Geographical Index > United States > Florida > Marion County > Report # 42726
(Class A)
Submitted by witness on Thursday, November 14, 2013.
Nighttime sighting by a man walking his dog in a subdivision next to the Ocala National Forest
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YEAR: 2013
SEASON: Fall MONTH: October DATE: Friday STATE: Florida COUNTY: Marion County LOCATION DETAILS: Ocala Fl - Subdivision, specific street omitted.
I will gladly meet someone back there, talk to someone about it, but do not want to be interviewed, recorded, or my name published.
I am a business professional in this community, and just rather not be a part of any backlash or comments. I know what I saw and I am not crazy. NEAREST TOWN: Ocala NEAREST ROAD: National Forest (Subdivision Backs to it) OBSERVED: I was walking my dog on October 18th, at around 9:00 to 9:10....We had just got back from dinner.
We live in a subdivision that backs to the Ocala National Forest.
As I was walking towards the end of the subdivision, where there is nothing but open land and empty lots, with some sporadic trees.
While turning around, I saw a figure crouching down. It immediately caught me off guard and quite frankly scared the sh*t out of me. The minute I spotted the figure, I pulled back on my dog and grabbed my gun.... (I have a permit to carry and we have had a lot of neighbors reporting bears and wildlife in this area)
I backed away from the figure and yelled, "I got a gun, I will shoot you....**and other things..
I had the leash in my left hand along with my flashlight. As I shinned the flashlight at this figure again, I yelled at it again.. "I will shoot you, I'm not kidding!" Thinking this was a hoax of some kind. My light caught this figure's face and I got a reflective shine back at me....
The figure stood up and walked behind this small patch of trees. This figure was huge. Looked just like a large ape man, covered in hair.
I pulled my dog back with me, and got the heck out of the area. I didn't see where it went to after this. ALSO NOTICED: I have never been back to the area or walked it.... I walk elsewhere now. OTHER WITNESSES: Just me and my dog OTHER STORIES: Other neighbors have reported to me bears, wildlife and thumping noises. That is it. TIME AND CONDITIONS: 9:00pm or 9:10pm ish....
Very dark where I was, as there is no lighting back in the culdesac ENVIRONMENT: Back of a subdivision that butts up to the National forest (Ocala, FL)
Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Mike Familant:
This subdivision is only partially developed and is an older community. No outside traffic and very quiet at night. Each evening he walked his dog in this vacant part of the subdivision, but this night while trying to get his dog to do her business, he walked about 50 feet more than normal.
His somewhat aggressive dog, a female American Bulldog/Greyhound mix, first brought his attention to the figure when she bolted to the left. They were walking on the right side of the road and the figure was on the left, only a 10 - 15 feet distance between them. He immediately knew that this huge figure, resembling that of a football player geared up and crouched a bit, was out of place and did not belong there.
It was around Halloween time, and his first thought was that he was "being hoaxed." As he described, he called out, stating he had a firearm, and would not hesitate to shoot it. This figure did not have a normal reaction to this threat, this is when he really became scared.
Aiming the flashlight on the figure, yellow/green eyes shine back. Being very dark out, especially in this part of the subdivision with no lights, he could not see the object clearly, but stated he knew it was covered in hair. He did not know the color and did not care to guess.
The witness call outs some more as he is pulling his dog and backing up. As the witness backs away with the dog growling, the figure slowly stood, turned, and walked behind the trees.
He describes the figure as an "ape man" and "boxy" and says if one were to draw it, it would look like a large rectangle from the shoulders down. When first observed, he would estimate height at 5'8", and when it stood up - 8 feet tall.
He believes there was no chance it could have been a hoax, as the figure should have heard his warnings and did not react like a human would. Due to the size and bipedal walking, he also believes it was not a misidentification. Well aware of the local wildlife, he is adamant that this was not a bear on two legs. Being a hunter all his life, in addition to working paper routes in the dark when he was young, he does not get scared easily.
The subdivision, located only a 1/4 mile from the Ocala National Forest, has fruit trees and wildlife including armadillos, racoons and deer. Not to mention the garbage cans that are collected twice a week. There is a rich history of Sasquatch related sightings and reports in this area.
About BFRO Investigator Mike Familant:
Mike has been interested in Bigfoot for years. He has attended the 2012 and 2013 Florida Expeditions, and investigates Bigfoot as his hobby. He is an EMT and soon to be Paramedic residing in North NJ.
Mike has attended the North FL in 2012 and 2014, as well and the public expeditions in South NJ in 2014 and North NJ 2015. Mike goes on day hikes at least once a week, and camping 3 or 4 times per month.
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