YEAR: 2013

SEASON: Winter

MONTH: January

DATE: 16

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Clark County

LOCATION DETAILS: Approximately at the 144 milepost along I-70 near Marshall.

NEAREST TOWN: Around 7:30 am

NEAREST ROAD: I-70

OBSERVED: Hi, I am 47 years old and I am a truck driver. I had an eye witness of something yesterday January 16 2013 in Clark Co. Ill. I was driving down I-70 east bound around 7:30 am when I noticed something in the field about 200-300 yards away. It was black in color, fairly big but seemed to be squatted down with its back to me. At first I thought it was a bear but as I got closer its form resembled more of an ape like form. Then before I passed it, it began to move away toward the woods. As it moved it was moving like if you were to squat down and then try to walk while squatted. I can't say that it was a big foot but I have no other explanation for it. I have been hunting since I was 15 years old and I have seen a lot of animals but I have never seen anything like this and the way it moved.

ALSO NOTICED: It just looked really out of place for that area.

OTHER WITNESSES: No

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Around 7:30 am it was light enough to see in the fields

ENVIRONMENT: It was agriculture fields and woods

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with the witness by phone.

In summary:

• The animal was very muscular.
• The hair was black.
• The weight was over 350 lbs.
• The witness estimated that the animal was at least 4 feet wide and at least 5 feet tall while it was squatted down in the field.
• The animal was stooped over as it slowly moved away on two feet and into the tree line.

About BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

Stan Courtney has a special interest in wildlife audio recording. He has attended numerous BFRO Expeditions. See Stan's blog StanCourtney.com for recordings he has collected over the years.

Stan Courtney can be reached at illinois@bfro.net