Few American cryptids have a story as strange, tragic, and enduring as Mothman. The legend began in the Ohio River Valley in the 1960s, centered around Point Pleasant, West Virginia, where witnesses described a tall, gray, winged figure with glowing red eyes. Then, after the Silver Bridge collapse on December 15, 1967, the creature became something bigger than a local monster story. To some, Mothman became an omen. To others, it became a warning. To skeptics, it became one of the most famous examples of American folklore growing out of fear, rumor, and tragedy.
The best-documented core of the legend remains the 1966 to 1967 Point Pleasant flap. The West Virginia Encyclopedia says Mothman reports began in November 1966, continued for about a year, and included roughly 26 sightings around Point Pleasant and the abandoned TNT area north of town.
But the story did not stop there. Over the decades, the name “Mothman” has been attached to winged humanoid sightings across the Midwest, especially around Chicago, O’Hare International Airport, and the Lake Michigan region. WBEZ reported that Chicago-area Mothman reports began surfacing in 2011 and peaked in 2017.
Before getting into the timeline, it is important to define what “verified” means here. These are verified reports, not verified creatures. In other words, the sightings below are traceable to a published source, local history archive, newspaper account, investigator database, or documented witness report. That does not prove Mothman exists. It only means the claim itself has a source.
This article treats Mothman as both a cryptid and a piece of American folklore. The goal is to separate the best-known documented reports from internet rumor, while still giving readers a complete chronological look at how the legend grew.
What Is Mothman?
Mothman is usually described as a large winged humanoid. Common details include:
- A height of six to seven feet, sometimes taller
- Broad wings, often described as ten feet wide or more
- Glowing red eyes
- A gray, black, brown, or shadowy body
- A head that appears sunken into the shoulders
- Silent or unusually fast flight
- The ability to rise straight into the air
- A tendency to appear near roads, rivers, industrial ruins, cemeteries, bridges, airports, and wooded areas
The original Point Pleasant reports often described something more birdlike than mothlike. The name “Mothman” came later through newspaper coverage, pop culture, and John Keel’s famous 1975 book The Mothman Prophecies.
The Mothman Sightings Timeline
August 1966: Jefferson Avenue, Point Pleasant, West Virginia
One of the earliest Mothman-related stories listed in later case databases involves Lawrence Gray, who reportedly saw a six-foot glowing figure with deep eyes and large wings inside his home on Jefferson Avenue in Point Pleasant. The figure was described as dirty gray and white, almost lunar in color. Gray reportedly felt paralyzed during the encounter, which lasted less than a minute.
This is not one of the famous newspaper-reported Mothman sightings, but it is included in later Point Pleasant databases because of its timing, winged form, and location.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 1, 1966: Camp Conley Road Armory, Point Pleasant, West Virginia
A National Guardsman reportedly saw a large brown humanoid figure perched in a tree near the armory by Camp Conley Road. This report is usually treated as a retroactive Mothman sighting because it became known after the famous November 15 encounter.
The description was simple but eerie: a brown, humanlike figure sitting in a tree near the Point Pleasant armory.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 12, 1966: Reamer Hill Cemetery, Clendenin, West Virginia
A few days before the famous Point Pleasant report, Kenneth Duncan and four other men were digging a grave at Reamer Hill Cemetery near Clendenin, West Virginia. Duncan later claimed he saw a brown, manlike figure with wings fly out from the trees and glide low over the group.
The other men reportedly did not see the creature before it disappeared, but Duncan described it as something that did not look like an ordinary bird. He said it appeared more like a man with wings.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 14, 1966: Salem, West Virginia
The Merle Partridge story is one of the strangest early reports connected to the Mothman legend. Partridge was reportedly watching television at home when the screen filled with a strange pattern and began making a high-pitched sound. His German shepherd, Bandit, started howling toward a nearby barn.
Partridge went outside and reportedly saw red circular lights moving in the distance. When he shined a flashlight toward them, they reflected like bicycle reflectors. Bandit ran toward the lights and disappeared.
This story is often repeated as one of the darker Mothman accounts, although some retellings incorrectly describe the lights as eyes. The Appalachian Oddity database specifically notes that this report involved red lights, not necessarily a full creature sighting.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
The Famous Point Pleasant Encounter
November 15, 1966: TNT Area, Point Pleasant, West Virginia
This is the encounter that created the Mothman legend.
Late at night, two young couples, Roger and Linda Scarberry and Steve and Mary Mallette, were driving near the abandoned TNT area north of Point Pleasant. They reportedly saw a large gray creature near the abandoned North Power Plant. It had wings, red eyes, and a shape that seemed part bird and part man.
The witnesses claimed the creature chased their car as they fled toward Point Pleasant. According to the classic version of the story, it kept pace even as they drove at high speed.
The next day, the Point Pleasant Register published the famous headline: “Couples See Man-Sized Bird… Creature… Something.” Smithsonian Folklife notes that this initial report helped launch the legend into local and national attention. (Smithsonian Folklife)
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
Additional source link: https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/mothman-point-pleasant-west-virginia
November 16, 1966: TNT Area Housing, Mason County, West Virginia
The next major report involved Marcella Bennett, Raymond Wamsley, Cathy Wamsley, and the Thomas children. They were visiting relatives in the TNT area when Bennett reportedly saw a creature rise from behind a parked car.
She described men’s legs covered with gray feathers, wings drawn toward the body, and a head tilted sideways and set low into the shoulders. The creature was said to be over six feet tall and looked like a giant bird that was also somehow manlike.
This sighting is important because it brought Mothman close to a home. It was no longer only a creature seen from a car on a lonely road. It was now something witnesses claimed could approach houses in the TNT area.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 17, 1966: Cheshire, Ohio
A teenage witness near Cheshire, Ohio, reportedly saw a gray, man-shaped, birdlike creature with red eyes and a large wingspan. The figure allegedly chased the witness’s car.
This report helped expand the Mothman story beyond Point Pleasant itself. From the start, the legend was not only a West Virginia story. It was an Ohio River Valley story.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 18, 1966: TNT Area, Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Volunteer firemen Paul Yoder and Benjamin Enochs reportedly saw a huge birdlike creature with large red eyes near the TNT area.
Their report mattered because it involved local adults in public service roles, which made the growing story harder for some residents to dismiss as teenage rumor.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 20, 1966: Ferry Branch Hollow, West Virginia
A couple reportedly told a Charleston patrolman that they had seen a large bird near Ferry Branch Hollow.
This report is less detailed than some of the famous Point Pleasant cases, but it appears in Mothman timelines because of its timing and the regional cluster of large bird and winged creature reports.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 20, 1966: Dixie, West Virginia
A witness named Howard Miller reportedly saw a four-foot birdlike creature with unusual red markings near a school bus shelter in Dixie, West Virginia.
This is not a classic Mothman report because the creature was described as much smaller than the famous Point Pleasant figure. Still, it is often grouped with the November 1966 wave.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 20, 1966: Campbell’s Creek, West Virginia
Brenda Jones and several teenagers reportedly saw a gray, red-eyed, man-sized bird-creature standing near a rock quarry at Campbell’s Creek. The creature reportedly turned and ran into the woods.
The setting fits a recurring pattern in Mothman reports: isolated roads, industrial edges, quarries, woods, and places where the familiar turns unsettling after dark.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 21, 1966: Charleston, West Virginia
A Charleston man named Richard West reportedly called police after seeing a six-foot manlike figure with red eyes and a six-to-eight-foot wingspan sitting on a roof. He claimed the creature flew straight upward like a helicopter.
That “straight up” flight pattern became one of the most repeated details in Mothman lore.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 24, 1966: Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Two adults and two children reportedly saw a giant red-eyed flying creature in Point Pleasant.
The details are limited, but this report falls inside the intense late-November period when Mothman sightings were being reported across West Virginia and nearby states.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 25, 1966: Route 62, Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Thomas “Tom” Ury, a shoe salesman, reportedly saw a very large bird while driving on Route 62. He described it as having an estimated ten-to-twelve-foot wingspan and said it circled his car while keeping pace with him.
This is an important case because Ury later clarified that he believed he saw a very large bird, not necessarily a manlike creature. That makes it useful for a balanced Mothman timeline, since not every reported sighting fits the classic humanoid description.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
Late November 1966: Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
George Wolfe Jr. reportedly saw a tall gray birdlike creature in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. The description was more ostrich-like than humanoid, with a long neck and plumed tail.
This is a borderline Mothman case. It is often included because of the timing and giant-bird description, but it does not match the classic red-eyed humanoid form.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 26, 1966: St. Albans, West Virginia
Ruth Foster reportedly saw a six-foot gray bird-creature with red eyes standing on her lawn in St. Albans.
The image is one of the more unsettling domestic sightings in the timeline: a large, red-eyed creature not in a remote TNT building, but on someone’s property.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 26, 1966: Lowell, Ohio
Near Cat Creek in Lowell, Ohio, witnesses including Marvin Shock and Ewing Tilton reportedly saw four oversized birds. The creatures were described as gray and brown, about five feet tall, with large wings and long beaks.
This report may have involved large birds rather than Mothman itself, but it is included in many timelines because it occurred during the same regional wave.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 27, 1966: Route 33 Near New Haven, West Virginia
Connie Jo Carpenter reportedly saw a seven-foot gray manlike figure with glowing red eyes near Route 33. The figure allegedly unfolded ten-foot wings, rose into the air, and flew toward her car.
Carpenter later reportedly developed eye irritation or conjunctivitis after the encounter, which became one of the more unusual details attached to the case.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 27, 1966: Route 60 Near St. Albans, West Virginia
Sheila Cain and her younger sister reportedly saw a large gray-white creature with red eyes near a junkyard. They ran, and the creature allegedly flew after them along Route 60.
This is one of the more frightening foot-chase reports in the original wave, because the witnesses were not protected inside a vehicle.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 1966: North Power Plant, TNT Area, West Virginia
Bob Bosworth and Alan Coates reportedly saw red eyes on the roof of the abandoned North Power Plant in the TNT area. When they later entered the building, they allegedly encountered a tall figure with broad shoulders and no visible neck.
The North Power Plant became one of the most iconic Mothman locations because of reports like this.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 1966: TNT Area Truck Encounter, Mason County, West Virginia
Faye Dewitt-Leport and siblings reportedly encountered a creature near the TNT area while in a truck. Later accounts describe a humanlike head, feathers, red eyes, and a creature that moved alongside the vehicle before flying away.
This report is known mostly through later interviews, so it should be treated as a later-collected witness account rather than a major contemporary newspaper case.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
December 1966: The Sightings Continue
December 4, 1966: Gallipolis, Ohio Airport
Five pilots at the Gallipolis, Ohio airport reportedly saw a huge long-necked bird gliding about 300 feet in the air. One pilot allegedly tried to photograph it from a plane, but the creature disappeared before he could capture it.
This case sounds more like a giant-bird report than a classic Mothman encounter, but it became part of the larger winged-creature chronology.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
December 6, 1966: Maysville, Kentucky
A mailman in Maysville, Kentucky, reportedly saw a very large birdlike creature in flight.
By this point, the Mothman wave had spread through reports across West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
December 6, 1966: TNT Area, Mason County, West Virginia
Two adults reportedly saw a huge gray manlike figure with glowing red eyes in the TNT area.
This report matches the classic Point Pleasant pattern: gray figure, red eyes, and the abandoned TNT location.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
December 7, 1966: Route 33, Ohio
Four women reportedly saw a man-shaped flying creature with glowing red eyes. The being was described as brownish and silver in color.
This report helped continue the pattern of Mothman-like sightings along roads and highways.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
December 7, 1966: TNT Area Investigation, Mason County, West Virginia
Writer John Keel arrived in Point Pleasant and visited the TNT area with witnesses and reporter Mary Hyre. During the visit, people in the group reportedly experienced strange activity, including red glowing eyes seen inside the abandoned North Power Plant.
Keel’s involvement became crucial to the legend. His later book, The Mothman Prophecies, connected the sightings to UFOs, strange visitors, phone disturbances, and the Silver Bridge tragedy.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
December 8, 1966: Route 35, West Virginia
Two women reportedly saw a shadowy figure with glowing red eyes on a hilltop near Route 35.
The description is brief, but it fits the red-eyed roadside pattern common to the original wave.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
December 11, 1966: TNT Area, Mason County, West Virginia
A man and a male child reportedly saw a man-shaped gray figure fly quickly overhead in the TNT area.
Again, the location is important. Many of the most famous Mothman reports were tied to the abandoned TNT area and its surrounding roads.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
December 11, 1966: Route 35, West Virginia
Kathryn Beaver reportedly saw a very large gray creature with glowing red eyes fly past her car on Route 35.
This is another classic road encounter involving a gray flying figure and red eyes.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
December 1966: 13th Street, Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Linda Scarberry, one of the original November 15 witnesses, reportedly saw the creature again after moving into her parents’ home on 13th Street. She said it was sitting on the slanted roof, with wings folded around itself, looking through a window.
This report deepened the legend because it suggested that Mothman was not just a one-night encounter for the original witnesses.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
1966: Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Loretta Faye Campbell reportedly saw something flying in the sky that sank down into the trees.
This is a vague report, but it appears in the broader Point Pleasant database because of its timing and local context.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
1967: The Original Mothman Flap Winds Down
January 11, 1967: Tiny’s Diner, Route 62, Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Mabel McDaniel, Linda Scarberry’s mother, reportedly saw a large brown creature with a ten-foot wingspan flying low over Route 62. She said it had men’s legs hanging down, no clear head or neck, and glided silently without flapping its wings.
This is one of the stronger 1967 reports because it includes several classic Mothman traits: silent flight, humanlike legs, no visible head, and a large wingspan.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
March 12, 1967: Letart Falls, Ohio
An adult woman and her twenty-year-old daughter reportedly saw a large white winged being with long hair while driving home from church. The figure passed in front of their car and flew straight upward.
The witnesses reportedly interpreted the figure as angelic, which shows how Mothman-related reports sometimes overlapped with religious imagery.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
May 19, 1967: Route 62 Near the TNT Area, Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Brenda Stone and another woman reportedly saw a shadowy winged form with red lights like glowing eyes in a tree near Route 62. A red luminous object appeared, moved toward the tree, and the shadowy figure reportedly rose toward it and vanished.
This is one of the strangest reports in the original timeline because it directly links a winged creature claim with a UFO-like object.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 2, 1967: TNT Area Igloos, Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Virginia Thomas reportedly saw a tall gray man-shaped figure moving quickly among the concrete igloos in the TNT area. The figure moved upright like a man but appeared much larger and faster.
The TNT igloos remain some of the most recognizable locations in the Mothman legend.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
November 1967: Chief Cornstalk Park, West Virginia
Four male hunters reportedly encountered a large gray figure with red eyes in Chief Cornstalk Park. They were reportedly so frightened that they did not think to use their rifles until after the figure was gone.
This is one of the last commonly cited Mothman sightings before the Silver Bridge collapse.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
Unknown Date: Point Pleasant, West Virginia
An elderly businessman in Point Pleasant reportedly went outside after hearing his dog barking and saw a six-to-seven-foot gray figure with flaming eyes on his lawn. He watched it for several minutes before it flew away.
Because the date is unknown, this report is harder to place in the timeline, but it is still part of the larger Point Pleasant case file.
Report link: https://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1966-1967/
December 15, 1967: The Silver Bridge Collapse
At around 5 p.m. on December 15, 1967, the Silver Bridge connecting Point Pleasant, West Virginia, and Gallipolis, Ohio, collapsed into the Ohio River. The disaster killed 46 people. The West Virginia Department of Transportation identifies the technical cause as a fracture in an eyebar, worsened by stress corrosion and corrosion fatigue. (Wikipedia)
The official explanation is engineering failure, not anything supernatural. Still, the timing of the bridge collapse permanently changed how many people viewed the Mothman sightings. After the disaster, some came to interpret Mothman as an omen or warning.
That connection is why Mothman remains one of America’s most famous cryptids. The story is not just about a creature. It is about fear, grief, uncertainty, and how communities make meaning after tragedy.
After Point Pleasant: Did Mothman Disappear?
After 1967, the classic Point Pleasant reports faded. Point Pleasant eventually embraced the legend, becoming home to the Mothman Museum, the Mothman statue, and the annual Mothman Festival.
Museum link: https://www.mothmanmuseum.com/
Festival link: https://www.mothmanfestival.com/
For decades, scattered Mothman-like reports appeared in books, local legends, paranormal databases, and internet forums. Many are difficult to verify. Some are clearly inspired by the Point Pleasant story. Others are better described as winged humanoid, giant bird, gargoyle, owlman, thunderbird, or pterosaur reports rather than direct Mothman sightings.
The next major wave of Mothman-style reports did not happen in West Virginia. It happened around Chicago and Lake Michigan.
The Chicago and Lake Michigan Mothman Timeline
Modern Chicago and Lake Michigan reports are different from the original Point Pleasant cases. Many were collected by paranormal researchers, witness-submission websites, UFO groups, or investigator databases. They should be treated as reported sightings, not official confirmations.
The Singular Fortean Society maintains one of the most detailed public timelines of these sightings and classifies them by type, including “Large Bird,” “Unexplained,” and “Potential Hoax.” (A Singular Fortean)
Main Chicago and Lake Michigan timeline link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Early Winter 1957: Braidwood, Illinois
Gerald Turrise reportedly saw a winged creature with the body of a large man while hunting as a young man in Braidwood, Illinois.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
October 27, 1969: Illinois
A man named Floyd Hancock reportedly claimed that, as a child, he was abducted from his home by a tall winged humanoid and later returned.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Fall 1971: North Branch of the Chicago River, Illinois
Retired police officer David Ramos reportedly encountered a shadowy winged humanoid when he was twelve years old near the North Branch of the Chicago River.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Mid-June 1976: Waukegan, Illinois
A man’s vehicle was reportedly attacked by a winged black figure with glowing red eyes in Waukegan.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
1981: Cicero, Illinois
A thirteen-year-old reportedly had a psychic encounter with a red-eyed winged being in Cicero.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
1987: Rural Indiana
A man in rural Indiana reported seeing a humanlike flying creature with glowing red eyes. This sighting reportedly began a decades-long series of encounters.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
1997: Rock Island and Naperville, Illinois
Separate witnesses reportedly saw frightening winged gargoyle-like creatures in Rock Island and Naperville.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
1999: Rockford, Illinois
A woman, her husband, and a friend reportedly saw a flying red-eyed gargoyle in Rockford.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Summer 2000: Goshen Dam, Indiana
Two friends reportedly encountered a strange winged entity at the Goshen Dam.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
June 21, 2001: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
A witness and two friends reportedly saw a “man with wings” flying over the Kinnickinnic River in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
September 8, 2001: Berwyn, Illinois
A woman reportedly saw four red-eyed winged humanoids flying over her home in Berwyn.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
January 2002: Madison, Wisconsin
A woman reportedly had a terrifying encounter with a red-eyed winged creature in Madison.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Summer 2002: Babcock, Wisconsin
A teenager reportedly saw a gargoyle-like creature with feathered wings in Babcock.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
October 2002: Unspecified Road
A woman reportedly saw a winged humanoid swoop over her car on the same road where she had previously seen a diamond-shaped UFO.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Summer 2003: Alsip, Illinois
A young woman and her friend reportedly saw an owlman outside the window of a house in Alsip.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
2004: Auburn, Illinois
A twelve-year-old boy and his friends reportedly saw a winged man dressed all in black near Panther Creek.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 2004: Rockford, Illinois
A woman reportedly saw an all-black man with huge batlike wings flying over a park near her home.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Summer 2005: Wheeler, Indiana
A man reportedly encountered a winged humanoid near Wheeler.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
July 2006: Southern Wisconsin
A woman and her family reportedly saw a man with batlike features flying near their vehicle while driving in southern Wisconsin.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 2006: Bensenville, Illinois
A man and his son reportedly saw a large dark being with capelike wings in Bensenville.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Summer 2007: Prairie Creek Reservoir, Indiana
Two friends reportedly saw a flying humanoid with glowing yellowish eyes at Prairie Creek Reservoir.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Late July 2008: Northeastern Illinois
A man reportedly saw a winged creature with human proportions while traveling with his husband and a friend.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 2008: Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin
A witness reportedly saw a big gray humanoid creature with large wings during a bonfire in Mount Pleasant.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Early Spring 2010: Unspecified Location
A man reportedly saw a four-and-a-half-foot dark entity perched on the peak of a neighbor’s roof.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Late Summer 2010: Outside Rockford, Illinois
Two teenagers reportedly saw a winged “deerbat” while driving outside Rockford. A second nearby sighting described something like a “flying tar man.”
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
2011: Chicago and Nearby Areas
Several reports from 2011 include a suspicious winged figure captured on camera, glowing eyes seen through a window, and a college student reporting a man with wings.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
September 5, 2011: Jackson Park Highlands, Chicago
A man reportedly followed a creature with batlike wings and a small bulbous head after seeing it flying over the Jackson Park Highlands neighborhood.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Fall 2011: Downers Grove, Illinois
A man and his brother-in-law reportedly saw a humanoid with batlike wings near Downers Grove.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Winter 2011: Prairie Creek Reservoir, Indiana
A woman reportedly saw a flying humanoid with greenish-yellow eyes while driving near Prairie Creek Reservoir.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Summer 2012: Indianapolis, Indiana
A driver heading toward Indianapolis International Airport reportedly nearly collided with a batlike being with little red eyes.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
2014: Unspecified Apartment Building
A man reportedly came home from work to find a Mothman-type insectoid staring at his apartment building.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Summer 2014: Greensburg, Indiana
A man reportedly saw a purplish humanoid figure about six feet tall with wings near Greensburg.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
November 26, 2014: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
A Fire and Rescue officer and his partner reportedly saw a green-eyed winged humanoid in downtown Milwaukee.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 2015: Gary, Indiana
A man driving in Gary reportedly saw a dark grayish prehistoric bird with smooth, leathery skin.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
November 1, 2015: Washington Park, Chicago
A woman reportedly saw a “crow man” hovering over a high-rise near Washington Park.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Early Summer 2016: Gary, Indiana
A woman reportedly saw a prehistoric bird after dropping her children off at school in Gary.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
June 2016: Irving Park, Chicago
A woman reportedly saw a huge winged humanoid flying over the Irving Park neighborhood of Chicago.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 2016: Cicero, Illinois
A man reportedly saw a large winged humanoid perched on a lamppost in Cicero.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 2016: Rockford, Illinois
Jonathan Lane reportedly saw a giant, shapeless black thing with two very large red eyes in Rockford.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 21, 2016: Chicago Hotel Window Report
USPS union official Joseph Palau reportedly saw the Chicago Mothman outside of a hotel window while visiting Chicago for a convention.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Late September 2016: Whitewater, Wisconsin
A woman reportedly saw a manlike being with pterodactyl-like wings gliding across a highway outside Whitewater.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Mid-November 2016: West Alton, Missouri
A man and his son reportedly saw a large dark flying humanoid while duck hunting in West Alton, Missouri.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
2017: The Chicago Mothman Wave Peaks
February 8, 2017: Interstate 294, Illinois
A driver on Interstate 294 reportedly saw what he thought was a person turn into a large black bird.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
March 16, 2017: Tinley Park, Illinois
A witness reportedly saw a large winged being perched on a roof in Tinley Park.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
March 22, 2017: Chicago Expressway
A semi-truck driver reportedly suffered strange medical symptoms after seeing a flying humanoid over a Chicago expressway.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
April 10, 2017: Oz Park, Chicago
A woman walking her dog in Oz Park reportedly encountered a paralyzing winged being.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Mid-April 2017: Mukwonago, Wisconsin
A man reportedly saw a humanoid bat-dragon near Mukwonago.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
April 15 and 16, 2017: Chicago, Illinois
Three separate witnesses reportedly saw an unidentified flying humanoid over Chicago.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
April 17, 2017: Chicago Area
A woman reportedly saw a hulking, hunched-over winged being across the street while taking out the garbage.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
April 27, 2017: Little Calumet River, Chicago
A man fishing with his son near the Little Calumet River reportedly saw a strange winged being after hearing an eerie sound.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
May 5, 2017: Calumet Park, Chicago
A man and his son reportedly saw a batlike creature while walking in Calumet Park.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
May 2017: William P. Fahey Bridge, Chicago
A family walking near the riverfront reportedly saw a flying humanoid cross over the William P. Fahey Bridge.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
May 19, 2017: Adler Planetarium, Chicago
A group of friends reportedly saw two giant bats performing aerial maneuvers near Adler Planetarium.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
May 27, 2017: North Wrightwood Avenue and North Lakeview Avenue, Chicago
A married couple reportedly saw a large black batlike creature with glowing red eyes near North Wrightwood and North Lakeview.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
May 27, 2017: 127th Street and Ashland Avenue, Chicago
A woman and her boyfriend reportedly saw a large black flying man with wings near 127th Street and Ashland Avenue.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
June 3, 2017: Lincoln Park, Chicago
Two different couples reportedly encountered a large batlike flying humanoid in the Lincoln Park area.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
June 17, 2017: Navy Pier, Chicago
A jogger near Navy Pier reportedly saw an enormous bat take flight and fly toward the water treatment plant.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
June 23, 2017: Adler Planetarium, Chicago
A couple and a crowd of people reportedly saw a large black batlike creature with humanoid features near Adler Planetarium.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
June 29, 2017: Auburn Gresham, Chicago
A police officer, the officer’s partner, and civilians reportedly saw a dark black shadow with wings standing on top of a building before it took flight in Auburn Gresham.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
June 30, 2017: Chicago, Illinois
A security worker outside The Owl reportedly saw a batlike humanoid flying over an empty lot.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
July 20, 2017: Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
A car full of friends reportedly saw a giant flying bat while driving on Lake Shore Drive.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
July 24, 2017: Willis Tower, Chicago
A man reportedly saw an insect-like flying humanoid take flight near the top of Willis Tower.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
July 27, 2017: Chicago, Illinois
A person heading home from work reportedly saw a large batlike creature perched on a light pole.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
July 29, 2017: Albany Park and Lincoln Square, Chicago
Two friends reportedly saw a huge black shape gliding over the Albany Park and Lincoln Square area.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 1, 2017: Elgin, Illinois
A witness reportedly saw a flying humanoid over Elgin.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 2, 2017: Bolingbrook, Illinois
A woman and her son reportedly saw a tall dark humanoid with membranous wings in a park near their home.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 4, 2017: Melrose Park and River Forest, Illinois
A woman and her husband photographed what they described as a giant bat in Melrose Park. A separate witness walking with children reported a similar creature in River Forest.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 6, 2017: Grant Park, Chicago
Two concertgoers reportedly saw a batlike flying humanoid with glowing red eyes in Grant Park after Lollapalooza.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 9, 2017: Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
A couple reportedly saw a large winged being with bright red eyes flying over Lake Shore Drive.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 10, 2017: Ohio Street Beach, Chicago
A city employee reportedly saw a giant owl flying off Ohio Street Beach.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 21, 2017: Chicago Solar Eclipse Report
A woman and her friends reportedly saw a large black bat with humanoid features in Chicago just before the solar eclipse.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 21, 2017: Wicker Park, Chicago
A second report from the same date described a shadowy flying humanoid in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 22, 2017: McCook, Illinois
A truck driver reportedly saw a large winged being with thick glistening hair flying over McCook.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 22, 2017: McCook, Illinois
A second report from the same area described a monstrous bat with a twelve-foot wingspan.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 22, 2017: Pulaski Road, Chicago
A batlike flying Mothman was reportedly seen over Pulaski Road.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 27, 2017: Forest Park, Illinois
A retired police officer reportedly saw a dark gargoyle with red eyes in Forest Park.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 28, 2017: McCook, Illinois
A delivery driver reportedly saw a large man with wings flying over the same McCook area where other reports had been made.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 29, 2017: La Grange Park, Illinois
An avid birdwatcher reportedly saw a huge flying shadow over a forest preserve near La Grange Park.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Late Summer 2017: Rockford, Illinois
A woman in Rockford reportedly saw a tall dark humanoid with huge wings take flight from a neighbor’s yard.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
September 7, 2017: Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago
A family visiting Lincoln Park Zoo reportedly saw a large creature with a giant set of wings flying overhead.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
September 9, 2017: Little Village, Chicago
A group of friends reportedly saw a black demon with large wings in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
September 10, 2017: Avalon Park and Douglas, Chicago
Two witnesses several miles apart reportedly saw an unknown being gliding across the sky in the Avalon Park and Douglas neighborhoods.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
September 11, 2017: Kenwood, Chicago
A woman reportedly saw a huge batlike being circling buildings over Kenwood.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
September 12, 2017: Little Village, Chicago
A woman walking home from work reportedly saw what she described as a black devil in Little Village.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
September 16, 2017: Little Village, Chicago
A pair of siblings reportedly encountered a batlike creature in Little Village.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
September 23, 2017: DuSable Harbor, Chicago
A man and his friends reportedly saw a large birdlike entity over DuSable Harbor.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
September 24, 2017: Chicago Area
A family on their way home from mass reportedly saw a red-eyed winged goblin that gave off a strong sense of evil.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
September 26, 2017: West Lakeview, Chicago
A nightclub performer reportedly saw a man-bat crouched on top of a light pole in West Lakeview.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
September 26, 2017: Chicago Area
A woman and her son reportedly saw a monster bat in their backyard before it flew away.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Mid-Fall 2017: Southeast Michigan
A young man and his sister reportedly saw a dark red-eyed being that took off into the sky in Michigan.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
October 7, 2017: River North, Chicago
A witness reportedly saw a large winged being flying in River North.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
October 27, 2017: Piotrowski Park, Chicago
A couple sitting in a car at Piotrowski Park reportedly encountered a man-sized flying humanoid.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
2018 to 2024: Modern Lake Michigan Reports Continue
January 27 and 28, 2018: Wilmington, Illinois
Two reports from Wilmington described a strange creature resembling a hybrid of an owl and a bat.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
February 2, 2018: Oak Park, Illinois
Three witnesses reportedly saw a tall man with very large black wings and glowing ruby-red eyes in Oak Park.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
February 15, 2018: Wisconsin and Illinois Border
A man leaving a truck stop near the Wisconsin and Illinois border reportedly saw a giant skinny man with wings and red eyes.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
April 12, 2018: West Lakeview, Chicago
Two elderly women reportedly saw a dark winged being vanish in West Lakeview.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
April 13, 2018: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
A couple in Milwaukee reportedly encountered a batlike flying humanoid with large glowing red eyes.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
October 26, 2018: Alsip, Illinois
A married couple reportedly saw a winged humanoid resembling a large owl in Alsip.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
February 22, 2019: Woodstock, Illinois
A man in Woodstock reportedly saw a large winged being covered in dark fur crossing the street in front of his car.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
August 8, 2019: O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
A pilot reportedly saw a large humanlike figure with enormous wings and glowing red eyes perched on a rail at O’Hare International Airport.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
November 26, 2019: O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
A trucker reportedly saw a seven-foot-tall person with wings near a cargo dock at O’Hare.
December 3, 2019: O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
A security worker at O’Hare reportedly saw a red-eyed flying man.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
December 6, 2019: Near O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
A man reportedly saw a red-eyed winged humanoid while driving near O’Hare.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
February 21, 2020: O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
A security guard at O’Hare reportedly saw a very tall solid black creature with glowing red eyes.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
May 31, 2020: O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
An airline pilot reportedly saw a large black humanlike creature flying above O’Hare.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
June 30, 2020: O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
Two women reportedly saw a huge owl with glowing red eyes near an O’Hare parking lot.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Early July 2020: O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
A man and his coworkers reportedly saw a large person with wings fly overhead while unloading a plane at O’Hare.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
September 24, 2020: O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
A USPS employee reportedly saw a seven-foot-tall red-eyed creature after leaving work at the United States Postal Service sorting facility at O’Hare.
October 26, 2020: Schiller Park, Illinois
A woman and her mother reportedly saw a demonlike figure with red eyes and large wings in Schiller Park.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
April 15, 2021: O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
A woman reportedly saw a seven-to-eight-foot black winged creature with glowing red eyes after leaving work at O’Hare.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
April 21, 2021: O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
A shuttle bus driver reportedly saw a large humanoid owl while working at O’Hare.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
July 22, 2021: O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
Three witnesses reportedly described a security response to the appearance of a red-eyed winged humanoid at O’Hare.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
December 30, 2021: O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
A man claimed that he and two coworkers saw three black red-eyed winged creatures near a hangar at O’Hare.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
March 5, 2022: O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
A woman claimed that she and a friend encountered a creature with bright red eyes and a big black body near a construction site at O’Hare.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
April 9, 2022: Elk Grove, Illinois
Several family members reportedly saw a winged humanoid with glowing red eyes perched on a neighbor’s roof.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
April 28, 2022: Bensenville, Illinois
A truck driver reportedly encountered a giant red-eyed man-bat while dropping off equipment at work in Bensenville.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
May 17, 2022: Bensenville, Illinois
A father and daughter claimed to have recorded three winged humanoids outside their home.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
June 20, 2022: Rockford, Illinois
A woman and her mother reportedly encountered a massive black winged humanoid and a glowing UFO on the same night in Rockford.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
October 25, 2022: Little Village, Chicago
A father and daughter reportedly saw a thin black winged figure with bright red glowing eyes in Little Village.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
December 29, 2022: O’Hare International Airport, Chicago
A man claiming to be a firefighter reportedly saw a red-eyed winged “Batman” at O’Hare.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
February 5, 2023: Little Village, Chicago
A witness reported a group sighting of a large man with wings wider than a car in Little Village.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
April or May 2023: Northern Illinois
Mat Sexton reportedly had his first two encounters with a winged humanoid in northern Illinois.
August 15, 2023: Evanston, Illinois
A woman reportedly saw a dark humanoid-like being fly overhead while at a Public Storage location on Green Bay Road in Evanston.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
September 7, 2023: Camp Pine Woods, Des Plaines River Area, Illinois
A Chicago-area woman reportedly saw a tall red-eyed creature while driving through Camp Pine Woods near the Des Plaines River.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
March 5, 2024: Evergreen Park, Illinois
A woman waiting at a Culver’s drive-thru in Evergreen Park reportedly saw a creature-like figure with large grayish-black wings and muscular gray legs leap several blocks through the air.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
April 29, 2024: Kaneville and Hinckley Area, Illinois
Mat Sexton reportedly had a third encounter with a winged humanoid in northern Illinois. According to the Singular Fortean Society report, the encounter happened near the Kaneville and Hinckley area.
Early July 2024: Park Tower, Chicago
A man claimed to see a winged humanoid jump off Park Tower in Chicago. The Singular Fortean Society timeline labels this report as a potential hoax, so it should be treated with caution.
Report link: https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far
Common Explanations for Mothman Sightings
Skeptical explanations have existed from the beginning. Some researchers, newspapers, and local officials suggested that witnesses may have seen large birds, including owls, herons, or sandhill cranes. The Lake Michigan timeline also separates some reports into a “Large Bird” category, meaning the sighting may have involved a misidentified modern bird rather than a paranormal humanoid. (A Singular Fortean)
Possible explanations include:
- Misidentified owls, cranes, herons, vultures, or other large birds
- Reflections from animal eyes in headlights
- Fear and exaggeration during nighttime encounters
- Local rumor spreading after newspaper coverage
- Hoaxes or copycat reports
- Folklore growing around real tragedy
- Witnesses interpreting unfamiliar sights through the Mothman legend
None of these explanations will satisfy every believer. Many witnesses insist what they saw was too large, too humanlike, too fast, or too strange to be a known animal.
But from a factual standpoint, there is no confirmed biological evidence for Mothman. What exists is a long trail of witness reports, local history, newspaper coverage, investigator files, and folklore.
Why the Mothman Legend Still Matters
Mothman endures because the story has everything a lasting legend needs:
- A specific birthplace: Point Pleasant, West Virginia
- A haunting setting: the abandoned TNT area
- A terrifying creature: red eyes, huge wings, and a manlike body
- A real tragedy: the Silver Bridge collapse
- A famous investigator: John Keel
- A modern revival: Chicago, O’Hare, and Lake Michigan reports
- A living culture: the Mothman Museum, festival, books, films, podcasts, and new sightings
The creature is not just a monster. It is a symbol of dread before disaster, fear of the unknown, and the way communities turn strange events into stories that last for generations.
Point Pleasant gave Mothman a home. The Silver Bridge tragedy gave the legend emotional weight. Chicago gave it a second life. The internet made it global.
Conclusion: Mothman Is More Than One Sighting
The Mothman story began with frightened witnesses on a dark road near an abandoned TNT plant in November 1966. It grew through local newspaper headlines, repeated sightings, strange regional reports, and the devastating collapse of the Silver Bridge. Decades later, it reappeared in a new form around Chicago and Lake Michigan, where witnesses described winged humanoids over neighborhoods, highways, parks, airports, and rivers.
Is Mothman real? There is no scientific proof.
But as American folklore, Mothman is absolutely real. The sightings shaped Point Pleasant, inspired books and films, drew thousands of visitors, and continue to generate new reports more than half a century later.
Whether Mothman is a misidentified bird, a mass panic, a paranormal warning, or something stranger, the legend survives because it lives in the space between eyewitness testimony and the unknown.
And that is exactly where the best monster stories live.
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