Erie County, PA near Erie

Footmill Rd.

Country road; a few houses on west side of road, large wooded area on the east side of the road. Dense vegetation; older trees with underbrush, some saplings too. Flat lowland, small gorges and ridges in higher elevations. Hardwood, pines, fruit trees, blackberries. Deer, rabbit, raccoon, fox, coyote, occasionally black bear.

I-90

Aug 2004

Dusk

Sunny-humid

Sighting

I had just picked my son up from a friends house and i was heading home.

yes, my son

I had just picked my son up from his friends house and we were heading back home south on footmill road. It was a warm summer day, late August, just around dusk. my son and i were talking when he pointed to a large dark figure standing on the side of the road approximately 50ft. in front of us. I then immediately began to slow down to get a better view. We then watched as it appeared to be reaching for a high branch from a larger tree that was there. When we were almost right beside it, when whatever it was appeared to notice us, because it ducked under a branch and ran into the woods upright. the incident probably took place in a matter of 10 to 20 seconds.

it was large, approximately 6-7ft., hairy, longer hair like an irish setter. black or dark brown fur. i did not see the face from the front ,i saw it from the side, but i can tell you that it did not have a long nose. when it was reaching for the branch i noticed a fairly large bicep on the arm that was reaching for the branch. i judged the size from the 5ft grass that was on the side of the road.

I have seen lots of black bear while hunting and i can assure you that this was not a black bear. while checking the area out on another occasion my car was hit by something and dented. my son has had rocks thrown at his car while on that same road near the sighting.

Andy Kavelish

I spoke with both witnesses on multiple occasions. The father and I went to the location of the sighting, which has changed significantly because of the ongoing construction of a horse racing facility. Directly to the east of the race track is a large wooded area of somewhat less than 1 square mile that might offer ideal cover. The area contains deep ravines and steep slopes and is surrounded by some residences and fields. The area is generally avoided because of the difficulty in traversing it.

About 3/4 mile south is the county landfill, which may offer an abundant food supply for a scavenger. Half of the landfill is surrounded by woods also containing ravines. The landfill is staffed only during the day and is well lit at the equipment and facilities area.

Another sighting was reported to the Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society during the same year (2004) and in the immediate area of this report.

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