YEAR: 2001

SEASON: Winter

STATE: Florida

COUNTY: Collier County

LOCATION DETAILS: Off Turner Road, east side.

NEAREST TOWN: Everglades City

NEAREST ROAD: Turner Road

OBSERVED: I was headed west down the easement road off Turner road. I came around a turn and saw what I assumed was a monkey or an ape. It sat on all fours with its rear end down and its front end higher, kind of like a gorilla. It ran, then stopped and looked at me for a few seconds, then ran away. It ran in the same manner it was setting, on all fours with the front end highest. It never stood on its hind legs. The rear legs definitely seemed shorter than the front. It was dark brown in color and covered in hair. The hair seemed to be short. On all fours it stood about 21/2 or three feet tall.

ALSO NOTICED: No.

OTHER WITNESSES: No.

OTHER STORIES: No.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Afternoon, nice clear day.

ENVIRONMENT: In between a cypress stand and a palmetto head.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Tony Gerard:

I met this witness in person and he allowed me to record and submit his sighting. He is a lifelong resident of the area and does not believe in a local “skunk ape” or Bigfoot type creature. He believes his sighting to be an escaped or released exotic ape or monkey. He did not get a good look at any facial detail. He described the creature as being “thick through the shoulders”. No tail was observed, but since the sighting was in a grassy area it may not have been visible even if present. The area of this sighting is in close proximity to Report #721 and Report #7205.

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About BFRO Investigator Tony Gerard:

Tony Gerard is a community college biology professor.

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