Most Recent Woodstock Witness Reluctant to Talk to Investigators

An artist’s interpretation of the February 22nd encounter on Country Club Road. (Emily Wayland / Singular Fortean Society) — An artist’s interpretation of the February 22nd encounter on Country Club Road. *(Emily Wayland / Singular Fortean Society)*

No further response so far has been received to the inquiries sent by Lon Strickler of Phantoms and Monsters following a recent email claiming another sighting of the weird, winged monster said to be haunting Woodstock, Illinois.

The initial email was sent to Strickler on March 7th.

My daughter just saw this on Rose Farm Rd in Woodstock, IL while driving home. It ran in front of her car. She is extremely freaked out right now. She described it as extremely tall with fur and large wings. She said when she saw it she had a overwhelming sense of dread. I hope this helps with your investigation.

The witness’ mother did sign her name to the email, but investigators have had little luck in contacting the woman for more details, or to schedule an onsite interview and investigation.

Strickler only received a single response from the woman, who said "I’ll have [my daughter] call you tomorrow afternoon," explaining that she had heard of the other sighting after it was "reported locally" and found Strickler's email through an internet search.

That response came on March 9th, but Strickler has yet to be called by the witness.

"The witness has been reluctant to comment beyond the initial report...mostly out of fear," Strickler said. "The local media has also been causing some unwanted excitement in the community as well. Phantoms & Monsters Fortean Research has refused to cooperate with the local media because of this."

"We are continuing to stay in touch with this witness in the hope that further details will be offered," he added.

The Singular Fortean Society respects the privacy and anonymity of all witnesses, but is prepared to investigate onsite should the author of this email decide to pursue the matter further; in such an eventuality, all personal information provided will be kept confidential. This witness—or any other—may reach the Society through our contact page.

This is the latest in a string of flying creature sightings around Lake Michigan that ostensibly began in the spring of 2017, but more historical accounts are being reported as more people become aware of the phenomenon. Many of the sightings have taken place near the lakefront in Chicago within a few miles of Lake Michigan, although increasingly reports are coming from within a few hundred mile radius surrounding the great lake—including every state bordering it. The sightings generally take place in the evening or at night, often in or near a park, and around water. Witnesses consistently describe a large, gray-or-black bat or bird-like creature—although in a small number of cases the creature was described as insect-like—sometimes with glowing or reflective red, yellow, or orange eyes; and humanoid features such as arms and legs are often reported. Many of the sightings are also of something seen only briefly or are described only as a flying creature with few details, which leaves open the possibility that a large bird or bird-like being could explain some encounters.

To report a sighting reach out to us directly at the Singular Fortean Society through our contact page.

You can view a timeline of the sightings so far here, and an interactive map here.

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