Backwoods Bigfoot Stories

• BWBS Ep:91 The Alabama Howler

  In this week's bone-chilling episode, we explore a multi-generational encounter with the unknown deep in the backwoods of Limestone County, Alabama. Our story follows young James Earl Wilkins, who at age 12 in the summer of 1976, experienced a series of terrifying encounters with what locals referred to as "the forest folk" or "wild men" on his family's 80-acre farm.The saga unfolds through James' now 62-year-old perspective as he recounts how his peaceful rural childhood was forever changed when strange howls began echoing from the nearby Cypress Bottom—a foreboding stretch of swampland that locals had long avoided. What began with missing livestock escalated to face-to-face encounters with towering, fur-covered creatures that seemed to possess an uncanny intelligence. His story continues as the family's increasing terror as these beings grew bolder—stealing chickens, appearing at windows in the night, and eventually prompting a community hunting expedition that ended in unexpected confrontation. Most disturbing are the implications that these weren't random encounters, but part of a long-standing and complex relationship between the creatures and the Wilkins family dating back generations.He also explains that historical connections revealed through family stories and county records—including a shocking encounter his grandfather had in the 1930s, and a mysterious clause in the original 1868 property deed requiring seasonal offerings to "previous inhabitants of the land." These revelations suggest an ancient pact that was broken and later unconsciously renewed through his father's annual ritual of leaving deer carcasses at the forest's edge. If you've had an experince and would like to share it on the show email [email protected]

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• BWBS Ep:90 Missing: National Park Nightmares Vol.7

  On April 12, 1966, a family picnic in America's first national park turned into one of the most baffling missing persons cases in American history. Eight-year-old Dennis Johnson was visiting Yellowstone with his parents William and Betty and his three sisters when his seven-year-old sister Mary wandered off.Dennis and his father split up to search for her. William found Mary quickly, but when he returned to the Cascade Picnic Area, Dennis had vanished without a trace.What followed was one of the most intensive search operations in Yellowstone's history – spanning 100 square miles, employing helicopters, bloodhounds, and dozens of searchers. Despite three weeks of exhaustive efforts costing over $14,000 (equivalent to more than $100,000 today), not a single clue was found. No footprints. No clothing. No evidence whatsoever.Fifty-eight years later, Dennis Johnson remains missing, his fate unknown.In This EpisodeThe detailed timeline of April 12, 1966, and how a moment's separation led to decades of mysteryWhy the search for Dennis was particularly challenging, and the technical aspects of a 1960s-era wilderness searchThe baffling behavior of bloodhounds that couldn't pick up any scent trailFive leading theories of what might have happened to Dennis, and why none can fully explain his complete disappearanceHow the Johnson family turned to a psychic in their desperate search for answersWhat makes wilderness disappearances unique, and the concept of "ambiguous loss"The statistical context: how rare cases like Dennis's are compared to millions of safe Yellowstone visitsHow the case has informed modern search and rescue techniques and park safety protocols

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• BWBS Ep:89 Trapper Shoots Bigfoot!

  Tonight, Brian shares the never-before-told story of Thomas, a fur trapper whose life was forever changed after a terrifying encounter with sasquatch in the remote Canadian wilderness during February 1987.This first-hand account challenges everything we think we know about these mysterious creatures. What Mercer experienced reveals them to be intelligent, communicative, and potentially dangerous beings with complex social structures and territorial behaviors. His haunting experience raises profound questions about what these creatures truly are and our responsibility toward them.The story begins as Thomas, a third-generation fur trapper, flies his bush plane to his remote family cabin in the Northwest Territories to begin his winter trapping season. Almost immediately upon arrival, Mercer discovers massive, human-like footprints circling his cabin—nearly 20 inches long with a stride length twice that of a human.Over the following days, Mercer encounters increasingly bizarre evidence: traps carefully disarmed with ritualistic arrangements of objects nearby, complex vocal communications between multiple creatures echoing through the forest, and deliberate attempts to test his cabin's defenses through systematic tapping and probing of the structure.Most chilling of all, the creatures attempt direct communication.First through arrangements of natural objects in geometric patterns, then through mimicked human speech—even speaking Mercer's name and referring to his deceased father. In broken English, they suggest they need an "alliance" against other humans hunting them, hinting at a government or private organization aware of their existence.When Mercer attempts to escape in his plane, he's forced to shoot one of the creatures that charges him from behind. In a moment that has haunted him for decades, the wounded sasquatch looks him in the eye and asks simply, "Why?"In the thirty years since this encounter, Mercer has dedicated his life to sasquatch research, building one of the most comprehensive private databases of encounters in North America.Through his research, he discovered another harrowing account from the Olympic Peninsula, where a logging crew's encounter ended in a gruesome death—evidence that these beings aren't always the gentle forest giants of popular imagination.We should note that this episode contains descriptions of violence and disturbing content that may not be suitable for all listeners. Discretion is advised.Thomas Mercer, whose name has been changed at his request, was 25 years old during his encounter in 1987. Now in his sixties, he's spent decades researching similar encounters while maintaining his anonymity. This marks the first time he's shared his complete story publicly.

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• BWBS Ep:88 Dead Mans Hollow

   In this episode, Brian shares encounters with mysterious creatures and unexplained phenomena from remote wilderness areas. From Whisper Creek in Montana's Glacier National Park, Iron Ridge ghost town, and Dead Man's Hollow in Kentucky to Black Hollow and Widow's Crag, each story recounts experiences with eerie sounds, inexplicable footprints, and terrifying sightings of Bigfoot-like creatures. These tales serve as haunting reminders that some places are meant to be left alone and that not everyone who ventures into the unknown makes it back the same. Also, hear about unexpected sightings on Idaho's notorious Broken Antler Pass and forthcoming adventures in the 'National Park Nightmares' series.00:00 The Legend of Whisper Creek 04:44 A Haunting in Iron Ridge 08:29 The Mystery of Dead Man's Hollow 12:49 Terror on Broken Antler Pass 17:00 The Curse of Widow's Crag 21:22 Escape from Black Hollow 25:49 Conclusion and Podcast Promotion

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• BWBS Ep: 87 Unlikely Guardians: Bigfoot Saves Easter

  In today's special storytelling episode, I'm thrilled to share an original tale I've created called "The Unlikely Guardians:  Bigfoot Saves Easter. This heartwarming adventure follows Bartholomew, the last Sasquatch of the Pacific Northwest, whose carefully isolated life is upended when he discovers a set of unusual footprints in the late winter snow. Following them leads to an encounter with none other than Edmund Cottontail, the Easter Bunny himself, who is in desperate need of help. The magical Egg of Renewal has been stolen by Jack Frost, threatening to trap the world in endless winter and prevent Easter from happening at all.What follows is a journey across magical landscapes as these natural opposites—a reclusive wilderness dweller and the embodiment of spring celebration—form an unlikely alliance. Their adventure takes them through ancient forests, across frozen plains, and eventually to the edge of reality itself as they confront not just Jack Frost but the shadowy powers manipulating him. Throughout their quest, Bart and Edmund discover that their differences actually create a perfect harmony when combined with Jack's winter magic, forming a balanced force capable of restoring nature's cycles.The story explores how friendship can emerge in the most unexpected places, and how the balance between wilderness, winter, and renewal is essential for the natural world to flourish. We witness Bart's transformation from a solitary observer who has hidden from the world for centuries into someone who finds purpose in connection and community. It's a modern fairy tale about how isolation ends when we open ourselves to new possibilities and how seemingly opposite forces can unite for a greater purpose.

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