The following events occurred on Monday, December 15, 2008 at approximately 3:00 PM along a waterway in Southern Georgia.
Report Filed By: NESRA Field Investigator & Researcher, Reggie Roddenberry
Environmental Description and Weather Conditions at the Time of Incident:
Partly cloudy skies and the air temperature in mid 70’s during the afternoon made for some semi-humid conditions. The wind was mostly out of the east at around 5-10 mph. The encounter occurred while investigating an island on a large freshwater waterway.
This is a small island, about ½-mile in length, by ¼ mile in width. It is situated in the middle of a river that flows into a lake. The ground conditions on the island were extremely damp from recent rains and covered in wet leaves and pine straw.
The island is partially forested in large pine trees with many large oak trees bearing several species of acorns. There are many varieties of deciduous “scrub brush” growth amid some tangled masses of vines along with plenty of thick underbrush vegetation.
This island is surrounded on the north side by a large bayou (bay area) with huge amounts of cattails and marsh grasses growing along the parameter that separates it from the mainland. There is also a huge amount of water plant growth mixed in with the cattail vegetation.
The area along the south side of the island has hardwoods extending down to the waterline in most places, with smaller amounts of cattail growth, that separates it from the other mainland. The river flow is extremely high at this time with great masses of floating trees and other brush/plant life flowing downstream towards towards the lake.
Noteworthy Information:
My partner and I beached the boat on the south river side of the island approximately 2:30 p.m. He immediately went into the island’s interior following a northerly course while I remained at the boat to allow him time to safely leave the area. I shouldered my backpack, activated the GPS, loaded my rifle, and started still hunting in a westerly direction away from the boat (and my partner).
As I traveled along the shoreline, I began turning inland towards a northern direction. Approximately 300-yards from the boat, at about 2:55 p.m., I heard a loud crash to the left of me located 100-yards from my position near the shore of the island. At the time, I thought nothing about this guessing it to be a falling tree limb.
The Encounter:
At 3:00 p.m., as I quietly entered a clearing amid a large stand of pine trees, with some big oak trees and lots of vegetation, I spied movement: Something was standing beside a big pine tree about 50-yards away.
A “creature” quickly went from a standing position, beside the pine tree, into a four-legged stance, and rapidly fled along a thick screen of brush going to my left. I noted an orange/brown colored furry animal estimated at 150-pounds bounding away from me in the manner of how I have observed apes to run – this was no deer or hog! The being disappeared from my view in less than 3-seconds! I made note of the being looking at me as it rapidly ran away inside the brush line.
My best description of its facial features would be to say that it appeared to have two, large, rounded eyes with a flat looking, dark orange colored face – no long, protruding nose seen which eliminates it being a deer or a bear! Unfortunately, a better observation of this creature could not be ascertained because of the thick brush screening its features and the intense speed at which this animal disappeared from my view. In affect, the body was a blur of brown-orange, longhaired flowing motion.
Post Sighting Details:
I have seen numerous deer, hogs, bears, cats, dogs and multitudes of other large animals, wild and domestic, run in my life. No animal I have ever witnessed has disappeared at such a rapid pace as this creature. As soon as I approached the pine tree where the creature ran from me, I detected a slight “skunk-like” odor in the air. This smell then rapidly dissipated as the wind blew away the odors. It was only then that I actually realized that the creature I had observed was possibly a small “Skunk Ape”.
I spent the next two hours in a natural sheltered blind observing the area. First, I spent a couple of minutes on hands and knees searching the immediate area for any possible physical evidence, such as tracks, scat, or hair. I found no physical evidence. Then, I spent a few minutes placing several “cover and attractant” scent wafers around me. Finally, I set up a “natural blind” using tree branches and folage at the exact location where the creature fled from me. I constantly scanned all the trees and the surrounding bushes in the area with my binoculars looking for nesting sites or possible creatures peering at me. Nothing more was seen of any questionable creature nor any unusual sounds heard. There were plenty of bird and squirrel noises, but no other sounds detected.
As the daylight faded around 5:15 p.m., I collected my scent wafers, packed up the gear, and left the area quietly to rejoin my hunting partner at the boat.
Post Script Information:
I have not said anything to my hunting partner about this encounter because I have serious doubts that he believes in the existence of these creatures. Further investigation of this area is pending. I have planned another hunting trip onto this island and will cautiously research the area for more evidence of any questionable creatures as soon as a trip can be undertaken. The photographs that were taken by me are pending developement and I intend to post some of these when they are ready.
Future Plans:
This is the second time in my life that I have had an encounter. The last time, 44 years ago, as a teenager, with a gun in my hand (again), the creature was in slow motion. It really didn’t see me until I alerted it to my presence. This time, apparently, the creature was forewarned, and it saw me first.
I am overwhelmed with caution at the extreme speed that these beings can run away to or from us. This evidence gives me serious pause to consider future encounter potentials. I really should be careful when approaching an identified area of habitation (hot zone) – like this island’s interior. I don’t ever want to have to use a gun to defend myself against one of these animals. So, I have decided that, if I feel threatened, in any way, I WILL leave the area rapidly in order to avoid a confrontation. I remain undeterred in my quest to find more of these creatures will go forward. I want to record as much evidence – pictures, physical findings, sound recordings, anything that the scientific world will acknowledge – without sacrificing my life or that of a creature.
As long as I can stay within their realm without provocation, I shall gather as much evidence for future data as possible based upon physical, time, and weather constraints. As an update from this report, I have had to retreat from this area until next fall. Major rain storms have flooded the river system and wiped away all evidence of their existence. This expedition has been shelved until the fall of this year when I can hopefully reestablsih contact with some of these Swamp People. I have no doubt that they remain in the area, probably on higher ground, but until the river system flood waters recede, I cannot even begin to think about going near any of those islands! Revised 5/30/09.
