FRANKLIN COUNTY-Tates Hell National Park,Fl./ Visibility clear./ 3:30 AM/ Jason was spotting frogs when he
saw a grayish creature by his spotlight around 75 yards away./ The arms hung to its knees and the legs
about 3 1/2 feet long./ It acted skittish./ It looked like an ape when walking away./ He spotted it again about
four miles down the road before it went off into the woods.
PASCO COUNTY- Green Swamp,Fl./ Two witnesses at 6:35 AM. still dark out, these hunters were
on their way to a tree stand a couple miles in from their truck./ That's when a creature growled at
them./ Witness telling the story said his brother fired at it with his rifle but it seemed to know and
jumped out of the way and ran./ They ran back to their truck and as they were headed for the check
station they saw it again coming out of the woods on to the dirt road./ They shined their spotlight
on it and it ran away./ Witness said he hasn't returned to the area./ The creature was described as
massive with man like features covered in long black- brown hair./ It was also described as
aggressive.
COLLIER COUNTY- Naples,Fl. Nearest town Naples)Two hikers found two tracks that were a mile apart from
each other./ One showed abducted ape like toe./ Other seemed to have left toe prints that were splayed
like a humans./ A hiker two weeks before took pictures of tracks in about the same area.
BAKERS COUNTY-Macleeny,Fl./ Strange animal spotted in the trees./ It liked donuts./ After a couple days of
trying to catch the creature they didn't find a baby Skunk Ape, the orange ball turned out to be a Fox
squirrel.
POLK COUNTY-Lakeland,Fl.(Nearest town) Green Swamp./ On a clear day two workers walking the railroad
tracks heard footsteps close to them, they yelled back to others behind them to be quiet so they could
hear, turning they saw a long haired creature running away.
CLAY COUNTY- Middleburg,Fl./Near Blanding Road./ Aug.11th./ It was around 9 or 10 PM. when the witness
camping with friends decided to take a walk next to the creek that circled the camp./ Witness said he
decided to sit down next to creek when he heard rustling in the trees across the creek./ Turning on his
flashlight he saw a large creature that ran off./ It stopped about 30 yards in and gave off a weird disturbing
sound./ he ran back towards camp and disoriented had to be guided in by two friends./ The creature was
about 6 to 7 feet tall ./ It had brownish, black hair that looked kind of ragged./ Telling his friends what he
saw they didn't pay it much mind but later that night about 1 or 2 AM one of the other campers awoke and
heard weird howling.
COLLIER COUNTY-Ochopee,Fl./ Sept 1st./ Witness said he and some friends decided to travel from Miami to
Naples in hopes of catching some big waves that Hurricane Gustav was creating in the Gulf./ They left
around 6 AM. Leaving Florida International University traveling on Tamiami Trail west./ It was relatively
clear day, though humid./ It was near the area of Big Cypress about 15 minutes from the worlds smallest
post office(Seen earlier) the landscape was saw grass in shallow water and large trees at a distance about
a mile off the road./ The witness said he was looking at the scenery out the window when he noticed this
figure that seemed to be watching the road./ It definitely wasn't a person, he was sure because they hadn't
seen but five cars in the entire length of the trip./ Whatever it was it was large with whole body structure
and even at the distance that the witness saw (300 to 500 yards) it looked to be covered in hair./ The
creature was standing next to a palmetto bush and they passed it very quickly./ The witness said that 10
seconds or so went by when he told his friends and they turned the car around to get a better look but it
was gone./ The witness got out of the car and there was a strange smell in the air like nothing he'd smelt
before, almost like wet dog that had been covered in eggs./ He guessed the creature had crossed the
road and heard their car and stopped to check them out./ It might have been crouched down and hid./ No
one saw the creature but the witness./ The front passenger was asleep and the driver was concentrating
on the road./ the witness never believed in the Skunk Ape but after what he saw also realizing how big the
Everglades are(Many Parks and Swamps across Florida cover thousands of acres) he said that he was
certain that there is a possibility that there is something out there.
OKALOOSA COUNTY- Yellow River,Fl. Nov.11th./ Kayaking down Yellow River in Florida panhandle witness
smelt a musky wet dog odor and then had rocks thrown at him./ he felt a presence for 25 miles.
Places like The Green Swamp, Ocala National Forest,Everglades National Park,The Indian Reservations,Tates Hell,
Appalalachicola National Park are located in more then one county.
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Some of the resources I used for Florida's Skunk Ape Files. Fish and Wild Life Conservation
Commission of Florida,with special thanks to Henry Cabbage; the Florida Living magazine, Henry
Cabbages Myth and Monsters,The Tampa Tribune, Naples Daily News, Miami Herald, Everglades
Echo, The Bonita News,The Palm Beach Post Times,The News Library and Books on the subject
and of course the Internet and all the wonderful witnesses.
2007-Sawannee County-Wellborn,Fl./ Rural area resident hears knocks and howls and finds a footprint
2007-CLAY COUNTY-Aug. Middlesburg,Fl./ Brief sighting by youth with flashlight.
2007-CLAY COUNTY-Middlesburg,Fl.March / Knocks.volcalizations herad by two witnesses near town.
2007-LAKE COUNTY-March15. Near Plymouth,Fl./ North of Wekiwa State Park trail, on west side of main park road a
quarter mile from gate. Hiker found scat he believed was something other then a bears. It was in the middle of trail. He
then felt like he was being watched. He left.
2007-LAKE COUNTY- Leesburg,Fl. Dusk sighting by hikers in Flat Island Preserve on nature trail. Something hitting
tree over and over. As they approached area where it was coming from they saw a Skunk Ape who looked at them
than ran off. It was about 8 feet tall.
ALABAMA-FRANKLIN COUNTY- nearest town Russellville -Year 2007- December/ Witness said he was on his hunting
club land when nearby people were shooting and hooping and hollering after they would shoot./ It was about
5Pm.,witness said he got disgusted and decided to leave. They were on his far right, he said he could hear them
even when they talked very clearly./ One of them shot and then let out a whoop that's when to the left almost in front
of witness a response was made, it was a loud long whoop followed by chatter. He thought it was the echo of the
person who had just yelled. Then it happened again this time it was furtherer up from his left. He said he began to
watch the tree line and the field. That's when he saw something on two legs walking in the pines. It was about 2000
yards to his left heading for a break in the pines. Then it stopped and crouched down. Witness said a cold chill began
to run up his back. Thinking it was another hunter he stood up and began to move. It didn't move it just sat there by a
brush pile. The witness said he had been interested in Bigfoot(Skunk Ape) for along time.He began to walk to his truck
it still hadn't moved. He returned the next day to look for signs but found nothing. There was an unusual odor kind of
like a wet deer. It hadn't rained in days.
2007-EFFINGHAM COUNTY,Georgia./ Between Bloomingdale and Meldrim,on railroad tracks. Nearest town Meldrim./
Witness and his wife were riding 4 wheelers with another couple and decided to follow the railroad tracks to the next
town. It was about 10 miles that goes through swamps and none of the area is developed. Never rode through area
before at night./ He said that they were about half way to Meldrim when it looked like a light at the far end of the track
was getting brighter. He said they pulled off the tracks and backed into a ditch that parallels the tracks. Waiting his wife
and friends talked while he climbed back onto tracks to see if the light was getting closer.The plan was to wait 10
minutes or so and if the light didn't get brighter,closer then it wasn't a train but a light from another source. After about
5 minutes his wife and friends heard something moving progressively closer in the woods. Then large objects began to
fall around him. Asking if they'd heard the sounds of the rocks hitting the area then there were larger rocks being
thrown at them, also large limbs. Some where landing in the water,not all the same area and not all the same size.
Everyone now had joined him on the tracks. Something was throwing things at them. He kept shinning his flashlight but
never saw anything. These were big objects and witness said that no way an animal that he was familiar with could have
done this. He said he was a hunter and was very familiar with the woods but this freaked him out. He added that when
he use to stay at a friends house near the tracks in Bloomingdale end his granddad use to tell them of howls that came
from the woods down at the swamp that he couldn't explain. He said they were like screaming,witness said he'd always
been skeptical but after what happened to him he wasn't sure anymore.
DESOTA COUNTY- Arcadia,Fl./ March 25th./ Truck driver said she saw a Skunk Ape as she entered an
orange grove to drop off empty trailer and pick up full one./ Said as the lights of truck shone on the
creature that it had long hair all over its body./ Leaving the area and keeping a watch out for the creature
again but it wasn't seen./ Telling other drivers what she saw they all laughed and she said that she was
tired and what she'd seen was a cow./ But she told her boss not to send her back to that orange grove
again because she wouldn't go.
CLAY COUNTY- Middleburg,Fl./ Oct 15/ Witness heard screams at 6 :30 AM. on his way to bus stop./ He heard
howling about every 5 mintues./ Dogs went crazy.
PALM BEACH COUNTY- March 03./ About 7:45 AM./ there were several witnesses on this clear and chilly morning./ All
names with held./ Mr. N. S. and another witness heard the creature before they saw him./ The creature entered the
building where they were about 10 feet away./ As it started to come closer they threw sticks and a torch at it which
chased it away./ The one witness said it seemed attracted to something he had./ The witness said the creature was
wearing a tracking device./ the face was seen clearly but wasn't described./ The behavior of creature seemed agitated./
it had long arms and legs./ Mr. N. S. went back to see if he could see it again,might know where it lives./ the creature
was a male.
UNKNOWN- March,02./ Time 3:30 PM./ Visibility was great on a sunny day/ two witnesses saw at a distance of
20 feet a creature for about 5 minutes./ Mr.J. J. and Mr. Z. A. spotted the creature sitting looking at them./
the creature was between 6 to 6 1/2 feet tall and a male./ It had long black shaggy hair with a stripe down its
back./ The arms were a meter long and the legs about 3 feet./ Both men said they were scared out of their
minds./ Mr. Z. A. started the motor of their boat and they left the area./ The creature just looked at them and
didn't seem mean,just sitting quietly.
CLAY COUNTY-Middlesburg,Florida-March-23,2007 / Witnesses were hiking through the woods when they heard loud
wood knocking. It happened 3 different times ,2 or 3 seconds apart./ They also heard a loud cry,it was loud and drawn
out./ It sounded about a mile away from them./ The day was clear and sunny. Very wooded terrain near a creek
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY-Valrico,Fl. July 4th./ Place Medard Park near Valrico./ The time 10:45 PM. The weather
was 90% visibility./ Three witnesses were with their families camping and fishing and in the evening wanted to watch
the fireworks./ They went to the tower in the area so the could see the fireworks better. They heard a noise
below,thinking it was their uncle they decided to climb down and hide and scare him. Hearing what sounded like
someone big they weren't afraid as their uncle is a big man. As it got closer they saw it wasn't their uncle but a Skunk
Ape. It seemed to be frightened of the fireworks. He looked right at the place the girls were hiding, then left. The
animal was copperish -red color,very dirty and muddy. They couldn't tell how long the hair was as it was matted and
caked with mud. They saw face but didn't didn't describe it. Their were tracks but the rain that evening washed them
away. The creature acted jumpy,but was graceful. It seemed angry. It stood 6 to 61/2 feet tall. It had long arms that
reached to its knees. The legs were long about 3 feet. They said this had always been their favorite place to visit but
the one witness said she doesn't want to go back there again.
PUTNAM COUNTY-2007- June/ Nearest towns Palatka and Bardin./ Witness says about 7AM, he was hiking on the
Florida Trail near Florahome. Walking south from the trail head near Coral Farms, It had rained the day before and
the red clay ,sand road had no animal tracks or human tracks,all washed away. Reaching a picnic table about 3 miles
from the trail head he went down a side trail for about 15 minutes and then back to the picnic table. Staring to head
back the way he'd come he noticed bare foot prints about 200 yards from the table. The appeared human. Not hearing
any people around,thinking this was strange that anyone would be walking bare foot,looking closer saw that the tracks
were huge.,about 18 inches Getting scared though had a camera didn't take any pictures as felt like something was
close by watching. Heading out he heard a yelp,half dog/half human sounding. Then He felt like it was gone. He hurried
back to his truck and left the area. Witness said that his two sons saw a Skunk Ape at Buck Lake,Ocala National Forest
a couple years before. The area is known as Bardin Booger country.
NOTE- Researchers from BFRO did a follow up and talked to the witness then stopped in a small grocery
store that serves breakfast to the locals every Saturday morning. And they were invited back to interview
some of them. WE all have heard of The Booger,legend has been around for 80 years. Since back in 1920's.
When they went back to interview the locals they heard several stories and then they met a gentleman
who claimed he was the Bardin Booger. The man was in his early 60's. He said he thought it would be fun
after hearing several stories to dress up in an old fur coat and a monkey mask and scare some of the
locals. He never scared any of the old people didn't want them to have a heart attack. Never thought of
getting shot.
Another person claiming to be the creature of legend. There's been so many. Mr. Ray Wallace taking claim
for the Bigfoot tracks in Upper California and Organ. Paterson film, Man claims he dressed in ape costume
and he was "Patty" from the legendary film. Another in the Carolinas said he was the maker of the Patty
suit. Just one after another, it makes a researcher want to throw their hands up in disgust. There are real
sightings out there and people pulling pranks takes away the creditability of them.
This gentleman claimed his Uncle saw the real Bardin Booger, and he believed him because his Uncle was
at truthful man; then he thinks it' s funny, just good old fun to play a big joke on all. That is why I don't judge
sightings folks. There's no way to stop the ones who play pranks or tell lies. That's why I log all,or just
about all, because some are going to be the truth.