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 [email protected]