DATE:           9/?/01

TIME:            I cant recall exactly as we didnt have a watch with us
                      but about 20-30 minutes prior to sunset

LOCATION: Grammer Grove, Marshall County, Iowa
                      Grammer grove borders a forest reserve.
                      We saw the creature behind a fence outside of Grammer Grove
 

TERRAIN:   National Forest
 

OBSERVED:  September of last year my sister and I (on a whim) decided to take her daughter for a little hike through Grammer grove.  We had both taken school-trips to Grammer grove as most people in this area have but even though we could remember the general location of bridges along the trail neither of us knows the area well.  We're not avid hikers at all.  Not even outdoorsy type people but after walking along the trail for awhile I recall we had made it to any area with very steep stone steps.  Anyway, at that point we decided to walk off the trail heading west with the intentions of walking the entire length back out again.

There's a fence at the back, however, we didn't know at the time, and I believe it borders a forest reserve, about 50 feet from where the fencing was visable we had decided to stop and rest for awhile.  Next part is a bit embarrassing.  I seriously needed to pee so I walked off away from the view of my sister and niece about 50 feet west while looking around for a place to go.   I noticed beyond the clearning there was a fence which stated it was electric.  Major bummer, since it meant we'd have to backtrack--anyway--I walked closer to the fence just to see what was over there.  Since we seemed to be a lot higher up than we were when we had started along the trail I was hoping the view would enable me to possibly see the parking area or camping area to get a feel for where we were.  Like I said we're hopeless.  Totally not outdoor types.  Anyway, A glanced around for awhile.  Couldnt see anything but a sea of grass and trees off in the distance when out of the corner of my eye I spotted it coming from the west at a slow-lumbering pace.  At first glance I thought, "Oh my god, it's a black bear walking upright!"  So I moved back into the trees to hide and possibly get a close look at a bear which would have been a major thrill, since as far as I knew, we dont have bears in Iowa and ive never seen one outside of a zoo.  I'm rather near sighted, and until it had gotten about 20 feet from the fence all I could make out was a black-upright shape!

But once it had gotten closer I got a good look and a bear it was not.  In fact, I don't know what the hell it was.  It's arms and legs were long.  Its build was almost gibbon like and it was walking like a chimp walks swinging its arms.  I must have made a gasp or some sound because I seemed to have gotten its attention for a moment.  It looked up in my direction for a second then put its head down, bent down a bit, as if looking for something in the grass.  It did this for a moment then began to pull up large clumps of grass roots and all, with a good deal of soil attached and flung the chunks towards the fence.  It seemed frantic, coming closer to the fence though at that point I dont think it was aware of anyone being there.  It kept pulling up chunks and throwing them.  It seemed upset when the chunks didn't hit the fence and frantically pulled up more, slowly moving closer.  Once it had gotten about 10 feet away I heard it make a grunting noise and picked up something with both hands and slammed it hard against the fence which startled me and made me jump back almost falling over a shrub.

It then made another sound--like--"ooooooooh" and then screeched like a monkey--loudly--needless to say.   I started to wet myself, and heard my sister yell, " What the hell are you doing?"   THAT got his attention and he started to jump up and down, screaming.  It sounded exactly like a chimp.  I took off running towards the area I had left my sister and niece trying to get them to shut up, trying to explain what was going on.  Then it screamed again which caused my sister to run over closer.  I don't remember trying to stop her at all.  I just grabbed my nieces arm and ran, half dragging her, backtracking as best I could.  I hate to admit how scared I was.  I just ran in a blind panic until my nieces screams of "You're hurting me!" made me stop for a second.  That's when I heard my sister behind me running towards us saying , "Oh my God, it's a big ape.  It saw me and it screamed at me and ran off."

Anyway, we all ran for a few minutes more until my niece was so hysterical and out of breath, and we were totally out of breath too.  So we stopped to catch a breath and collect ourselves.  We were covered in scratched from limbs and shaking and crying.  Since it was getting dark we were even more afraid.  We didn't know if he would or could possibly get over the fence or around and was coming after us.  God, it was a horrible feeling like being a hunted animal.  My neice was vomiting and crying to go home yet we couldnt get her to walk very fast.  Eventually we got back on trail and had one frantic jog to get out of there not feeling even remotely safe until we'd gotten back into the car.

Anyway, that's what happened.  I'm sure we over reacted and whatever it was it was more afraid of us.  Looking back I would have loved to watch it for awhile longer possibly try to make sense out of its actions or just better decide what the hell it was.  Though we both got a really good look at it., in fact, I'll never forget its face or those long arms.

Our lives have not been the same since. We talk about it quite often and debated on whether or not to report to anyone but at the time we had no idea who we should report it to.  Anyway, my brother-in-law found this website and suggested one of us tell someone who'll take it seriously.  That was months ago.  My sister hasn't done it sooo after a few drinks to relax, I have this morning.  For some reason it's been nagging at me the past few days.  What I wouldn't give to know what that thing was.

Someones got to investigate.  I know what I saw, what we both saw, and whatever it was, it's totally changed my world view.  But (yeah, theres always a but, huh?) I'm not ready to go too far out on a limb which is why I didn't provide my address or phone number.  If anyones interested, and I feel i can trust them, I may provide it.  I would like to help in any way I can but life is hard enough without being branded an attention seeking liar-or delusional-or whatever.

Best of luck to all who investigate the seemingly impossible.  I know for certain it's not all bullshit.  Wonders never cease.  At the very least we're a whole lot more opened minded now but I need to know what that thing was.  Maybe then I'll get a few more hours of sleep at night.

ACTIVITIES OF WITNESS(ES):  Hiking

DESCRIPTION OF CREATURE:  Somewhere between 5'6" - 5'8" tall and I can only describe it was "ape-like" black--covered in black hair/fur--that was thinner across the chest--with patches of tannish skin showing--same on the legs, in fact-the hair/fur was in shaggy patches on the legs-it's arms were very long and thin-reminding me of a gibbon-so were it's legs -long and straight--i dont remember seeing the feet or genitals -but it did have visible nipples. Mainly I remember the face--its mouth was wide-like a wide gash the bottom lip hanging-some of the teeth seemed irregular and broken on the bottom. I dont recall seeing the top teeth. It was missing the left eye-there was nothing but a socket-with the flesh of the face sort of swollen around it--its other eye was reddish brown--with a black pupil. It had a low forehead--just like an ape-with a ridge across the brows--sloping down slightly on the left-it's fingers were also very long-but its thumbs were short--the fingernails were yellowish-thick and cracked. It had bits of dried leave and grass stuck in its fur--all over its body-its body was slightly rounded--barrel chested with a swollen stomach-its navel protruded quite a bit-its ears seemed low on the head--mostly hidden by hair/fur--I could see the lobes--which were long and hanging.

OTHER NOTES:

FOLLOW UPS:

OTHER SIGHTINGS IN THIS AREA: