- Size and shape: between 6 and 10 feet tall, 10+ foot wingspan. UE; P&M/TSFS, May 1st, 2018A man's parents report a "large winged humanoid" flying above the trees behind their home in Wheeling, Illinois. In the city, Mothfolk are spotted all over, though most often by bodies of water. The reports, which peaked in 2017, inspired Chicago-based comics artist Sarah Becan to bring Curious City this question: There was a rash of sightings in Chicago of a creature that people then called the Chicago Mothman. Did we ever find out what it was? In fact, if the alleged creatures are actually just large birds, the airport doesnt want passengers worrying about planes flying into them either. It climbed higher and turned twiceI can tell you that it glided just like a bird. UE; P&M, August of 2016A man reports a large, winged humanoid perched on a lamppost in Cicero. El chupacabra. UE; UFOCH, August 2020A man reports seeing a "gargoyle with little horns on its head" in Itasca, Illinois. However, others posit that this supposed supernatural connection was simply a way for people to make sense of a tragedy without meaning, as one would think there are more direct ways to warn people of danger than just being spooky. Other people then reported similar sightings but the county sheriff George Johnson dismissed it as an unusually large heron. Covering a story for the Washington Post, John Klein (Richard Gere) drives south towards Richmond. Enter Lon Strickler, an expert in the field of cryptids and founder of the popular website, Phantoms and Monsters. Bantz's drawing of his sighting. UE; UFOCH. UE; UFOCH, Also on May 27th, 2017A woman and her boyfriend report a "large black flying man with wings" near 127th St. & Ashland Ave. LB; P&M, June 3rd, 2017Two different couples report encounters with a large, bat-like flying humanoid in the Lincoln Park area. Subscribe today for ourWeekly Newsletterin your inbox! Paul Seaburn is the editor at Mysterious Universe and its most prolific writer. LB; UFOCH, August 1st, 2017A witness reports a flying humanoid over Elgin, Illinois. Below are some clues weve gathered based on reported sightings and interviews. LEGEND of a giant winged creature that stalks West Virginians has terrorized Americans since the 1960s. UE; UFOCH, Early December, 2019A woman reports a flying gargoyle while driving near Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Dubbed the Chicago Mothman, it has been seen all over the area, often near the Lake Michigan shoreline. This year, however, the town at the center of the mystery welcomed people across the US to explore the Mothman Museum and take photos with the iconic statue. Approximately fifteen sightings of a flying humanoid have been reported in the Chicago area. The story is a classic in the annals of UFO . Follow him on Twitter or Instagram @RobbieQT. But, for the sake of science, we've compiled everything we were able to surmise into a digital case file. While nothing is certain, Strickler does believe something is lurking in the shadows of Chicago, and that it is an ill omen. UE; P&M, Late August 2020Two sisters report what looked like a body shrouded in wings flying in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. UE; UFOCH, September 10th, 2017Two witnesses report an unknown being gliding across the sky several miles away from each other in the Avalon Park and Douglas neighborhoods of Chicago. (Featured image courtesy of Lon Strickler), MJ Banias is the author ofThe UFO People: A Curious Cultureand curates the popular Fortean blogTerra Obscura"andYouTube channel. hide caption, June 29, 2022 Congresswoman Mary Miller handily defeats fellow incumbent Rodney Davis in downstate Illinois' 15th congressional district. Sparking a reaction, many witnesses have begun to come forward with their own experiences. The brand is set to celebrate African heritage with a touch of bespoke tailoring and modern design for gentlemen. LB; TSFS, Late September of 2016A woman reports a "man-like" being with "pterodactyl-like" wings gliding across a highway outside of Whitewater, Wisconsin. One of the iconic sightings of a mysterious creature in the UFO era, that of the so-called Houston Batman, was made on June 18, 1953. It was later suggested by some locals that Mothman was trying to warn humans of an impending nearby tragedy: the 1967 Silver Bridge collapse, which killed 46 people. It is run by husband-and-wife duo Tobias and Emily Wayland. If Google Maps kept track of cryptids (mental note: new website idea), a search on Mothman would go first to Point Pleasant, West Virginia home of the original and most famous sightings in 1966-67. Host: Melba Lara; Reporter: Mara Ins Zamudio, Images courtesy of Sarah Becan, Brian Serway and Lon Strickler/WBEZ, Courtesy Lon Strickler of Phantoms and Monsters and Egertron Puck/WBEZ, Courtesy of Johnny Pippins and Fortepan Iowa/WBEZ Chicago, To get his Ph.D., Gov. Talking about cryptids, you know what really gets my goat? The longer I watched it, it was like what the hell is that thing? The reports, which peaked in 2017, inspired Chicago-based comics artist Sarah Becan to bring Curious City this question: There was a rash of sightings in Chicago of a creature that people then called the "Chicago Mothman." UE; P&M/UFOCH, June 17th, 2017A jogger near the Navy Pier reports an enormous bat taking wing and flying towards the water treatment plant. Hes written for TV shows such as "The Tonight Show", "Politically Incorrect" and an award-winning childrens program. However, others posit that this supposed supernatural connection was simply a way for people to make sense of a tragedy without meaning, as one would think there are more direct ways to warn people of danger than just being spooky. in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. Chicago NPR station, WBEZ did an in-depth report about the Chicago Mothman in 2019. LB; UFOCH, June 23rd, 2017A couple, along with a crowd of people, reportedly sees a large, black, bat-like creature with humanoid features near the Adler Planetarium. Or is it another cryptid drawn from a deep-seated cultural lore, not only haunting the skies but the minds of people as well? What location would be #2? Brian Rich/Chicago Sun-Times The entity has also been referred to as the 'Chicago Mothman', 'Chicago Owlman' & 'O'Hare Mothman' or 'O'Hare Batman.' - Chicago / Lake Michigan Winged Humanoid Regional Interactive Map - Please feel free to contact me at lonstrickler@phantomsandmonsters.com - your anonymity is guaranteed. LB; P&M/TSFS, June 25th, 2018Video of a large flying creature is captured on home security camera in Rantoul, Illinois. UE; P&M, Early spring 2010A man reports a four-and-a-half-foot dark-colored entity perched on the peak of his neighbor's roof. UE; P&M, Late summer of 2010Two teens report seeing a winged "deerbat" while driving outside of Rockford, Illinois; a second sighting of something described as a flying tar man reportedly took place nearby around the same time. After a few moments there was a light display and the "Batman" was gone. PH; UFOCH, June 30th, 2017A security person taking a break outside of The Owl reports a bat-like humanoid flying over an empty lot across the street. While this may be nothing more than a giant owl looking for a new home, which seems the most reasonable hypothesis, many of the witness reports clearly describe a humanoid figure. "We were watching and observing as the moon begin its transit when we heard a very loud scream. LB; P&M, July 1st, 2017A witness reports two strange, red lights in a golf course that closely resemble reports of the flying humanoid's glowing eyes. Bantz was delivering a shipment when he noticed something strange in the air. LB; P&M, September 12th, 2017A woman walking home from work reports a "black devil" in Chicago's Little Village. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, If you go to the spot featured in that image of the map. Duo at placerat consulatu reprehendunt, te bonorum invidunt legendos vis. UE; TSFS, Mid-June, 1976A mans vehicle is reportedly attacked by a winged black figure with glowing red eyes in Waukegan, Illinois. With the help of Strickler, Mysterious Universe was able to secure an interview. Subscribe Today! LB; P&M/TSFS. It was moving slowly but not randomly. The Case Of The Chicago Mothman. | RSS, How The Family That Walks On All Fours Baffled Scientists For Years, The "Nuclear Coffin" On Runit Island Is Still Haunting The Pacific, A 30-Year Garfield Phone Mystery Was Solved By A Discovery In A Sea Cave, A Giant Destructive Blob Is Headed For Florida, And It Stinks, Anthropologist Believes An Ancient Human Species May Have Been Sighted On Flores Island, This Small, Vibrating Bracelet Might Change Your Life, Don't Travel Without These CES-Featured Translation Earbuds, Stay Warm in a Blackout with this CES-Featured Power Station, How To Take Award-Winning Photos Of Space, Five Mysteries Surrounding Space And Physics. UE; P&M, August 22nd, 2017A monstrous bat with a 12' wingspan is reported in the same area of McCook as the truck driver's sighting from the same day. UE; TSFS, January of 2002A woman reports a terrifying encounter with a red-eyed, winged creature in Madison, Wisconsin. Chicago 'Mothman' | Police Accounts Believe Winged..Something Still Roams City - YouTube Over the last two years, something strange has been happening in and around the city of Chicago. UE; P&M/TSFS, February 25th, 2019A woman driving to work near Darien, Wisconsin is reportedly terrified by a near-miss with what she called a flying witch. One witness came forward with her own timeline of personal sightings, ranging from 1970 through 2017, available here. The following information should not be used as an excuse to trespass on private property or ensnare your hairier relatives with a comically large butterfly net. mothman chicago map 14 Jun. Every monster will have its hunters, but more importantly, the legend that monster leaves behind. she says. LB; P&M, October 26th, 2018A married couple reports a winged humanoid resembling a large owl in Alsip, Illinois. Enter Lon Strickler, an expert in the field of cryptids and founder of the popular website. P&M (Phantoms and Monsters): These sightings were received/investigated by Lon Strickler of Phantoms and Monsters. - Species it's been compared to: a big owl, a pterosaur, a bat. LB; P&M, Mid-November of 2016A man and his son report a large, dark flying humanoid while duck hunting in West Alton, Missouri. So scary! Settled in the late 1840s, the town has gone by several names including "Mink's Prairie" and "Mink". A. In the late 1960s, people around Point Pleasant, West Virginia, began reporting sightings of a creature that would later be dubbed "Mothman." UE; TSFS, 1981A 13-year-old claims to have had an intense psychic encounter with a red-eyed winged being in Cicero, Illinois. According to. This was linked to the Mothman and the myth was cemented. Cu alii malis albucius duo, in eam ferri dolores periculis. Brian Munoz/St. No sound. Standout witness statements are excerpted below: Location: Northerly Island during solar eclipse, As reported to: Phantoms & Monsters website. Editors Note: Listen to the kid-friendly version of the audio story here. The back end of the body tapered to a point. In one incident, a couple was attacked by the creature while parked in their car. hide caption, May 16, 2022 Data from a new sensor network shows the highest rates of pollution in Little Village, Austin, Englewood, Irving Park and other neighborhoods. LB; P&M, Summer of 2019A man reports "a large, dark, man-sized bat-bird 'thing'" flying behind his home in Franklin Park, Illinois. At first we thought thats what it wasmaybe a CTA bus or big truck with brakes that needed changing or maintenance. Manuel Martinez/WBEZ Chicago Screaming, flying toward lake, disappearing, going real fast, portenting, looking at people with eyeballs. Press J to jump to the feed. Maybe thats why Google Maps doesnt track them. Bantz believes that this incident has affected his life. We just thought it would be fun to come down and see what its all about, she told The Herald-Dispatch. UE; UFOCH, Mid-April 2017A man reports seeing a humanoid "bat-dragon" near Mukwonago, Wisconsin. Another hotspot for Mothman . Could These Monster-Sized Snakes Be Beaten? Chicagoans living near heavy-traffic corridors breathe the most polluted air. UE; P&M, Fall of 2011A man and his brother-in-law report a humanoid with bat-like wings near Downers Grover, Illinois. Join MU Plus+ and get exclusive shows and extensions & much more! Bantz was delivering a shipment when he noticed something strange in the air. LB; UFOCH, mid-September, 2017A man preparing for work in Michigan reports a large, winged being perched atop his neighbor's roof. Subscribe to our channel http://goo.gl/OQgfzkWebsite: http://paranormaljunkie.nethttp://. We can only solve this mystery together. Lenart's mostly working class families raise about $20,000 a year. Host: Mary Dixon; Reporter: Alex Degman, Congregation members respond during an Antioch Missionary Baptist Church service at Calahan Funeral Home. Location of Sighting: American Airlines Hangar OHare International Airport- Chicago, IL In his interview, Strickler was unsure why Chicago specifically was experiencing a flap of flying humanoid sightings, however, he did state. MUFON (The Mutual UFO Network): These sightings were received/investigated by field investigators with the Mutual UFO Network. As reports continued to come in over the months of April, May and June, hosts Vance Nesbitt and Jennifer Ann of the fledgling paranormal podcast, The Acrylic Ranch, went out on their own night investigations to try and catch footage of the monster. The entity has also been referred to as the 'Chicago Mothman', 'Chicago Owlman' & 'O'Hare Mothman.' - Chicago / Lake Michigan Winged Humanoid Regional Interactive Map - Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] - your anonymity is guaranteed. Both witnesses told [Strickler] that they felt a sense of foreboding and were still terrified almost an hour after the encounter. Sightings collected via the Phantoms & Monsters website are compiled here and in this map. Our investigative group is conducting a serious examination of his phenomenon. The couple, who wishes to remain anonymous, just finished a late dinner and were out for a walk when they saw the strange being. LB; P&M, September 23rd, 2017A man and his friends report a "large bird-like entity" over Chicago's DuSable Harbor. LB; TSFS/P&M, October 30th, 2019A witness reports a large winged humanoid while driving to their home in Park Ridge, Illinois. In the intervening years, Mothman's cult fame grew, becoming the subject of an annual festival, a museum and even a 2002 movie starring Richard Gere. The tale of the Mothman begins back in the 1960s in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, where over the course of 13 months it allegedly appeared to multiple people and even heralded the fatal collapse . UE; P&M, Fall of 1971Retired police officer David Ramos reports an encounter with a shadowy winged humanoid he had when he was 12 years old near the North Branch of the Chicago River. UE; P&M, August 2020A witness claims that they and five of their family members saw a wingless humanoid fly over Market Street in Waukegan, Illinois. UE; P&M, August 10th, 2017A city employee reports a "giant owl" flying off of Chicago's Ohio Street Beach. Scarberry insisted that what he saw was real, despite how far-fetched it had sounded. hide caption. Chicago Mothman. Each year, Mothman enthusiasts gather in Point Pleasant for the Mothman Festival, but for two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they had to cancel. Since then, the sightings are mainly around the airport and . When I first started reading about all of the different sightings, I was very excited about it. Probably Not! LB; P&M, August 29th, 2017An avid bird watcher reports a "huge flying shadow" over a forest preserve near La Grange Park, a suburb west of Chicago. "Massive" is the Word! If I had seen it while by myself, I wouldnt have said anything, but there were four of us who saw it, he told the paper. Katherine Nagasawa/WBEZ August 22nd, 2017A bat-like "flying Mothman" is reported over Pulaski Road in Chicago. UE; P&M, 2004A 12-year-old boy and his friends report a winged man all in black near Panther Creek in Auburn, Illinois. As Strickler continues his hunt for the elusive being; only time and more sighting reports will shed light on this story. One researcher, argues that it is probably just a large owl. "Massive" is the Word! The airport supervisors and TSA, as well as the carrier managements, are doing all they can to suppress sighting disclosure.. The entity has also been referred to as the 'Chicago Mothman', 'Chicago Owlman' & 'O'Hare Mothman.' - Chicago / Lake Michigan Winged Humanoid Regional Interactive Map - Please feel free to contact me at lonstrickler@phantomsandmonsters.com - your anonymity is guaranteed. UE; UFOCH, November 26th, 2020Two women report seeing a bulky person with absolutely huge wings while driving near Oregon, Wisconsin. I saw it gliding, and, not too fast. LB; P&M, April 12th, 2018Two elderly women reportedly witness a dark winged being vanish in West Lakeview. UE; P&M, June 21st, 2001A witness and two friends report a "man with wings" flying over the Kinnickinnic River in Milwaukee. The Mothman Festival takes place each year in September. LB; UFOCH, July 5th, 2019A witness reports a pterosaur while driving home in Wheaton, Illinois. UE; UFOCH, September 16th, 2017A pair of siblings are reportedly terrified by a bat-like creature in the Little Village. Should we believe the latest witnesses of a Mothman at Chicagos OHare airport? LB; P&M, February 22nd, 2019A man in Woodstock, Illinois reports a large, winged being covered in dark fur illuminated by the headlights of his car as the being crosses the street in front of him. Date of Sighting: December 30, 2021 LB; P&M, September 11th, 2017A woman reports a "huge bat-like being" circling buildings over Chicago's Kenwood neighborhood. UE; TSFS/P&M, 2011A suspicious winged entity is captured on camera, two roommates and their friends are reportedly terrorized by glowing eyes peeking through their window, and a college student reports a "man with wings." UE; TSFS, April 17th, 2019A man reportedly sees a large, bird-like creature with a crest on its head and a long, spaded tail near the Des Plaines River. UE; UFOCH, May 17th, 2022A father and daughter claim to have recorded three winged humanoids while outside of their home in Bensenville, Illinois. Recent Mothman Sightings In Chicago?Never miss a paranormal mystery! The wingspan was at least 12 ft. The creature was coined The Mothman in local papers after printing Mallets description: It was like a man with wings.. Starting in 2011 and peaking in 2017, sightings of a Mothman-like creature began surfacing all over Chicagoland. UE; P&M, August of 2015A man driving in Gary, Indiana reports a dark, grayish prehistoric bird with smooth, leathery skin. The reports, which peaked in 2017, inspired Chicago-based comics artist Sarah Becan to bring Curious City this question: There was a . UE; TSFS/P&M, February 21st, 2020A security guard at Chicagos OHare International Airport reports a "very tallsolid black" creature with "glowing red eyes." UE; UFOCH, June 30th, 2020Two women report seeing a huge owl with "glowing red eyes that looked like [they] belonged to the devil himself" near a parking lot at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. When pressed about what she thinks people could be seeing, after all our detective work, she suggested a large bird, like a sandhill crane, or an owl or even a prankster with a drone. (Image: Billy Bantz/Lon Strickler). Unless this creature is the one in control. Witnesses and artists have depicted Mothman as a tall, owl-like creature with membrane wings. DISCLAIMER: We are not responsible for any laws that are broken in the pursuit of Mothman, nor are we responsible for the factualness of any of the information contained herein. LEGEND of a giant winged creature that stalks West Virginians has terrorized Americans since the 1960s. Is This A Picture Of The Chicago Mothman?Never miss a paranormal mystery! The Singular Fortean Society, an organization focused on paranormal journalism and research, archives the sightings to keep a devoted list and interviews eyewitnesses for more information. Good question. [it was] a 7-8 ft solid black humanoid with wide membrane wings, that resembled those of a huge bat. More recently, new reports have emerged. LB; P&M, August 22nd, 2017A bat-like "flying Mothman" is reported over Pulaski Road in Chicago. These phenomena culminated on December 15, 1967, with the collapse of the Silver Bridge across the Ohio River at Point Pleasant. A semi truck drives down 31st Street in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. LB; UFOCH, August 2nd, 2017A woman and her son are reportedly terrified by a "tall, dark humanoid" with membranous wings seen in a park near their home in Bolingbrook, Illinois. UE; P&M, July 20th, 2017A car full of friends on Lake Shore Drive report a "giant flying bat." Probably Not! UE; P&M, Late September, 2019A woman reports a toddler-sized bat creaturerunning like a gorilla across Meadow Hill Road near Barrington, Illinois. UE; P&M, August of 2004A woman reports an "all blackman with huge bat-like wings" flying over the park near her home in Rockford, Illinois. XIPXI means cat in the ronga language from Southern Mozambique. Our investigative group is conducting a serious examination of his phenomenon. UE; P&M, August of 2016Jonathan Lane reports a giant, shapeless, black thing with two very large red eyes in Rockford, Illinois. The second interesting case is an earlier sighting which occurred on March 22nd to a local truck driver and Chicago local, Billy Bantz. "I know what birds and what bats look like. (Kudos to all of the investigators for their accounts on these incidents.). Directions Our hope is that Chicagoans will be able to keep this investigation going so that we may one day meet our winged friend and ride upon him like a luck dragon. It could be a feeding pattern. The MothMan found on Google Maps! UE; UFOCH/P&M/TSFS, Late October, 2019A woman and her husband report an unknown flying human owl perched in a tree near their apartment in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The witness also revealed that the airline (assumed to be American) has covered up other similar incidents: many witnesses have either been terminated, laid off or reassigned to other workstations in order to keep these sightings under wraps..