YEAR: 1982/83

SEASON: Summer

MONTH: September

STATE: Florida

COUNTY: Lee County

LOCATION DETAILS: Head east on S.R.82 out of Ft.Myers FL go to shawnee trail aprox 15 miles from Ft. Myers, go south on shawnee trail till it dead ends ( it did back then I have not been out there in many years.)then back into the cypress swamp about 3 to 4 miles pretty much south south west. Its mostly pine and scrub with cypress swamp and some oak hammock high spots.

NEAREST TOWN: Lehigh Acres/Ft.Myers

NEAREST ROAD: s.r 82/shawnee trail

OBSERVED: I will tell you about an experience that I and a friend of mine had back around 1982 or 1983 mid summer time in Lee County, Florida.

I have lived in Florida since I was 9 years old. I am 44 now. I have roamed all over the woods down here and so has my friend Bill. We are both well acquainted with the noises that the native animals make, what we heard that night while camping was not anything that either of us had ever heard before. I am not in a hurry to ever hear again.

The location of the vocalization was approximatley 15 to 20 miles from I-75 going east on SR 82. I lived off of Shawnee trail back then and hiked the cypress swamps every chance I got. I knew the area well back then having hunted deer and hog all over that area.
I still live in unincorporated Lee county near the Hendry county line.

Bill and I had gone camping on a weekend during the wet season. We had to wade quite a bit of wet area to find a suitable dry place to set up camp. I lived about 1 and 1/2 miles off of S.R.82 and where we were camping then was probably another 3 or 4 miles back in the swamp. We had just gotten a fire going and it was quite dark by now. We were sitting by the fire when we both heard a deep scream coming from out of the swamps. It was like no sound I have ever heard. It was deep and drawn out and echoed back through the swamps. I am not exagerating when I tell you that even the bugs got quiet. Bill looked at me and said, "What the hell was that?" I said "I dont know but I'm going home." We broke camp and left.

Neither of us was carrying a weapon during that trip. I dont think I would have shot what ever it was that made that noise, but I don't ever go to the woods now without a gun. I can also provide you with Bill's contact info so you can ask him about it.

We did not see anything nor smell anything just heard the one scream. I would estimate the creature was within 1 mile or less of us. I have told my parents about this. They said it may have been a gator or panther but I know what those animals sound like. It was neither of those animals. I know several other people that have had experiences with the skunk ape. I am not sure if they will be willing to talk about their experiences or not.

ALSO NOTICED: The thing that really amazed me was when the creature screamed the bugs got quiet. You hear about that happening but when it actualy happens to you it's a feeling that can't be described. Even now the hair turns up on my neck just recalling the sound. Nothing else happened no smell or sighting, just the scream.

OTHER WITNESSES: 1 witness Bill I will contact him to see if he will give you his statement on this encounter.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Late evening, way after dark, wet ground, lots of standing water, very wild area back then, pretty much swamp and scrub land.

ENVIRONMENT: Pine flat wood, scrub growth,cypress swamp and oak hammock palmetto flats pretty thick was wet back then hard to find a dry spot to set up camp.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Caroline Curtis:

I talked to Bob at length by phone. He is credible and has a lot of outdoor experience. He works as a purchasing manager for a local communications company. He has often heard panther screams behind his house. He is very positive the scream was not made by a panther. This area is typical of Florida -- rapid growth and development but with some habitat still left in some parts capable of sustaining a small population of sasquatches. The BFRO has received several reports from this general area.

About BFRO Investigator Caroline Curtis:

• Worked as an Assistant to a Circuit Court Judge in Florida for thirteen years
• An avid outdoorswoman, growing up in the UP of Michigan on a family-owned fishing and hunting resort
• Certified Visual Tracker, Level 1
• Attended and assisted with numerous public and private BFRO expeditions
• She and the Florida BFRO organized South Florida Expedition 2008, North Florida Expedition 2008 and Central Florida Expedition in 2009.
  
• She and the Michigan BFRO organized the Lower-Michigan Expedition in 2011, Michigan UP Expeditions in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018 and Wisconsin 2018
• BFRO Secretary for almost 20 years

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