YEAR: 2007

SEASON: Fall

MONTH: October

DATE: 23

STATE: Florida

COUNTY: Volusia County

LOCATION DETAILS: It was a small bridge on Walter Boardman Lane. Very close to the intersection of High Bridge Road. In between Old Dixie Highway and 1A.

NEAREST TOWN: Flagler Beach

NEAREST ROAD: Walter Boardman Lane

OBSERVED: A friend and I were fishing late into the night and early morning in a remote area in between Ormond Beach and Flagler Beach next to a small bridge on Walter Boardman Lane. The friend of mine noticed a set of eyes shining in the woods while looking down a small trail. We were wearing headband style flash lights and he told me to check it out. As I looked down the trail it was very obvious to me that the eyes were far enough apart and high enough off of the ground to justify being concerned. I convinced myself and my friend that whatever it may be, its more afraid of us than we were of it. A while later, maybe 20 minutes or so, he mentioned that it was still there starring at us. I walked slightly closer to the opening of the trail in an attempt to make out what it may have been, but still couldn't tell. A few minutes later, same thing... it was still there and still starring towards us. I tried to make noise and decided to yell at it. It apparently wasn't too concerned b/c it didn't so much as blink or move. We again convinced ourselves that it was nothing to be afraid of. We continued with fishing and not long after my friend noticed that it had finally moved on. We thought nothing more of it until I got the biggest scare of my adult life. As I was standing there, something let out the deepest, slowest growl that I've ever heard in my life. It sounded as though it was standing directly behind me and very close. I turned to look at my friend and the look on his face told me that I was not hearing things. Without a second thought or a spoken word, we dropped our fishing poles and ran as fast as we could to the truck. We jumped in and locked up tight. My first question was if he had heard it and his response was "yes, what was that?" We were so scared that we weren't sure what to do. The decision was made a couple of minutes later to start the truck and turn on the headlights. He raced the engine and blew the horn repeatedly. Even after a few minutes of doing this and feeling sure that whatever is was had to have left the area, we were still VERY hesitant to retrieve our fishing gear. After a long while of deciding, we very quickly jumped out, THREW our things into the back of the truck, and left. We had both lived in Florida for some time. We spent a lot of time on the water and in the woods, fishing and camping in remote locations. Never before, NEVER, have I heard anything like it. I can say 100% that it WAS NOT an alligator or a bear. Beyond that I have no idea. I do know that whatever is may have been convinced two grown men, both of them, to immediately go out and purchase handguns to carry during each and every future outing! Not sure where the sound clips of the growls come from on the "finding Bigfoot" television series... but they are about the closest thing I've heard to the sound I heard that night. The only other detail that stands out to this day is that we had a "buffet" of shrimp, chicken gizzards and livers, and cut up fish sitting on the tailgate of the truck.

OTHER WITNESSES: Myself and one other person.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: It was very late night/early morning. I believe around 2 or 3 a.m.

ENVIRONMENT: It is a very desolate road. Very wooded area with saltwater canals. The bridge there is about the only man made structure around.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator R. Monteith:

The witness, a manager in a national chain store, told me he and his friend would fish in remote places day and night. They had heard bobcat, panther, and bear at other times; however what they heard was not like anything they knew.

The witness and his friend went fishing and arrived at the location when it was already dark. They had four lines out fishing (two lines each) while wearing headlamps. A glance toward the woods reflected yellow/orange eye shine. Because it was dark, he could not judge how high the eyes were (the ground is not flat), nor could he tell exactly how far away it was, but it seemed to be from a large animal. The eye shine continued for 40-60 minutes, then finally disappeared. Shortly thereafter, a very frightening, loud growl was heard directly behind them.

Fearing for their lives, both ran for the truck, and climbed over each other trying to get into the passenger side. (The driver’s side was closer to the woods.) It was dark and the windows were tinted, so they could not see out. They argued about going back for the abandoned rods or just leaving. They started the truck’s engine, turned the lights on, honked the horn and only then, bravely salvaged the gear by tossing it into the truck bed and sped away. They bolted so quickly, they never noticed if any bait was missing from the back of the truck; the witness claims it probably all flew off when they hastily drove away. He was very frightened, and to this day the experience is still very clear in his mind. I am attempting to contact the second witness and this report may be updated after his statement.

This incident happened in Bulow Creek State Park. The park has one the largest remaining tracts of old-growth live oaks along the east coast of Florida. The park protects nearly 5,600 acres, more than 1,500 of which are submerged. The park has a huge population of whitetail deer. Bobcats are in the area, but no bear. It is a superb bigfoot habitat.

Satellite view of location:

About BFRO Investigator R. Monteith:

Re Monteith has had a life-long interest in Bigfoot and has an extensive background in outdoor land and ocean survival as well as mountaineering. She has tran-sailed the Atlantic, backpacked in remote places throughout the world and has climbed three of the seven summits. She studied International Relations at Florida International University, and is a Financial and Real Estate Consultant. She has participated in many private expeditions as well as the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 BFRO North Florida Expeditions and the 2013 BFRO UP Michigan & Alabama Expedition. She also organized Florida's 2017 Town Hall Meeting. She was an Executive Producer of the documentary film, "Skunk Ape Lives" and featured as a Crypto Expert on The Science Channel's television show, Strange Evidence for seasons 2 - 5.

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