Author Topic: Close Encounters of the Unknown Creature Kind (Read 4101 times)

Graybeard · « **on:** December 05, 2004, 04:18:50 AM »

Well guys and gals I or I should say we had a very strange encounter last night. For years now, perhaps ten years, I've been hearing but not seeing a "creature" (for lack of a better name) sound in the woods. It has a distnctly cat like quality to it. Yet most often also a bit of a bird like quality as well. I've heard it here in Alabama, over in Georgia and also in Mississippi.

I've lived here in this area for soon to be 60 years and until perhaps 10 years or so ago I'd never in all my life heard the sound. This is in spite of having roamed and hunted the woods all my life.

Well last night the "creature" was in my yard. Right out side my bedroom window in fact. For an hour or more. Nope guys I still ain't got clue one what it is.

At first I heard it off in the distance some where and heard the neighborhoood dogs barking at it. When I first heard it my thought was "what the heck is that"? Then I heard it more and the dogs really upset over it. After awhile I didn't hear it any longer and the dogs settled down.

Then awhile later still I heard it so loud and so clear I knew it was right outside my bedroom windown within mere feet of me. I opened the blinds on both sides of the house and even tho the neighbor's night light illuminated the yard there almost like day I saw nothing. Even with the sound clearly from within feet of me and the entire yard brightly lit I saw nothing. True I couldn't see right up against the house say within 2' or so of the base of house trying to look out the window.

This morning when I got up my son who lives with us says he too heard it. He thought it sounded like a dog whimpering. At times so did I. I know when it was in our yard by the bedroom windows it caused out neighbor's dog which is inside the house to start barking.

So even tho it has been within mere feet of me I still have no clue what this long term mystery creature is.

Once perhaps 5-6 years ago I was out in a wooden treestand I had build near Delta, AL. This is a fairly wild area not so far from Cheaha Mt. the highest point in Alabama. It rained most of the day before and then turned off really cold and we had a hard freeze. The wet leaves froze and sounded like walking on corn flakes. My stand was in an area with great visibility on the side where I heard the creature. Yet I heard not one sound of leaves being crunched as it approached or left the area. Even clear and open as it was I saw nothing. Not a bird flying nor anything.

I've written up stories of this mystery creature hear before. It's still a mystery to me even tho it has now been far closer to me than ever before.

Anyone got any ideas?

HipShot · « **Reply #1 on:** December 05, 2004, 06:10:14 AM »

That sounds like a wampus cat. Your story took me back some years, graybeard.

I need to dust off some memories and find some proper references.

There are several versions of myth/story, but there's also a very real practical history, at least in my neck of the woods. At dusk kids would all go inside when these "wampus cats" would start crying; the day was ours, the night was theirs, or so old timers said.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** December 05, 2004, 06:29:39 AM »

Yup know what ya mean. Around here a few years back we discussed Whumpus Cats as creatures of legend more than reality. But the reality of what is often called that is the cougar, panther, moutain lion is you wish.

At this point I'm not really willing to rule out anything to even include creatures of myth or legend. But where I live the existence of a big cat of that type is really unlikely. Just not enough wild country to support them. Not impossible mind you just a looooong way from where one would normally be expected and the occurences have been too frequent for it to likely be a creature only occasionally passing thru.

Once back right after we moved here (likely in either '95 or '96) I had some deer heads tossed up on a stack of bales of peat moss. I walked out to the back screened porch one evening and stood there a few minutes looking out at the night. A bob tailed cat which I assume to have been a bobcat jumped up and tried to pull down one of the buck heads. I think it saw me or realized I was standing there not 15' away and it jumped down. There was a lot of light from mine and the neighbor's night lights but there was one narrow band of darkness away from there and up to the woods out back. I reached back and grabbed a shotgun and went out the door to see if I could get it but it was nowhere to be seen. I assume it left via that thin line of dark shadow as it never came back into the light.

But that's the only such sighting I've seen. Never even heard rumors of mountain lions anywhere near here. Still I don't know. I really just don't know.

I do know whatever was about last night it definitely had the neighborhood dogs on alert. Even the tiny little dog inside the place next door was barking at it when in my yard.

What continues to astonish me is my inability to see this creature even when I know it is so close at hand. Last night I heard it seemingly near both windows I was looking out of but could not see it even tho there was plenty of light to do so. Sure there were places it might have been to remain hidden but it was moving around out there and yet I could not see it. The day the leaves were so frozen it had to be close enough to be within open view of me yet I saw nothing and even more astonishing I heard no sound of movement on those corn flake noisy leaves.

Were I of a mind set to believe in super natural this creature of mine would sure be cause enough to think it not of this world. But I really am sure it is an explainable event and some creature who lives in our woods in the deep south. The what is all I need to decide.

I cannot even for absolutely certain say all of these events have been the same creature. The sounds are closely enough to the same I think all are. But there is a bit of variation in it. The common theme is that no creature that I know exists here that I have ever seen has made such a sound to my knowledge.

At this time I'm not willing to rule out any thing and am open to finding out it is anything known or unknown.

HipShot · « **Reply #3 on:** December 05, 2004, 06:49:34 AM »

There's been a big surge in the cat population here. There's been a surge of everything really.

It may serve you to survey your property. I'd look for any kind of den, any kind of hole in a bank or shallow hill. Small caves near or behind rocks, etc.

Muddy footprints, holes, whatever. I'm not a big fan of the unknown; what was accepted when I was a kid is not acceptable now. I'd want to know.

Have you tested any of the game finders? I'm sure one would come in handy for this.

HipShot · « **Reply #4 on:** December 05, 2004, 07:26:24 AM »

It's way to cold for reptiles here in East TN. I'd guess it'd be the same for Alabama.

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** December 05, 2004, 10:58:53 AM »

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Anyway, since you're in Bama is it possibly that this noise is the voice of some sort of reptile or the like? Their sounds can be quite dependant on temperature windows.

Yes we have all sorts of those here in Bama. But I've heard them all of my life so the sounds they make are not strange to me. And as HipShot said right now it's way too cold for them to be out and about making their noises. I cannot say with certainty that what I heard last night is the same as what I've been hearing in the woods. I think it was but since I've yet to lay eyes on the maker of the sounds I cannot know, only suspect. But the time on the morning after the rain when the temp was at most in the low 20s and maybe lower there is no way that sound was made by any cold blooded creature. Neither insect nor frog was out that day.

I also do not "think" it was likely a large cat whether we choose to call it panther, cougar, painter, mountain lion or something else. I can't know it wasn't but don't think it was. On my land there is no place for one to hide and really neither on the neighbor's land on either side of me. Just not enough woods. Across the state highway from me is a ridge line that runs several miles more or less parallel to the road. It's much more wild and I'd not completely rule out much of anything traveling it from time to time or even living there for short periods. I don't think any large predator lives here longer term tho. If it did more cattle, goats and house pets all of which are near would be missing and someone would be reporting it.

Back perhaps 15 or more years ago when far fewer folks lived out here the neighbor next door said one morning a black bear was down at their pond along the highway. Bears definitely do travel thru from time to time in the area near us. Young males move between the population centers in TN, north GA and AL to the populations in FL and south AL each year. A bear will be sighted making the travel ever year or so. But big cats? Dunno. I'm sure some do at times travel thru just like the bears.

But whatever I'm hearing is resident here, not just passing thru. I've heard it with too much frequency when hunting for it to be nomadic and not resident. Still last night's encounter might or might not be the same creature. It could have been something just moving thru for all I know. I don't honestly expect we'll come up with an answer but thought I'd share the experience with you guys. The sounds last night just like the similar ones I've been hearing in the woods when hunting sure have me baffled.

HipShot · « **Reply #6 on:** December 05, 2004, 11:46:55 AM »

How about tossing a vox recorder out the window for a few nights? I'd love to hear the sound.

Loader 3009 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 05, 2004, 12:39:34 PM »

Set a trap, bait the area with sardines and dust the area with flour so it will leave foot prints.

I had critters raiding my 5 gal. compost bucket that I keep on the back porch. Dusted with flour. Both coon and possum prints.

Graybeard · « **Reply #8 on:** December 05, 2004, 04:41:54 PM »

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How about tossing a vox recorder out the window for a few nights? I'd love to hear the sound.

I don't even know what that is and for sure ain't got one. I have no sort of audio recording device.

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Set a trap, bait the area with sardines and dust the area with flour so it will leave foot prints.

If I were getting regular visits here at home that would work fine. But out in the woods where I've heard it for years there is no one location I hear it and doubt it would help me figure it out. They are a long way from here. If I hear it again the next few nights then after the storms we're now having are gone I might give his a try. But so far this is the only time I've heard it here around my house.

IntrepidWizard · « **Reply #9 on:** December 05, 2004, 04:52:22 PM »

fox will do that and sound like that.

Graybeard · « **Reply #10 on:** December 05, 2004, 05:27:40 PM »

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fox will do that and sound like that.

For certain red fox are in all the areas where I've heard the sound. But they have been pretty much all of my life and while I've seen them around for a great many years only first heard this sound perhaps 10-12 years ago. Still if they make such a sound they can't be ruled out. They are here. I've seen them here at my home several times.

Still that cold morning with the corn flake leaves baffles all the ideas of what it might be. I guess however I can't rule out in being hidden perhaps in a den and that it never left just stopped sounding off and that another one is what was later heard some ways off. I cannot rule out that possibility.

HipShot · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2004, 09:07:03 PM »

A little voice activated recorder. It'll only record when it hears something.

Loader 3009 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 05, 2004, 11:10:24 PM »

On a warm summernight, when I get bored, I will load a "fox pup distress call" tape in my Johnny Stewart game caller. This gets the neighborhod's dogs so upset that it takes them an hour to settle down. :twisted: Have you ever heard this cry? Check it out for similarities.

Graybeard · « **Reply #13 on:** December 06, 2004, 02:38:08 AM »

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A little voice activated recorder. It'll only record when it hears something.

Then around here it would always be recording. There is some kinda noise going on outside all the time. The state highway out front seems to have more traffic than most sections of interstate do and the neighbor's dogs are always barking. The heat pump is right near there. But if these visits were regular enough such an item might be nice. Still I'd have no idea how to put it on the internet or share the sounds.

I have thought about buying a cheap tape recorder to take with me to the woods to see if I could capture some of the sound but as I said I have no clue how to then share it with someone who might have heard the sound before.

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On a warm summernight, when I get bored, I will load a "fox pup distress call" tape in my Johnny Stewart game caller. This gets the neighborhod's dogs so upset that it takes them an hour to settle down. Have you ever heard this cry? Check it out for similarities.

I've got some tapes that are supposed to call fox. I'll look and see if any of them have that sound on them. But I know I have played all of my tapes before even if a long time ago and don't recall any having a similar sound to what I'm hearing. Still worth another listen I guess.

BUGEYE · « **Reply #14 on:** December 06, 2004, 03:52:54 AM »

GB, a nighthawk *AKA whipoorwill* can make some sounds that will send a chill up your back and they are one of the most secretive birds there are.

Graybeard · « **Reply #15 on:** December 06, 2004, 12:38:18 PM »

Been hearing whipporwills all of my life. I've very familiar with the sounds they make. Definitely not a whipporwill.

Ya know I'm not sure if a toad clone is warm or cold blooded or if they have blood. Kinda hard to figure out from the description the guy gave. For sure I don't think I've seen or heard one of those yet. :-D

victorcharlie · « **Reply #16 on:** December 07, 2004, 05:29:53 AM »

I've heard bob cats make some strange sounds.......I spent a few years in North Alabama.....how far down are you?

Graybeard · « **Reply #17 on:** December 07, 2004, 06:58:28 AM »

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I've heard bob cats make some strange sounds.......I spent a few years in North Alabama.....how far down are you?

I'm at the northern end of Calhoun Co. almost to the Etowah Co. line. When I first heard this sound long ago I also saw bobcats on two consequtive days. At first I suspected that was what was making the sound. Still can't say for sure it isn't.

Toss out that one day with the frozen leaves like corn flakes and I could easily believe it was bobcats. That one day has just about tossed all of my theories out the window but then there maybe a perfectly logical explaination even for it.

flatlander · « **Reply #18 on:** December 07, 2004, 08:14:42 AM »

I wouldn't be too quick to write off a cougar just because you aren't remote enough. There were rumors of a cougar living in a park by the KU west campus for quite a while before they got pictures and some droppings that proved its existance. It definitely isn't rural. The town has around 80000 or so in it. Here are some stories about the thing. The second one is neat because it shows the history of experts doubting the whole thing until the DNA evidence proves it beyond a doubt.

http://www.ljworld.com/section/kunews/story/159477
http://ww.ljworld.com/section/mountain_lions

Graybeard · « **Reply #19 on:** December 07, 2004, 08:34:35 AM »

My position on the mountain lion is based more on the lack of reports of missing cattle, goats, dogs and cats than just our lack of remoteness. For sure there is enough of a more or less continuous woods for miles to allow one to wander thru. And yeah they are definitely capable of surviving in an area like this. But the most likely prey to keep them going would be the above domestic animals and live stock and that should have folks all over the area talking about missing critters. Still I'm not ruling out anything as possible at this point.

I don't have enough experience in the various sounds either of those cats make to say my creature isn't one. But if it is I think bobcat is by far the more likely of the two.

Now down in south GA where I heard the sounds I did see a paw print in the sand of a dirt road that I feel without a doubt was a mountain lion. We were not all that far from FL where they do exist and it was a cat track and just way too big to be a bobcat. BTW the tracks were even in my own foot prints in a place or two so he came by after me that morning and before I came back out. Sure made me glad I was in a treestand up in a tree. :eek:

michbob · « **Reply #20 on:** December 07, 2004, 01:42:41 PM »

What the heck is a "toad clone"?

For evidence, how 'bout one of those remote sensing game cameras?

Michbob

victorcharlie · « **Reply #21 on:** December 07, 2004, 02:26:09 PM »

Have a look at this link from humor and off topic forum:

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=47747

Now, if you can tell me what a toad clone is, I'd appreciate it.

flatlander · « **Reply #22 on:** December 07, 2004, 04:32:35 PM »

I certainly wasn't trying to suggest that you heard a cougar. Your reasons for doubting it seem reasonable. I just found it amazing that we could have one living in town and still have all of the "experts" deny it up to the point that DNA evidence proves them wrong. I'd be willing to bet if the thing was living 10 miles outside town, there would still be an official denial to their existance. The guys who hunt and fish around here have been talking about their sightings for years over a wider area, but some guy in an office in town will tell you that everyone is crazy for even talking about it because there is no proof (aside from actually seeing one) that they exist. Too bad other offices don't pay a little attention here and start giving at least a small amount of credibility to the guys who are out there actually interacting with nature. If the hunters are all saying that something is out there, it should at least be looked into with a less than pessimistic attitude.
OK, rant mode off. :oops:

Graybeard · « **Reply #23 on:** December 07, 2004, 05:18:13 PM »

Yup I would agree. If folks are regularly reporting seeing something then there is likely some basis for the reports. No reports here is why I doubt one but I'm sure not ruling it out at this time.

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For evidence, how 'bout one of those remote sensing game cameras?

Not a bad idea IF there were any regular location to post it. Since this is still a one time thing here at my house I have no reason yet to think it will return. In the woods again there is no single location I can pin down to put one. Plus for the most part where I've heard them they sounded off the land I have permission to be on. That kinda limits my options there. I'd have no way to knowing tho if I captured an image on the camera it was the creature unless I saw the flash at same time I heard the sound.

Kinda catch 22 for me.

The only critter I am certain is here now not here prior to my first times to hear the sound is the armadillo. But I'm told they make a grunt like sound only. Can't say if this is true or not. I have now found evidence on them on my land. Been seeing them on road side dead within 1/4 to 2 miles of here a good while. Now they have arrived and seem to have an appetite for fire ant grubs. I have billions of them they are welcome to. :lol:

Coyotes are new since my youth but have been around a lot longer than I've been hearing the sounds.

If we have any other new resident critters I'm not aware of them yet.

As I believe I've mentioned it is even possible not all of the sounds I've heard while similar come from the same type animal. At times the sound has a bird like, cat like or dog whine like sound to it. BUT out in the woods I have heard pretty much all within a short time in same area and assume same animal made all. BUT that is an assumption.

1911crazy · « **Reply #24 on:** December 08, 2004, 08:09:26 AM »

Graybeard; Up here in Ct. all the predators are making a comeback and going from the forests into the suburbs now. Its getting really bad here with all the new housing going up too its pushing everything out of the woods too. Its not the fear of the unknown that bothers me its not knowing what the hell is out there and when its something we have never heard before makes me want to know all the more?? Mountainlions are very elusive but you will see one sooner or later if there around your place. Bobcats let out a cry that sounds like a baby with a cold/stuffy nose too it scared the crap out of me and my son one night while fishing as it got dark then i see it as it got closer. Another night there were two of them fighting nearby. In the same place another night we heard one howl from a coyote and the three of us looked at each other and said it sounded human like someone screwing around, but then the whole pack chimed in and it ended our fishing trip that night quick because they were right on top of us. As these animals get pushed out of the wilds they will get bolder too. Its to the point we just never know what is out side at night waiting for us.

When i go down my road at night in Vermont (forest access fireroad/loggin trail) I can catch something jump about 8' across the road and i have no clue to what it is either. It just leaps in the air across but i do catch sight of it a few times now. I have no clue yet maybe a tree frog? And the other thing i have screaming/roar at my camp I have no clue what that is either but it just isn't right, I never heard that in my life with all my experience in the outdoors loggin, hiking, fishing and hunting. When i was able to walk we would hunt for miles into the higher elevations were no man has ever gone. I know this because of how the chipmunks act because they have never seen a man before. This is how I found my very first mountianlion track in the snow many years ago. Its as close to God as i'll ever get. I don't think some of us really knows whats in the woods yet at night? I wish everyone could hear this scream its so loud and intense.

1911crazy · « **Reply #25 on:** December 09, 2004, 11:56:57 AM »

TM7 I can't believe this sound to this day, the lungs have to be huge??
BigBill

Greybeard · « **Reply #26 on:** December 09, 2004, 05:33:16 PM »

When Matt was over this evening we told him about the creature that paid us a visit the other night. His comment was "you guys must have been the the GOOD STUFF". :eek: Punk kids what do they know. :-D

BigBill, I finally got around to printing off your recipe for the baked beans. We'll be trying it out in the next few days. Now if I heard something banging rocks together or beating on trees with sticks or screaming outside in really loud and unusual voices I ain't making them beans NO MORE!

Hey if you think Matt gave me a stange look when I told him about the creature that visited us, you should have seen the look on his face when I told him you have big foot visit your cabin.

1911crazy · « **Reply #27 on:** December 10, 2004, 05:16:17 PM »

Graybeard; When you make those dogs/bacon/beans. I don't cut the dogs all the way thru. I don't breakout the ends, I make little canoes so they will hold the melted cheese!!! Just stuff them with cheese and wrap the bacon around them and place the cheese up on top of the Bush Bake Beans and bake those puppies at around 375 till the bacon on top is cooked. Its good eaten from there!!!! When i'm hunting its one of my favorites!!!!!! Bigfoot likes them too!!!! "smell" BigBill

michbob · « **Reply #28 on:** December 12, 2004, 11:24:33 AM »

Forget Bigfoot; if an armadillo can brave fire ants to get at their grubs, THAT'S a critter I don't want to mess with!

Michbob

PS: There have been numerous reports of wolves having crossed the Straits of Mackinaw down to here in the upper Lower Peninsula of Michigan, over the ice. Now there's a odd sound in the night.

Graybeard · « **Reply #29 on:** December 12, 2004, 12:55:29 PM »

Hey BigBill, those beans sure are smelling good down here. Gonna be chowing down on them real shortly.