YEAR: 2008

SEASON: Winter

MONTH: December

DATE: 27

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Fulton County

LOCATION DETAILS: Drive east of Canton Lake on E Middle Lake Rd. Turn right onto Wilson Rd and then left onto N. Martin Rd.

NEAREST TOWN: Canton

NEAREST ROAD: N Martin Rd.

OBSERVED: I had been at my camper out past Canton Lake on N. Martin Rd. finishing a sculpture which was my project for the day. It had just gotten dark so I can guess the time.

Having no flashlight I stepped into the road to begin the long walk back to Canton. I lit a cigarette and heard a small knock in the thin group of trees behind me. I turned, looked in the trees, seeing nothing I began walking. Down the road I went. It was a bit chilly. I knew walking would warm me up. I had just enough light to see the road ahead, the night sky was a shade lighter than the trees.

About 10 minutes of walking I had just become more at ease with the night time walk when a great noise happened in the road ahead of me (about 30 ft.), like a cow falling into the loose gravel. I strained my eyes to see what it was.

A crumpled shadowy figure stood up. Human? I thought to myself, "that must have hurt." Yet I hadn't heard any groan or speech during the fall. It walked calmly across the road. This is when its legs were seen, a lighter shade of road behind them. Biped for sure, but, too muscley.

Some light glinted off the fur. It was animal. I know when I am seeing an animal, and not a snowsuit. Biped! I just seen sasquatch (a strange thin, tall, muscley one). And I still had to get on by where it disappeared into the shadows again.

A house to the left had a garage light, which dimly lit up the yard, nothing crossed the yard. My impression was that thing ducked behind a bush and was still laying there when I finished walking by.

I think these creatures are mostly nocturnal and curious, but they really just want to be left alone. I didn't want it to feel cornered or provoke a defensive attack, so I just kept walking.

ALSO NOTICED: None

OTHER WITNESSES: None

OTHER STORIES: Yes, my friend had a sighting this year.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 9 or 10 p.m.

ENVIRONMENT: Near woods, fields

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

The witness submitted this graphic drawing. He states "I took a photo of where the sighting occurred, turned it darker and drew the creature in according to what I saw."

I spoke with the witness by telephone.

In summary:

- The animal was six feet tall.
- The animal was thin but still muscular.
- The hair color was dark.
- It walked slightly leaned over.

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 [email protected]