Report Received From: The GCBRO Online Report Submission Form.
 
Report Posted To GCBRO Web Site On:   April 4, 2010

DATE:    5/15/09 
 

TIME:     Mid-Day 
 

LOCATION:   Manatee County, Florida 
 

TERRAIN:    Wooded 
 

OBSERVED:    In 2007; a friend and I took a trip to the Oregon-California border and had some amazing finds (Including a fresh track that was app. 27 inches long and 11.5 inches wide - It sunk down deeply into hard soil we could not even scuff with the heels of our boots) - This in turn lead us to looking for places to "explore" that were closer to home here in Florida.

When my friend suggested this particular location; I went along to humor him - He has done a lot of that for me as we have "looked around" and I went with NO expectations - I thought the area was too close to development and too small to support an "ongoing" population and too "busy" with recreational "human" activities for there to be anything to get excited about. I was very wrong.

We entered the woods on both the North side of the River.  We had brought some "sticks" (musical instruments called "Claves" that are very loud when banged together...and they are easy to carry) to knock with and after waiting for some folks in canoes to go by, my friend hit two knocks.

Within just a few seconds; we heard two knocks in response - They were close and seemed to come from our left - They were not near as loud and powerful as some I have heard; but they were certainly loud enough to get the job done.
Until now; we had remained in the shade inside the tree line - But after trying for other knocks and testing for echoes...We moved out onto the beach and were now "visible".
We scanned the opposite bank and both commented that we had a "feeling" something was going on - We had pretty much ruled out people and were still trying to get a second response (or an echo) with our knocking efforts when one extremely powerful and distant "knock" came from much farther to the west.

At about that time; I was looking directly across the river and noticed my friend suddenly pivot to his left and went down on one knee while bringing up his binoculars and focusing on something I was not seeing...But; it had to be just across the river - Some 60 or so feet from where we were standing to the "elbow" in the river my friend was now intently focused on.

I didn't say anything because I didn't want to "interrupt" whatever he was seeing AND the spot he was observing was so close that I could clearly make out all the details WITHOUT binoculars.

He watched for a while, and then gave me the binoculars; and then literally "placed me" in the EXACT spot he was in and told me to look at something next to the largest tree closest to the water right on this elbow - It was easy to find and I thought I saw what i took to be a "torn" or somehow "damaged" area at the base - with a lot of tan color showing on the right side of the Oak tree; which was otherwise gray.  I could make out what looked to be like torn fiber (Which we now are pretty sure was actually hair - My friend saw this too) and started to scan to my right - The only direction something or someone could go without walking into immediate visibility from both roads and the bridge.
As I scanned; I suddenly was looking at what I thought was a tree I must have missed and I put down the binoculars (BIG mistake) and looked at my friend who was in turn looking at me and I asked if there was another tree in front of and close to the big Oak.
"No" was his answer and this took maybe five seconds and I put the binocs back up and the tree was gone - He couldn't see anything either.
I quickly scanned right.....and for five seconds; I watched an 8 foot animal; walking on two legs; leaning forward as it walked; and I discovered; it was covering its face with its forearms as it walked through some thorn vines hanging from the trees - This one was a dirty, smoky black color - It seemed to sense I was seeing it and suddenly a hand came out (Right arm) and it pushed back the last of the thorn vines and took a couple of steps as it suddenly and quickly bore to the right; giving me just a slight idea of the face; definitely no snout or anything bear-like - And then it put the dense foliage along the riverbank between us and that was all I saw.

We later found 17" footprints coming out of the water at a boat ramp and they had the "classic" Sasquatch shape AND what appeared to be a sign of a metatarsal break....Interestingly; there were also human prints there from people stopping in their boats and seeing the two side-by-side made the differences really stand out.
The tracks and the sighting appeared to be genuine.

What my friend saw initially was what he thinks (And I agree) was the shoulder of a second creature at the base of the tree - When we investigated the sight...There was NOTHING there that could have "appeared" to be either the "tan thing" both of us saw hiding behind the tree (And I mistook for damage to the tree - The tree was completely unharmed) and certainly nothing that could have been what I saw - Other than a Sasquatch.

Since then; this has become our "study site" - And at irregular times; we take some food and leave it for them.
They seem to like bananas - And; they take the paper bags we leave and "flatten them" and place them about two feet from the base of the tree.
Once; my friend included a bell pepper and when we retrieved the bag - The bananas were all eaten; the bag flattened out as per usual; except the bell pepper had been placed at the top of the bag.....
Thanks; but no thanks?

We have also found a hand print and discovered some extremely "high" trails in the woods where something's) much taller than 6 foot humans has/have been walking regularly.

Additional things: It can get very "quiet" out there at times - And you get the feeling they are around; but that they prefer to remain hidden.
We go without guns or cameras.
 

Activities of Witness:   We simply drove out to the area - Got out of the vehicle - Noted the kids....The rest you already have.  
 

Description of Creature:  8 foot - A smoky dark gray color; very large stride - VERY rapid movement;....and very QUIET movement through the brush.
Everything about it was...big (Arms; Legs; Trunk; Shoulders; Head)...Didn't get anything but a quick side view of the face and just noted there was no muzzle or snout - It did not look at me - Most of the time I saw it directly from behind...Until it moved to (apparently) put more "cover" between me and it - At least that is the impression I got about its "course change" at the last moment. 
 

Other Notes:    I was "rather shocked" (Understatement) and totally unprepared for what happened.
But; I know what I saw - My friend DID NOT see the dark creature - But; we both noted that what we likely mistook for a dark 8 foot long log on front of the tree and on the edge of the riverbank was NOT there when we investigated the actual location of the sighting. 
 

Other (Informational or Encounter History in the General Area) Notes:    Lots - Most apparently go unreported and I am aware of three witnesses in the County besides myself - NONE of whom have ever reported their stories and two of whom have apparently had multiple encounters. 
 

Additional Notes and or Follow up Comments:  N/A