Geographical Index > United States > Illinois > Bond County > Report # 31419
(Class B)
Submitted by witness on Thursday, December 29, 2011.
Possible nighttime sighting and vocalizations in a backyard near Old Ripley
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YEAR: 2011
SEASON: Winter MONTH: December DATE: 8 STATE: Illinois COUNTY: Bond County LOCATION DETAILS: Outside Greenville near Old Ripley NEAREST TOWN: Greenville NEAREST ROAD: Prairie OBSERVED: I was in bed and heard my dogs barking outside. I went out in time to see the dog run under the porch and something duck into the woods.
I first thought it to be a large man in a coat but upon shouting and throwing a small stone into the trees discovered otherwise.
Responding to my shout it shrieked/howled and tossed the stone back at me. It landed at my feet and then silence took hold in the trees again. I ran inside in a panic and finding a flashlight headed out to search for the intruder. I found only torn twisted horseweed and snapped branches about five and a half feet up.
I have not seen it since but it stood easily six feet stooped, smelled like a rotting carcass even in the winter and walked on two then four legs. I have however seen trails in the woods before and after the incident that looked as if they were made by a very similar animal. ALSO NOTICED: Just the smell, and his trail. It smelled of a rotting carcass and old urine. OTHER WITNESSES: Just myself. TIME AND CONDITIONS: Late night, cold, clear, still. Porch light that illuminated 65% of the yard had a clear field of vision. ENVIRONMENT: Wooded area with a slope leading into a large ravine, with creeks and fields on three sides.
Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:
I spoke with the witness by phone.
In summary:
- The animal was about six feet tall hunched over.
- The animal weighed about 250 to 300 lbs.
- Hair coloring was between dirty gray and brown.
- The witness was unable to see the face at all, only seeing the back of the head.
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
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