“I heard a sound from across the other side of the creek, and there stood an animal that looked like an ape, but it was larger”
The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word cryptid as “An animal whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the yeti.” For the following witnesses to living cryptids, there is no dispute. In this series of National Cryptid Society’s case files, you will read what the witnesses have experienced in their own words.
Keep an open mind when reading these accounts, and also remember one’s perception and memory of an event can be influenced by the emotions felt at the time of the occurrence. The contributors to this series of articles are doing the best they can to recount what are in some cases very shocking and traumatic experiences.
Location sighting occurred (be as specific as you can, or name the closest city, park, preserve or landmark in whatever state, country, etc):
Lake city Florida
Date sighting occurred (you can estimate years if you do not have the exact date):
1987
Tell your story here. Be as specific and detailed as you can. We will edit for grammatical errors and readability. :
“My mother, brother, and his wife rented 25 acres of land. It had thick woods and a creek running through it. One day while I was fishing in the creek, I smelled a foul odor that smelled of wet dog and rotting meat. I looked around to find the source of the smell but found nothing. That night, while I was back at the creek, I smelled the same odor again, but this time it was stronger. All the night animals were quiet. I heard a sound from across the other side of the creek, and there stood an animal that looked like an ape, but it was larger. It stood about 7 and a half feet tall and had very broad shoulders. I would estimate it weighed between 450 to 600 pounds. It saw me, turned, and ran away upright like a man. I saw it more than five times. The footprint size was 13 inches long and it had three toes. This happened off 41 in Lake City.”
The paragraph was edited for spelling, grammar, and readability, ensuring that the meaning of the original passage was preserved while making it easier for the reader to understand. Submission statement below.
Current Age:
65
Age at time of encounter:
30
The testimonial describes a sighting that occurred in Lake City, Florida in 1987. The witness, along with their family, had rented 25 acres of land which consisted of thick woods and a creek running through it. The witness was fishing in the creek when they smelled a foul odor that smelled of wet dog and rotting meat but couldn’t find the source. The same night, while back at the creek, the witness smelled the same odor again but it was stronger this time. All the night animals had gone quiet. The witness then heard a sound from across the creek and saw an animal that looked like an ape but larger, standing at about 7 and a half feet tall and with very broad shoulders, estimated to weigh between 450 to 600 pounds. The animal saw the witness and turned and ran away upright like a man. The witness had seen the animal more than five times, the footprint size was 13 inches long and it had three toes.
Lake City is located in the northern region of Florida, near the Georgia state line in Columbia County. The area is known for its wetlands, forests and wildlife. The nearest state or federal park, preserve or wilderness area would be Osceola National Forest which is located about 20 miles east of Lake City. The Osceola National Forest is a protected area that covers more than 200,000 acres of land and offers a wide range of outdoor activities including camping, hiking, hunting, and fishing.
Lake City, Florida is located in the northern region of the state and has a population of around 12,000 people. The city was founded in 1859 and was named after the nearby Lake DeSoto. The city is known for its historic downtown area and its proximity to the Suwannee River. The nearest town or municipality would be Fort White, located about 20 miles south of Lake City.
The climate in Lake City is typically humid and subtropical, with hot summers and mild winters. The average temperature in the summer is around 90°F (32°C) and in the winter it is around 60°F (15°C). The area receives around 50 inches (127 cm) of rain per year, with the majority of the rainfall occurring during the summer months. The elevation of Lake City is around 90 feet (27 meters) above sea level.
The terrain around Lake City is mostly flat with some rolling hills. The area is known for its wetlands, forests and wildlife. The area is also known for its sinkholes, which are common in the area due to the presence of limestone deposits. The nearest water source is the Suwannee River, which is located about 20 miles east of Lake City.
The indigenous wildlife around Lake City is diverse and varied. The area is home to a wide range of animals, including white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, alligators, and otters. The area is also home to a variety of bird species, including the wood stork, the swallow-tailed kite, and the limpkin. The nearby Osceola National Forest provides habitats for many of these species.
The vegetation around Lake City is typical of a subtropical climate. The area is home to a wide variety of trees, shrubs, plants, grasses and fungi. The most common trees found in the area include longleaf pine, live oak, and cypress. The area is also home to a variety of shrubs and plants, including saw palmetto, holly, and magnolia. The area is also known for its diverse fungi, such as turkey tail, reishi, and shiitake mushrooms.
What the witness described is similar to other Skunk Ape sightings in Florida. The “Skunk Ape” is a term used to describe a supposed ape-like creature that is said to inhabit the swamps and woodlands of Florida. It is often referred to as Florida’s version of Bigfoot or Sasquatch. Reports of the Skunk Ape date back to the 1960s and describe the creature as being a large, ape-like creature that stands between 6 and 8 feet tall and weighs between 400 and 600 pounds. It is described as having dark fur and a strong, unpleasant odor, similar to that of a skunk.
Some of the characteristics that are reported to be associated with the Skunk Ape include having a human-like face, long arms, and broad shoulders. It is also said to be bipedal, meaning it walks on two legs, and it has been reported to move quickly and quietly through the woods. Reports of the Skunk Ape also often include sightings of large, human-like footprints. However, there were three-toed footprints described by the witness. As unusual as this may seem other Bigfoot-like creatures have been associated with three-toed prints including the Fouke Monster. Moreover, an article from the website Pararational gives several accounts of three-toed prints.
It’s possible that the Skunk Ape may be a species of primate that is currently unknown to science. It could be a relict population of a prehistoric primate that managed to survive in the Florida swamps, or it could be a primate species that evolved in isolation. Although there is no fossil evidence of a great ape in North America, it is important to note that fossilization is a very rare process.
Although there are no official Bigfoot sighting reports in Columbia county on the BFRO website, there is a media entry for an article from 2014 that describes a second-hand account of a Skunk Ape eating Spanish Moss off a tree.
You can see other Florida NCS Case Files reports HERE
Original submission statement:
Location sighting occurred (be as specific as you can, or name the closest city, park, preserve or landmark in whatever state, country, etc):
Lake city Florida
Date sighting occurred (you can estimate years if you do not have the exact date):
1987
Tell your story here. Be as specific and detailed as you can. We will edit for grammatical errors and readability. :
Me my mom n brother and his wife rented 25 acres of land .it had thick woods n creek running through it.i was fishing one day in the creek when I smelled a foul order that smelled of wet dog and rotting meat.i looked around to find the smell and found nothing. That night I’m back at creek when I smelled the smell .only now it was stronger. All the night animals had gone quite. I heard a sound across from the other side of the creek and behold there stood a animal that looked like a ape only larger .it stood about 7 in a half feet tall and very broad shoulders. I’d say it weight bout 450 to 600 pounds .it saw me and turned and took off upright like a man .I saw it more than five times.foot print size was 13 inches long and it had three toes.this happened off 41 in lake city
Current Age:
65
Age at time of encounter:
30
At the time of the encounter did you require eyeglasses / corrective lenses?:
YES
Photos / Videos: (Optional) Provide links to photos / videos which you own of the sighting or the area around where the sighting occurred. If you do not have links available you can email us files at our email address below.:
No pictures. I know what I saw and it was no bear.
NOTICE:
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