature above the roadside. It was upright and appeared to be covered in hair. It was walking towards the cedar trees, and dodged into them as I approached. My impression was it was over 6' in height, and rather broad through the chest.

This would have been sometime around 6:30 in the morning, and there was only early sun. Shadows were present as well, but I know I saw something. It moved!

When I got to work I mentioned my experience to a couple co-workers, and got a long razzing about it. I pretty much shut up about it after that.

On the way home that evening, I stopped of at the place where I saw "it". There was no evidence of footprints, but some of the leaves and grass were stirred up as if something had come through there. In comparing my height to the adjacent cedar trees, I also reaffirmed my belief in "it's" height. It had to have been over 6' tall.

There are/were bears in southern Missouri, but not as large as what I saw. Also I don't think a bear can walk upright and take large strides. I know I saw something there.

ALSO NOTICED: Found a few areas where the leaf litter was disturbed when I returned to the site later in the day. Seemed like these areas were spaced about the distance of a long footstep.

I also heard reports of spooked cattle in the vicinity. I heard this many months later, and can only roughly correalate the time to my sighting.

OTHER WITNESSES: No other witnesses were there.

OTHER STORIES: Not until I read reports on occurences in Pulaski County, MO on this web site today.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: My sighting occured around 6:30 AM. The sky was clear, but lighting was poor. It was just prior to the change from daylight savings, and it was still pretty dark. The sun had just risen, and was coming through the trees on the east side of the road. What I saw was on the west side.

ENVIRONMENT: The east side of the road was covered with hard-wood forest - oaks and hickories. Minor brush is typical of that area also. The terrain is rolling, with approximately 200' of relief between the highest hills and the lowest creek bottoms. The west side of the road was more brushy - like a farmer had cleared it many years ago, but not kept up with it. There was also some pasture further north of the site. The creek bottom was in the middle of hardwood forest.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with the witness by phone.

He said the animal had a large head, long stride and was kind of hunched over as it walked. It was dark brown or black in color.

He is familiar with bears and other wildlife. He is employed as an engineer and is used to paying attention to detail.

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