YEAR: 2004

SEASON: Spring

MONTH: April

DATE: 17

STATE: Ohio

COUNTY: Guernsey County

LOCATION DETAILS: It was on the northern bank of Salt Fork Lake at Salt Fork State Park, which is just off State Route 22 in Guernsey County, Ohio. I was staying in the "F" loop camp area. I do believe I was staying in the camp plot "25." The call was heard right from the site and a little down the hill leading to the lake and the footprint was cast about a mile down the trail from the campsite on a trail touching the lake.

NEAREST TOWN: Salt Fork State Park (nearest city is North Salem)

NEAREST ROAD: State Route 22

OBSERVED: I woke up on the morning of April 17, 2004, at about 5:45 AM and made my way out of the tent to make breakfast (I was on a camping trip with my father). As I got breakfast ready, I sat down to watch the water boil when I heard a loud scream/howl sounding very much like the Columbiana County, Ohio recordings on this website. As soon as I heard this I ran down a hill from my campsite to the North bank of Salt Fork Lake. On my way down I heard another howl. Both were slightly shorter than the Columbiana recordings but still the same sound. I know that they came from the southern bank and I would guess that they were most probably a mile or so away. I only heard the sound twice. I was still a little shocked and didn't tell my father until a few hours after he got up. The howls didn't wake up any campers that I know of.

The two days before this incident I was walking on a trail and found a series of human-like footprints leading down the trail in the same direction I was traveling (west). I found one to still be in good condition so I cast it. It was of a left foot. It measured slightly over 12 inches long and was 5 1/2 inches wide. It had three well defined toes, one that was barely pressed down, and one toe that is missing, although there is a space for a toe in the area in question. Other, less defined prints were found. They were in about 4 - 4 1/2 ft. strides.

ALSO NOTICED: Before the sounds that morning I didn't notice any birds or other wildlife making sounds.

OTHER WITNESSES: No other witnesses. My father was asleep as was the rest of the camp.

OTHER STORIES: Not in the immediate area but a few sightings were reported at nearby Wills Creek Lake.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Approx. 5:50 AM, just before the sun was rising at dawn. It had rained about four days before and had been dry and sunny with a few clouds for the days leading to the incident.

ENVIRONMENT: Deciduous and evergreen forest before the leaves were starting to come back after winter. A lake was nearby (about 20 yards). A hill led to the lake.

Campground area at Salt Fork State Park.

Follow-up investigation report:

I've talked to the witness on multiple occasions and am quite confident he heard what he claims. The area in question has had a long history of Bigfoot sightings to the present day and the area he was camping at has had Bigfoot sightings within the campground.

I examined the track cast of the alleged left foot. It was broken in one part, which made it hard to distinguish what it could be, although its shape was definitely foot-like in proportion.

Looking at the photos, and seeing the distance between the alleged prints I can rule out Black bear and humans. If there was more detail in the cast and the photos more could be said. Credit must be given to the witness since he's only 14 years old and he took the time to photograph and cast the alleged track(s).

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