Geographical Index > United States > Michigan > Manistee County > Report # 43798
(Class A)
Submitted by witness on Tuesday, January 14, 2014.
Memory told of an early evening sighting at a migrant work camp in Bear Lake
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YEAR: 1984?
SEASON: Fall MONTH: October STATE: Michigan COUNTY: Manistee County LOCATION DETAILS: Up on a hill in an apple orchard NEAREST TOWN: Onekama NEAREST ROAD: Hwy. 131 I think can't remember OBSERVED: I'm 46 years old, we were at a migrant worker camp in Bear Lake Michigan picking apples. I stepped out of our house for what reason I can't remember. I happened to look in a direction up towards a hill and I seen something walking. And now reflecting on its body shape and height and the way it walked I know it wasn't human because this thing was at least 9 or 10 ft tall, if not bigger. I never told anyone, I was about 14 or 15 years old. I believe they exist. ALSO NOTICED: I remember being in the woods riding my motorcycle I would stop to look for deer and would get a scary feelling and I would leave. OTHER WITNESSES: No OTHER STORIES: No TIME AND CONDITIONS: I say about 7 to 9 pm. Its been a long tome ago. Lighting and weather conditions I can't remember. ENVIRONMENT: A small hill, no trees real plain.
Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Kim Fleming:
The witness saw a large, gray colored creature walking a tree line between two rows of apple trees. He detailed the movement, stating "It wasn't a man. It was too big and it didn't walk like a man!" He described the body as thick and rounded, hunchbacked, two to three feet taller than a typical man (making the height around eight to nine feet tall). He guessed the weight to be around 300 lbs or more. The witness was about 200 yards away, so he was not able to give details about the hair or facial features. He witnessed the creature walking through the orchard, heading toward a main highway that was just over the hill from where the witness was standing. Keep in mind that this man was a teenager at the time, although his story was consistent each time I asked a question from a different angle. This witness' integrity is important to him. He wanted to be sure to share only what he saw and nothing more, nothing less as best as his memory serves him.
The nearby highway noted is actually US Hwy. 31. The witness was a teenage migrant worker at an orchard at the time and he has not returned to Michigan since this incident occurred, although he would like to revisit the sighting area. The witness stated that thirty years ago, there was a lot of wilderness area where he would ride his motorcycle. He stated that sometimes he would ride the trails in the woods looking for wildlife, but he sometimes he felt as though he was being watched. It gave him the creeps, so he would return back as soon as possible.
The witness also stated that the orchard business has moved and he is unclear exactly where the location was originally, but he gave me a general idea.
About BFRO Investigator Kim Fleming:
Kim is a high school science teacher and uses Bigfoot research techniques to teach about scientific method. She has been interested in researching Bigfoot since 2008 and her husband experienced a sighting in Florida in 1976. Her interests include hiking, being outdoors, birding and working with young adults. Kim attended the 2012 and 2013 Michigan UP expedition and has done research in northern Michigan.
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