YEAR: 2009

SEASON: Winter

MONTH: December

DATE: 18

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Madison County

LOCATION DETAILS: A few miles south of the intersection of Interstate 55 and Illinois Route 4. Heavily forested area.

NEAREST TOWN: Hamel

NEAREST ROAD: Illinois Route 4

OBSERVED: I was going North on Illinois Route 4, and while passing through a wooded area on my left, I spotted a large, bulky upright figure. Because I was driving, I was only able to get a second or two view of whatever the figure may have been. It was an orange color, which is why it stood out to me in the first place.

ALSO NOTICED: No

OTHER WITNESSES: None besides me, though the person in the car behind me might have seen it.

OTHER STORIES: No

TIME AND CONDITIONS: It was an overcast, around 1:00 in the afternoon.

ENVIRONMENT: Forest, seemed like there was a lot of water in the area. Lots of ice around on the forest floor.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with the witness by phone. I visited the site the next day and again several days later. I was unable to find any footprints or other evidence.


- The animal was standing about 50 feet from the roadway.
- The animal was between 8 and 8 1/2 feet tall.
- The animal was very thick and broad.
- Shoulder width was between 3 and 3 1/2 feet.
- The witness was unable to see the face.
- The fur was orangish, reminiscent of an orangutan's color.
- The witness did not stop because the right-of-way is not sufficient for safe parking.

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]

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