Geographical Index > United States > Florida > Highlands County > Report # 14021
(Class A)
Submitted by witness on Sunday, March 5, 2006.
Daylight sighting by two ATV riders near Lake Placid
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YEAR: 2006
SEASON: Winter MONTH: March DATE: 4 STATE: Florida COUNTY: Highlands County LOCATION DETAILS: it was at this place in the woods of lake placid with atv tracks NEAREST TOWN: lake placid NEAREST ROAD: washington OBSERVED: well we were rideing our atv's and we turnd an corner and in the distince we saw a big black thing, at first we thought it was another atver but as we got closer it started to look like a person cuz it had alot of hair ...he was just standing looking at us then my brother pointed and said "look!" then we all saw him turn and run into the bushes. he was hunched and he was black then we went down there and we didnt see him then we saw footprints and it wasnt just any footprints they were prety big they were about 3 feet and we didnt here anything cuz we had our helmets on and the atvs are pretty loud. ALSO NOTICED: no
OTHER WITNESSES: my brother and my siste OTHER STORIES: no TIME AND CONDITIONS: it was about 1 or 2 and the weather was clear ENVIRONMENT: trees , sand , dirt , alot of bushes
Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator David Wright:
This investigator interviewed the witness extensively on 09/17/07 for approximately 50 minutes. At the time of the incident, about 1.6 years ago, he was 16 years old, and his brother, the other witness, was 14. Their younger sister was also with them. The following account is based on his recollections during the interview, combined with his original report.
-They came around a corner onto a trail and saw a large black thing in the middle of the trail; approximately 100 yards ahead of them, and the witness thought initially that it was another person on an ATV.
-They continued their approach, and when they reached a distance of approximately 40 yards, the witness realized that he was looking at an upright human-like figure, standing at an angle from their approach, looking in their direction, but with its body facing the woods to their right.
-The sighting lasted approximately 20-30 seconds.
-The witness described the figure as about 7' tall, and when asked the approximate weight, he stated that the creature was of about the physical proportion of Shaquille O'Neal, the professional basketball player. He also stated that the creature had significant bulk or mass, and was not at all skinny.
-He stated that due to the angle of the figure, he could not accurately predict the shoulder width.
-He described the figure as covered with brownish-black hair of about 3"-4" in length, which was bunched together.
-He described the head as oval in shape, and the face distinguishable as "mannish, not like an ape face", the color of which was indistinguishable from the fur color.
-As they continued their approach, at the distance of about 40 yards, the creature turned and "casually jogged" into the trees to their right.
-He described the creature's gait as hunched, with the arms hanging down low, not pumping like a human's arms in running, but "hanging lose" as it ran.
-He described no recollection of smell, in that both witnesses were wearing helmets.
-Upon reaching the site of the creature entering the woods, the two brothers stopped, dismounted their ATVs, turned them off, and excitedly discussed the incident. They noticed about 4 visible footprints in the sand of about 17"-18" in length, about 4' apart. Great lengths were taken by this investigator to try to accurately portray his recollection of the size of the prints and the length of the stride, yielding the above figures. Because they were in sand, they showed no distinct toes, but the length of the tracks was distinguishable.
-The habitat was describes as mostly pine trees, with underlying cover, which this investigator would identify as pine flat woods.
On 09/23/07 I interviewed the second witness. He confirmed that the initial sighting was "about a football field away" and as they grew closer, he saw the creature in better detail. He described the creature as "7' tall or taller", covered with medium length brownish-black hair.
This investigator found both these witnesses to be entirely credible; particularly the first witness, in his attempt to accurately portray the size of the prints. The witnesses expressed an increased interest in the phenomenon, and have been on BFRO.net numerous times since their sighting. It is the opinion of this investigator that these two witnesses likely saw a Bigfoot creature.
About BFRO Investigator David Wright:
- Certified Florida Master Naturalist (U. of Florida)
- Visual Tracker, Level 1
- Teaches Biology, A.P. Biology, Ecology, and Environmental Science at a rural high school SE of Jacksonville
- See local TV interview with D. Wright
- Participated in the 2007 Private Florida Expedition [Click the video link on that page.], the 2007 South Carolina Expedition, the 2008 South Florida Expedition and assisted with the organization of the 2008 North Florida Expedition. Assisted with the organization of the 2009 Central Florida Expedition.
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