Comments on: “Fence Fiend” Just Sighted

By: darthurs

darthurs — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:05:19 +0000

Back in the mid-1970s when I was about 10 years old and lived in suburban Cook County, Illinois, I saw something similar to the fence fiend. We lived in a new subdivision that abutted a wooded area that had lots of trees, bushes and thickets. It was very dense in places. Although the county is very urban it is ringed by large forest preserves set aside by the park district and we were living on the outer limits of suburban sprawl then.

I was messing around in the backyard when I heard footsteps in the bushes behind the backyard fence. I went to the house and filled a pail of water. Thinking that a neighbor was spying on me I planned to toss the water in their direction. With the pail of water in-hand, I went to the fence and peered into the trees looking for the source of the noise. I was just about to give up when two giant ragweed stalks shook violently back and forth. My eyes followed the motion down the stalks and suddenly I was able to see a 3-foot tall gray fur-covered animal standing on its hind legs, with the stalks in its hands and a simian-like flat face staring back at me.

I dropped the pail of water and ran terrified into the house. My amused father searched the area about 30 minutes later and found nothing. After the coast was deemed clear, my sister and I searched the area ourselves and found fresh baby-size human-like footprints in some wet mud.

Looking back on this today, I think it was a very large raccoon. I do not remember the mask coloring around the eyes though. They do leave human-like footprints too…and of course, like fence fiend, I only saw the animal for a few seconds. I was surprised to see a similar sighting and in Illinois too and wonder if anyone else has seen a “monkey man” running around parts of the Midwest. Because there are so many bigfoot postings and stories, it’s hard to find similar sightings, but of a “small bigfoot” or “monkey man”.

By: shumway10973

shumway10973 — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 07:22:48 +0000

could it have been a wolverine or badger type? Some of those weasel cousins have been known to get around (not quite) 4 feet tall. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was something of that sort. Although, wasn’t there reports of smaller versions of big foot down in the bayous, about 4 ft. tall? Maybe it was one of them hobbits? sorry, couldn’t resist.

By: monk

monk — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 17:26:53 +0000

I think you should call him the Desperado Monster, ’cause he’s “out ridin’ fences”! Ha. Haha.

By: Jeremy_Wells

Jeremy_Wells — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 17:06:27 +0000

file under “not enough data yet”

By: moregon

moregon — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 06:42:44 +0000

With the mention of it coming from the area of a creek, and river along the road, you may also want to consider a beaver. They are found in every county in Illinois, and quite abundant in some. Adult beavers in the 60-70 pound range are about 41-46 inches in length, with adults known to exceed 90 pounds in weight.

The long face and dark fur also fit. I’d check the area for possible trees being girdled or evidence of a dam being built.

By: M Valdemar

M Valdemar — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 18:57:55 +0000

Let’s review:

- driving late at night
- listening to classical music
- very relaxed
- incredible detail seen “out of the corner of my eye”

This was a hypnopompic hallucination – a waking dream. It seems very real when it happens, but it’s not.

Hypnopompic hallucinations often occur when you’re driving late at night — it’s your brain’s way of scaring you awake so you don’t fall asleep and crash your car and die. See also: “lady in white,” “creepy old man,” and “vanishing hitchhiker.”

By: Toirtis

Toirtis — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 06:09:45 +0000

We are, of course, all assuming that the estimate by the witness of 4′ tall is accurate. I have found that most people, even reasonably reliable and semi-trained eyewitnesses tend to at least slightly overestimate in these situations.

By: jpboyer

jpboyer — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 04:08:21 +0000

So I frequent this site. Probably daily. And I sort of just lazily clicked this post, as I do most of them, and to my surprise … and I mean utter shock, found a story about Central Illinois … and abot the 309 area code region! Haha, I’m a born and raised 309er! Haha, once I picked myself up off the floor I read the post and I have to think it was a possum or maybe even a raccoon from the description. I have my sincere doubts that it was a bear as they are by no means present in the area.

By: Arkansan_88

Arkansan_88 — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 03:36:54 +0000

I would go with bear. I wouldnt say a opossum because Ive never heard of a 4 foot opossum. Raccoons do get big but not 4 foot. Im even sure if there are bears in that area but if so, then thats what I would guess. I cant think of any other possibilities.

By: Loren Coleman

Loren Coleman — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 03:18:14 +0000

Please see updates to the account added at 11 PM, Wednesday night, as to the specific date, time, and location for this sighting.