YEAR: 2004

SEASON: Summer

MONTH: September

DATE: 20

STATE: New York

COUNTY: Putnam County

LOCATION DETAILS: Rt 9 to snake hill road, 3rd private road 200 yard in.

NEAREST TOWN: Grarrison

NEAREST ROAD: Rt 9

ALSO NOTICED: I went to retrieve a bobcat loader from clients at a job in Garrison NY. I went late with a large dump truck and hvy trailer. I pulled up to the house adjacent to the road leaving the truck running and lights on. I could smell a skunk like smell but thought nothing of it. I loaded the machine on the trailer, chained down one side crossed in front of the truck and noticed red eyes at about 75-100 ft down the road looking back at me they seemed taller than 6' , just out of range of head lights. I quickly got the other side truck and chained the other side down and ran back to cab of the truck and saw the same eyes stairing back. I got into the cab and told the other person with me I had seen something. I looked up and the eyes had moved off into woods to the left. My problem was there was no way to back down the road and I had to trough where this thing was standing.

I started the truck up the hill past the point I had seen the eyes and continued past to the in the road and prayed I could 10 point turn this thing turned around and get out of there. Upon pulling onto the side road and backing up and trying to get the truck turned around I saw those eyes 30 ft off into the woods looking back at me, eye level. This truck is a medium duty international 1954 series eye level is about 7 ft. I got the truck into gear and started down the road as fast as I could. Not looking back until I was several miles down the road. I told my friend I saw bear or wolve as to not alarm them. I know that bears dont walk up right at a steady level and they ussally run off after any encounter.

OTHER WITNESSES: yes, in my truck another friend.

OTHER STORIES: None

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 7-8 pm Heavy Wooded area of Hemlock and spruce and Oak, Lower open understory

ENVIRONMENT: Hemlock , spruce oak uplands low over hanging branches dirt/gravel road single lane

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Paul Conroy :

I spoke with this witness at length on the phone. He was able to recall the incident in detail without hesitation. He was articulate and specific when recalling the experience.

Various elements of incident, including the height, persistence and changing position of the eyes, led him to conclude they were not the eyes of a bear, wolf, moose, etc. Moose and wolf are not native to the area.

• Explanation of the report classification system
• Submit a report for the sightings database
• Please send any comments or inquiries to ContactUs@BFRO.net