Report Received From: The GCBRO Online Report Submission Form.
 
Report Posted To GCBRO Web Site On:  November 31, 2005

DATE:    September 14, 2005
 

TIME:     1330 hours
 

LOCATION:   Simpson County, Mississippi
 

TERRAIN:    Large pine plantation adjacent to river. Hardwoods bordering stream, flood plain, oxbows and backswamps
 

OBSERVED:    I grew up in this area and have hunted and fished it all my life. I have spent many nights sleeping on the ground and countless hours roaming this property. I am well aware of the animals and wildlife that normally occur in the forests and fields. I stand 6-4 and I'm an ex-Marine and I don't scare at all and I do not relay this incident out of fear. I am an anthropologist, specifically an archaeologist. There is an Indian mound that I have been collecting data from it for the past six years as my free time permits. Never before in all the years since my childhood have I encountered an event such as this. If there are any professional anthropologists specializing in primatology that might read this I implore you to please contact me through this web site. I will get straight to the point: There needs to be a serious investigation of a large primate living among the fields and forests bordering this area. There might be several but one for sure. I was working the mound after the recent Hurricane Katrina and a very heavy and bold animal brazenly announced his/her presence to me and followed me back to my truck. I saw nothing but having grown up in the forests around here I know the sound of every creature in it. This was abnormal and very humbling. While working atop the mound I have a commanding view of the woods in about a 40 meter radius. They are open but currently there are many limbs and branches strewn and hanging from the 120 mph winds that wrecked this place. I heard a muffled shrill sound, like someone trying to learn how to whistle. For those of you who hunt, it sounded like a long extended high-pitched deer snort. It was followed up with some grunting and clacking together of sticks. I called out to it because I thought it was somebody but no answer. The animal moved around just beyond my vision on a ridge that was across a deep desiccated ravine and creek yet higher than the ground upon which I stood. It was very loud and shuffled and popped very stout branches as it moved. I knew it was not a person. It sounded like what I imagine an elephant walking through brush would sound like. At least it was on the other side of the creek was all I could think of. You have no idea what I would have given for a good 30-06 at this point. It was as if it was looking for an optimum place to cross the creek and approach me. My truck was a quarter mile away and there was a .22 pistol and rifle in it. That sounded better than the shovel I was holding since all I could guarantee was a mouthful of steel if the thing decided to attack. As far as I know the screen and buckets are still where I left them. I saddled up and headed to the truck. Whatever it was stayed behind whacking sticks against trees and grunting. I was nearly to the truck when I heard it running up behind me just to my right off the trail. I dropped my pack and got ready to defend myself but it stopped just inside the brush not 100 feet away. I continued to walk backwards towards my truck which was still 200 meters away, constantly facing the last known spot I heard it. I was aware of nothing but fixing my eyes on the woods and the shovel in my hands. I bumped into my truck and went around to the passenger side to get in. No way I was turning my back on this thing. It had shadowed me the entire way and I could hear it breathe. I was convinced that it would attack the truck once I got inside it. I could not find my keys and then remembered they were in the pack that I had dropped in the trail 200 meters back down the hill. I opened the truck by sticking the shovel handle through the cargo window and hitting the automatic lock. I then frantically grabbed the .22 pistol and the rifle, which I had to load. I stood motionless for a few seconds but could hear nothing. At this point I could have continued to walk out to the road and eventual civilization or go back to retrieve the pack containing my keys. Since I didn't hear it anymore I opted for the pack. I covered the distance in good order, not running but not exactly taking my time. I had a rifle in one hand and a pistol in the other but I'm here to tell you it was a hard walk to make. I felt especially vulnerable when I stooped to pick it up. Then a limb popped and a sapling tree bent as I turned to leave. It was less than 100 feet into the woods. I could never see it but I did see the crown of the sapling shake. I know a .22 is a very weak round but they have killed bears and the key is bullet placement. I don't know how large this thing is but I know had it shown me its face I would not have hesitated one second to pump a hollow point between its eyes. The grunts continued as I again walked backwards to my truck constantly checking all around me but focusing on where I last knew it to be. I left without further incident.
 

Activities of Witness:   Archaeological excavation.
 

Description of Creature:  The animal was never seen. I estimate its weight based on the largeness of the branches it broke while climbing through them to be in excess of 500 lb.. I never saw it, just heard it.
 

Other Notes:    After this incident I became interested again in this phenomena. I have learned from this site that these teepee stick piles are some kind of marker utilized by the animals to either navigate or mark territory. I have seen several and always assumed them to have been placed there by hunters as a blind the previous season while they were leaf laden. I have read dozens of reports on this site and one thing that bothers me is the fact that there are those who eagerly seek these things out with a camera and tape recorder and don't seem to realize that this is a VERY unknown animal. Nobody will convince me that these creatures are not dangerous. As a general rule of thumb any animal that growls is dangerous. If a poodle growls at you, you kick it. If a bear growls at you, well you get the idea. These are dangerous animals we are talking about. What in the world would ever make anyone think they are friendly? 
 

Additional Notes and or Follow up Comments:  Upon contact the witness had no additional information to add to this report.

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