YEAR: 2010

SEASON: Fall

MONTH: October

DATE: 17

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Fulton County

LOCATION DETAILS: Go to the end of the road on E Myrtle St.

NEAREST TOWN: Canton

NEAREST ROAD: E Myrtle St.

OBSERVED: After a late concert at the square in Canton, Illinois, my friend was bicycling home and turned right into the parking lot, that leads past a shed, fence, and dumpster.

Hearing a shuffling bang noise near the dumpster, she slowed her bike and began looking. Behind the shed was more than a noise. A shadowy sasquatch shape. Its puffy balloon feet (as she described it), held up a stocky, not so tall frame (6 ft.).

Startled, it turned and walked into the bushes, moving branches to get into the woods.This was a thinly wooded area, and on the other side, a corn field.

So freaked out she said, "what is that?", and sped right home and told me. I could tell she was worried, and by her description, this did happen.

We discused the situation further (5 minutes), then decided I should go check it out. She locked the doors and I got on my bike.

I sped around the corner keeping my pedals quiet. The noise, there was the noise. I pulled over behind a pine tree, and quietly snuck up beside the fence staying low. At the minute I was ready, I turned on the flashlight under the fence. No feet were there.

But that noise, was it inside the dumpster?

So I slowly snuck around the corner. Only one cover of the four covers was open on the dumpster, so when I was ready, I shown the light through it. A small coon was trapped. Unable to climb out of an almost empty dumpster. It was out of breath, and sad looking, so I put small cans and an old sign in to give it a ladder out.

I went back later that evening and the coon was out and to check the shadows around there. We think it heard the coon also, and may have ben trying to find a way inside. We dont know if it was hungry, or just trying to help the coon out.

We still walk our chihuahua Soosy near there, not quite so close to that shed anymore.

Notes:

1. Definitely walking on two legs.
2. You do not want to see it.
3. Hoppy, startled, quick walk.
4. Stocky, muscley.
5. Black to blend with darkness.
6. It was probably curious
7. They just want to be left alone.

ALSO NOTICED: Loud screams have been heard previously.

OTHER WITNESSES: None

OTHER STORIES: Yes, my friend had a sighting two years ago.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 12:30 a.m.

Clear and cool

ENVIRONMENT: Next to a large woods.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

A friend of 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 the witness described to me."

I spoke with both the witness and the submitter several times by telephone.

In summary:

- The animal was 6 1/2 feet tall.
- The witness used the word "pudgy" to describe the animal. This tells me that the creature was most likely stocky, solid, thick.
- The hair was black or dark brown.
- As it walked back into the woods it put its arms up.
- The witness was unable to see the face of the animal.
- The witness was also unable to guess an approximate weight of the animal.

The area does have a population so I reviewed a satellite map (see below). There is a large wooded area adjoining the area of the sighting location (circled in red). Part of Canton Lake is also visible near the top right of the photo. We have several reports from this county in our database.

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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