[intense suspenseful music] ♪ ♪
>> male narrator: THERE'S A TERRIFYING BEAST PROWLING
KENTUCKY SWAMPS AND BACKWOODS. >> THERE'S SOMETHING OUT HERE.
>> narrator: THE CREATURE HAS AN APPETITE FOR FLESH.
AND IT'S SEEKING ALL KINDS OF PREY.
>> AND THEN I FELT SOMETHING HIT MY VAN.
>> IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD BE A CANINE.
>> narrator: AND NOW EVIDENCE MAY FINALLY REVEAL...
>> I'VE NEVER CAUGHT AN IMAGE LIKE THAT ON ANY OF MY OTHER
CAMERAS. >> narrator: THE EXISTENCE
OF THE HILLBILLY BEAST. [loud clack]
>> DID YOU HEAR THAT? SOMETHING JUST THREW A ROCK
IN THE RIVER IN MY DIRECTION. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
>> narrator: WITNESSES AROUND THE WORLD REPORT SEEING
MONSTERS. ARE THEY REAL OR IMAGINARY?
SCIENCE SEARCHES FOR ANSWERS ON<i> MONSTER QUEST.</i>
Captioning by<font color="#008000"> CaptionMax</font> www.captionmax.com
KENTUCKY IS HILL COUNTRY. THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY
IS FAMOUS FOR ITS SMALL-TOWN HOSPITALITY AND HORSE FARMS.
THE OHIO RIVER IN THE NORTH AND THE TENNESSEE TO THE SOUTH
FORM NATURAL BORDERS AROUND THE STATE'S LUSH NATURAL
FORESTS. [eerie music]
♪ ♪ BUT SOMETHING STRANGE MAY ALSO
BE LURKING IN THESE WOODS. >> WHEN WE LOOKED OVER THERE,
THERE WAS A BIG DARK-COLORED CREATURE STANDING ACROSS
THE SLOUGH. >> IT WASN'T WALKING ON ALL
FOURS. IT WAS WALKING UPRIGHT.
>> THE HAIR WAS LONG, A FOOT LONG ALL OVER IT,
FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. >> THEY WERE BIG EYES.
THE--THE HEAD HAD TO HAVE BEEN BIGGER.
>> narrator: EYEWITNESSES REPORT SEEING A DARK HAIRY CREATURE
EIGHT TO TEN FEET TALL AND WEIGHING UP TO 800 POUNDS.
IT IS SAID TO BE COVERED WITH MATTED BROWN FUR AND HAS EYES
THAT APPEAR BLACK IN THE DAY AND YELLOW-ORANGE IN DARKNESS.
THE CREATURE IS ALSO SAID TO LET OUT PIERCING SHRIEKS
AND HOWLS AT NIGHT. KENTUCKY'S LUSH VEGETATION
AND SECLUDED WATERWAYS PROVIDE AN IDEAL HOME FOR DEER AND OTHER
ANIMALS THOUGHT TO BE THE BEAST'S PRIMARY PREY.
>> WELL, WE DECIDED ONE NIGHT THAT WE WERE JUST GONNA GET OUT
OF THE HOUSE AND WE WERE GONNA GO PARKING.
>> narrator: AMY AND JOHN LONG WERE ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED.
[engine revving] AFTER PULLING OVER
ON A SECLUDED COUNTRY ROAD, THEY SUDDENLY REALIZED
THEY WERE NOT ALONE. >> WE WAS SITTING THERE, AND
IT WAS REAL QUIET, AND WE HAD THE WINDOWS DOWN ON THE TRUCK,
AND YOU COULD HEAR SOMETHING BREATHING.
>> I LEANED MY HEAD OUT THE WINDOW, AND I HEARD A NOISE,
AND IT JUST STARTED GOING, "RUH, RUH, RUH, RUH."
>> narrator: THE COUPLE HAD LIVED IN THE AREA
ALL OF THEIR LIVES, BUT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD AN ANIMAL SOUND
LIKE THIS ONE. >> AND I TOLD MY FIANCE
AT THE TIME, I SAID, "THERE'S SOMETHING OUT HERE."
AND IT KEPT GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER, AND HE SAID,
"LET'S GET OUT OF HERE." >> narrator: JOHN THREW THE
TRUCK INTO GEAR AND BEGAN TO DRIVE AWAY WHEN HE HEARD
THE SOUND AGAIN. HE SLOWED AND SHINED A
FLASHLIGHT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE NOISE.
>> WE WENT ON AROUND THE ROAD A LITTLE WAYS, AND WE SEEN
SOME DEER, AND WE WAS SPOTLIGHTING THE DEER,
AND WE SPOTTED SOMETHING OFF THE EDGE OF THE WOODS.
>> narrator: THEY'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY SAW.
>> IT WAS HUGE. IT HAD LONG HAIRLIKE
SUBSTANCE ON IT. >> IT WAS PRETTY GOOD SIZE,
WALKING ON ITS BACK LEGS. HAD A WEIRD-COLOR EYE.
THE EYES GLOWED IN THE DARK, A REAL STRANGE ORANGEY COLOR.
AND IT APPEARED TO BE MAYBE SEVEN FOOT TALL AND REAL LONG
SHAGGY HAIR. >> IT LOOKED AT US,
AND IT WOULD LOOK AWAY AND LOOK AT US AGAIN,
AND IT WOULD LOOK AWAY. AND THEN IT FOCUSED ON THE DEER.
>> narrator: JOHN AND AMY BELIEVE THE CREATURE WAS CLOSING
IN ON A KILL. >> I THINK IT CAUGHT ONE,
BECAUSE AS WE PULLED UP TO THE OTHER LITTLE CREEK
THAT WE WERE AT, YOU COULD HEAR A DEER JUST HOLLERING, JUST,
YOU KNOW, "BAH!" LIKE IT HAD BEEN CAUGHT.
>> narrator: STORIES ABOUT THE BEAST HAVE CIRCULATED
IN THIS AREA FOR DECADES, AND NUMEROUS WITNESSES
HAVE RECENTLY COME FORWARD. TIM FARMER WORKS WITH KENTUCKY'S
DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AND IS SKEPTICAL THAT SUCH
A CREATURE EXISTS. >> I HAVE PEOPLE THAT CALL WITH
SINCERE SIGHTINGS OF THINGS THAT THEY THINK THEY HAVE SEEN.
AND I WOULD NEVER, EVER IN A MILLION YEARS CALL SOMEBODY
A LIAR. I WOULD DISAGREE WITH SOME
OF THE SIGHTINGS. >> narrator: FARMER THINKS THE
SIGHTINGS ARE AN INSTANCE OF MISIDENTIFICATION
OF BLACK BEARS. THESE MAMMOTH CREATURES WERE
ONLY RECENTLY CONFIRMED TO EXIST IN KENTUCKY.
>> NOW, SOME OF THESE BEARS GET PRETTY BIG.
THEY CAN STAND UP, YOU KNOW. WHEN THEY STAND UP,
THEY LOOK HUGE. AND THERE ARE VARIATIONS
OF COLOR. A BEAR CAN HAVE A CINNAMON
COLOR. SO THEY CAN BE A BROWN.
THEY CAN BE A BLACK. BUT ALL VARIATIONS
OF THE BLACK BEAR. >> narrator: FARMER BELIEVES
THE SHEER NUMBER OF HUNTERS ACTIVE IN THE STATE MAKES IT
UNLIKELY AN UNKNOWN CREATURE COULD REMAIN UNDETECTED.
>> FOR THE HUNTER WHO'S OUT THERE WHO REALLY WANTS TO SEE
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WOODS, HE HAS A TRAIL CAM.
THERE ARE THOUSANDS, PROBABLY TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE
IN KENTUCKY. NOW, THIS IS A MOTION-SENSOR
CAMERA, BASICALLY. AND IT'S SET TO GO OFF HOWEVER
MANY TIMES AND TAKE AS MANY PICTURES AS YOU WANT.
AND MY THINKING IS, IF THERE'S ANYTHING OUT THERE THAT
WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT BUT THESE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
CAMERAS OUT THERE, SURELY, SURELY YOU WOULD THINK THAT
SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD SET ONE OF THOSE TRAIL CAMERAS OFF.
>> narrator: BUT CAMERA TRAPS MAY HAVE CAPTURED SOMETHING THAT
CANNOT BE EXPLAINED. [camera shutter clicks]
[camera shutter clicks] THIS IMAGE, TAKEN IN SEPTEMBER
2009, SHOWS A MYSTERY CREATURE LURKING IN A GARDEN OUTSIDE
OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, JUST MILES FROM WHERE RECENT
WITNESSES HAVE SIGHTED THE BEAST.
IT IS IN THIS AREA, CLOSE TO WHERE THE IMAGE WAS TAKEN,
THAT THE EXPEDITION TEAM WILL BEGIN THEIR SEARCH.
THEY'LL MAKE THEIR CAMPSITE NEAR HENDERSON, KENTUCKY,
ON THE BANKS OF THE OHIO RIVER. THEY'LL BEGIN THEIR
INVESTIGATION BY INTERVIEWING EYEWITNESSES.
>> THIS PLACE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF CREATURE ACTIVITY THAT
STRETCHES BACK FOR DECADES, AND I THINK IF WE JUST
CONCENTRATE OUR SEARCH AROUND THIS AREA HERE AND WORK OUR WAY
OUT, WE MIGHT, YOU KNOW, FIND SOME TRACE EVIDENCE
AND JUST GO FROM THERE. >> WHEN I GET TO A SPOT, WHAT
I LIKE TO DO IS GET THERE A FEW DAYS IN ADVANCE, IF POSSIBLE...
>> narrator: MARK PETERSON, A PROFESSIONAL ANIMAL TRACKER,
WILL LEAD THE EXPEDITION. >> AND GO OUT AND LOCATE NATURAL
TRAVEL CORRIDORS, PATHWAYS, TRACKWAYS, THINGS LIKE THAT,
AND LOOK FOR ANIMAL SIGN, FOOD SOURCE, AND WATER SOURCE.
>> narrator: PREDATORS THE SIZE OF THE HILLBILLY BEAST
TEND TO HUNT AT NIGHT, SO PETERSON HAS BROUGHT
TWO CAMERAS THAT THE TEAM WILL MOUNT IN THE WOODS TO ALLOW FOR
A NIGHT OBSERVATION OF THE AREA. THEY'LL ALSO SCOUR THE WOODS
ON FOOT TO SEARCH FOR PHYSICAL EVIDENCE OF THE CREATURE.
THE PRESENCE OF DEER TRACKS INDICATES THE TEAM HAS FOUND
A POSSIBLE HUNTING GROUND FOR THE BEAST.
>> THE DEW TRACKS ON A BUCK ARE VERY LOW TO THE GROUND.
THEY'RE RIGHT ON TOP OF THE HOOF, WHEREAS ON A DOE,
IF YOU LOOK AT ANY OF THESE HERE, YOU WON'T SEE THE DEWCLAW,
EVEN IN THE MUD. >> narrator: TO GET THE SEARCH
STARTED, THEY WILL DEPLOY AN INFRARED CAMERA ATTACHED TO
A MINIATURE HELICOPTER. ONCE IN THE SKY, THE REMOTE
SYSTEM WILL ALERT THE TEAM TO THE PRESENCE OF ANY LARGE
ANIMALS. THE SURVEY WILL HELP THEM NARROW
THEIR SEARCH AREA. >> WITH THE HELICOPTERS, WE CAN
GET UP TO ABOUT 400 FEET OF ALTITUDE, MOVING AROUND AN
AREA OF ABOUT AN ACRE, TO LOOK FOR WHATEVER'S OUT THERE.
>> narrator: THE CAMERA WILL TRANSMIT IMAGES WIRELESSLY
TO A MONITOR ON THE GROUND. >> CONTROL CHECK.
[sharp mechanical noises] ALL LOOKS GOOD.
WE'LL FIRE IT UP. [propeller whirring]
ALL RIGHT, GIVE ME A LOOK LEFT TOWARD THE TREE LINE.
NOW YOU'RE WAY--NOSE DOWN. >> YEAH, WATCH THE WIRES,
THOUGH. >> YEAH, WATCH THE TREES TOO.
>> YEP, THE TREES. >> YOU CAN SET IT DOWN...
ANYTIME YOU WANT RIGHT NOW. >> narrator: THE TEAM BELIEVES
THE BEAST IS NOCTURNAL, SO THEY'LL WAIT FOR DARK
BEFORE SEARCHING. [birds and insects chirping]
>> WE'RE IN AN AREA THAT HAS A LOT OF CREATURE ACTIVITY,
AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT'S JUST
A REALLY CREEPY AREA, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.
>> narrator: THEY LAUNCH THE MOUNTED CAMERA IN A
WETLANDS AREA OUTSIDE GENEVA, KENTUCKY.
>> READY, GREG? >> YEP.
>> WE'RE GOING. >> OKAY.
[motor whirring] >> COOL.
>> YOU'RE GOOD BOTH DIRECTIONS ON THE ROAD.
>> ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING ACROSS.
>> OKAY, MAINTAIN THAT HEIGHT GOING ACROSS.
>> OKAY. >> narrator: THE RED TONES
SHOW HEAT AND CAN INDICATE LIFE-FORMS ON THE GROUND.
>> ALL RIGHT, I'M PANNING LEFT. >> SIDEWAYS.
>> narrator: THE HELICOPTER MAKES WIDE SWEEPS, COVERING
AN AREA THAT WOULD TAKE DAYS TO SEARCH ON FOOT.
>> ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA BRING IT BACK.
>> narrator: PETERSON IS CONVINCED THEY ARE
IN THE RIGHT AREA. >> DOWN IN THIS AREA, THERE SURE
ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE STORIES OF SIGHTINGS,
WHICH IS PRETTY INTERESTING, BECAUSE IT SURE IS A WHOLE LOT
OF FOLKS DOWN HERE THAT KEEP SEEING SOMETHING.
HOW COULD IT NOT EXIST?
>> narrator:<i> MONSTER QUEST</i> HAS TRAVELED TO KENTUCKY SEARCHING
FOR THE HILLBILLY BEAST THOUGHT TO BE STALKING THE LOCAL WOODS.
THE LEGENDS ABOUT THE CREATURE'S EXISTENCE GO BACK CENTURIES.
MANY ARE LINKED TO FRONTIERSMAN DANIEL BOONE, WHO HELPED SETTLE
KENTUCKY. BOONE TOLD A BIOGRAPHER ABOUT
KILLING A TEN-FOOT HAIRY BEAST HE REFERRED TO AS A YAHOO.
BOONE TOOK THE REFERENCE FROM HIS FAVORITE BOOK,
THE 1726 NOVEL<i> GULLIVER'S</i> <i>TRAVELS.</i>
HE BELIEVED THE CREATURE RESEMBLED THOSE IN THE BOOK.
>> WE CALL THEM "THE OLD PEOPLE OF THE FOREST."
THEY WERE HERE LONG BEFORE WE WERE.
>> narrator: MICHAEL MANFOX BULEY IS CHEROKEE, ONE OF THE
MANY TRIBES THAT LIVED NEAR THIS AREA.
>> STILL IN THIS HILL SOMEWHERE. >> narrator: THE CHEROKEE LEGEND
ABOUT A FRIGHTENINGLY LARGE CREATURE HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN
FOR GENERATIONS. >> MY GRANDFATHER TOLD ME
A STORY ABOUT HIS FATHER HAVING TWO PRIZE HOGS.
AND I ASSUME THEY WEIGHED 250 POUNDS EACH, PROBABLY.
AND THIS CREATURE CAME IN, GRABBED BOTH OF THE HOGS,
ONE UNDER EACH ARM. IT HAD A WOOD FENCE, RAIL FENCE
AROUND THE HOGS. STEPPED OVER THE FENCE WITH BOTH
HOGS UNDER EACH ARM AND RAN OFF INTO THE WOODS.
THEY'RE BIG, HAIRY, PROBABLY EIGHT FEET TALL.
THEY USE THE CREEKS AND THE WATERWAYS FOR THEIR PATHWAYS
TO GET PLACES. THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T FIND
A LOT OF THEIR FOOTPRINTS. >> narrator: THE RECENT
EYEWITNESS REPORTS MATCH THE LEGENDS, BUT EVIDENCE
OF THE BEAST HAS BEEN ELUSIVE, UNTIL NOW.
>> I'VE BEEN PUTTING CAMERAS OUT NOW FOR PROBABLY TEN YEARS.
OKAY. >> narrator: IN 2009, KENNY
MAHONEY, AN AVID HUNTER, SET UP SOME OF THE TRAIL CAMERAS HE
USES TO TRACK DEER AND OTHER GAME.
>> I HAVE A--RAISE A GARDEN, AND WILDLIFE EATS QUITE A BIT OF
IT, SO I PUT OUT A CAMERA TO SEE A PATTERN, SEE WHAT'S COMING
THROUGH THE GARDEN. [camera shutter clicks]
>> narrator: HE NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
>> EVERYTHING I'VE CAUGHT ON MY CAMERA'S BEEN PRETTY
EXPLAINABLE, YOU KNOW, AND THAT PHOTOGRAPH'S ACTUALLY GOT
TWO OBJECTS ON IT THAT I CAN'T EXPLAIN.
>> narrator: IN ADDITION TO THE UNIDENTIFIED IMAGE IN THE
CENTER, THERE'S A SIMILAR BUT SMALLER IMAGE TO THE LEFT.
>> SO MANY PEOPLE LOOK AT IT AND SEE SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I MEAN, I'D JUST LIKE TO SEE-- IT'D MAKE ME FEEL A LOT BETTER
TO RULE SOME THINGS OUT. >> WHAT DO YOU GROW BACK HERE?
>> narrator: THE SCIENCE TEAM WILL ANALYZE THE IMAGE.
>> I PUT OUT TURNIPS. >> narrator: PETER SCHMITZ,
A PHOTO ANALYST, IS CONDUCTING FIELD EXPERIMENTS TO DETERMINE
THE SIZE AND SCALE OF THE MYSTERIOUS CREATURE.
>> THIS ONE AND THAT ONE... >> IN THIS SITUATION, WE'RE
TAKING A KNOWN PHOTOGRAPH, AND WE'RE TRYING TO DETERMINE
THE PHYSICAL SIZE OF WHATEVER THE CREATURE OR TARGET IS.
YOU HAD THE CAMERA MOUNTED ON IT?
>> narrator: SCHMITZ STAGES A CONTROL PHOTO AT THE SAME
LOCATION. BY MANIPULATING THE ELEMENTS
WITHIN THE PHOTO, HE WILL TRY TO DETERMINE THE SIZE
OF THE CREATURES SHOWN IN THE ORIGINAL.
>> AND BY DOING THAT, I CAN ACTUALLY TRANSPOSE THE IMAGES
OVER THE TOP OF EACH OTHER AND SEE--AND USE THAT AS
A COMPARISON FOR PHYSICAL SIZE. IDEALLY, IF WE CAN HAVE THE
EXACT SAME CAMERA IN THE EXACT SAME POSITION AS SOON AFTER THE
ORIGINAL PHOTO WAS TAKEN, TAKEN AT THE SAME TIME OF THE
DAY IF THE PHOTO'S TAKEN OUTSIDE SO WE CAN DUPLICATE
LIGHTING CONDITIONS. >> narrator: LESS THAN TWO WEEKS
HAVE ELAPSED SINCE THE ORIGINAL PHOTO WAS TAKEN.
CONDITIONS FOR REPLICATING THE IMAGE ARE IDEAL.
>> IT SHOULD BE-- >> WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT,
ABOUT 35 YARDS TO THE SPOT WHERE THE--
WHERE THE CREATURE WAS? WHAT WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA WANT
TO DO IS PUT SOMETHING OF A KNOWN SIZE OVER THERE,
MAYBE A PERSON. >> narrator: MAHONEY'S SON
KENNY JR. WILL STAND IN THE AREA WHERE THE IMAGE WAS CAPTURED.
>> GO AHEAD AND GET HER SET UP, AND WE'LL GET A MANUAL SHOT
OF HIM WHEN HE GETS OVER THERE. CAN YOU OPEN UP THE TAPE MEASURE
TO THREE FEET... AND GET IT SO WE CAN SEE IT?
HOLD YOUR HAND ON EITHER SIDE OF THAT THREE-FOOT LENGTH.
>> narrator: SCHMITZ WILL RETURN TO HIS LAB TO COMPARE
THE ORIGINAL IMAGE WITH THE CONTROL PHOTO.
THE TEAM WILL DETERMINE THE SIZE OF WHAT WAS CAPTURED
IN THE FIELD OF VIEW AND WHETHER IT IS TOO LARGE TO BE ANY KNOWN
ANIMAL. [animal howling]
THE EXPEDITION TEAM IS INVESTIGATING THE STRANGE CRIES
THE CREATURE MAKES AT NIGHT. >> I'VE HEARD IT KIND OF, LIKE,
MAKE A HOWLING NOISE. I'VE HEARD BOBCATS HOWLING.
IT'S NOTHING LIKE A BOBCAT. NOTHING COMES CLOSE
TO WHAT THIS WAS. [animal howling]
>> NEED TO GET SET UP EARLY. >> narrator: THOSE WHO'VE HEARD
THESE CRIES CLAIM THEY ARE UNLIKE ANY KNOWN WILDLIFE
SPECIES. >> YOU HAVE A WIDE VARIETY,
EVERYTHING FROM HOWLS TO SCREAMS TO WHOOPS TO GROWLS.
>> narrator: THE TEAM IS OUTSIDE OF LAWRENCEBURG, KENTUCKY,
WHERE A NUMBER OF WITNESSES HAVE REPORTED HEARING THE BEAST.
THEY WILL USE A GEOPHONE TO AMPLIFY SOUNDS AND MOVEMENTS.
>> OH, YEAH, THIS IS WONDERFUL. >> THE PROBE ON IT SIMPLY
INSERTS INTO THE GROUND. AND IT WILL PICK UP VIBRATIONS
SUCH AS THOSE PRODUCED BY A LARGE ANIMAL.
>> narrator: THE MICROPHONES AND RECORDING DEVICES ARE
SYNCHRONIZED AND POSITIONED IN TWO LOCATIONS TO MAXIMIZE
AUDIO COVERAGE. >> THIS LOOKS LIKE
A GOOD PLACE, EH? >> YEAH.
>> LET ME PUT THIS BAGGIE ON THERE.
>> YEAH, THAT'S PRETTY STABLE. IT'S ABOVE THE GROUND.
>> narrator: THESE DEVICES CAN ALSO DETECT INFRASOUND.
>> WELL, INFRASOUND IS SOUND THAT IS BASICALLY DEFINED AS
SOMETHING THAT IS BELOW THE RANGE OF AUDITORY PERCEPTION
OF HUMANS. >> narrator: THERE IS EVIDENCE
THAT LARGE PREDATORS, LIKE LIONS AND TIGERS,
USE INFRASOUND TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER.
WHILE INFRASOUND IS NOT AUDIBLE TO HUMANS, THE SOUNDS ARE KNOWN
TO DISTRESS AND DISORIENT PREY. >> IT CAN CAUSE ORGANS TO MOVE
AND VIBRATE, YOUR EYEBALLS TO MOVE AND VIBRATE, AND IT CAN
ACTUALLY BE PHYSICALLY, IN HEALTH-WISE, DIMINISHING
AND BAD FOR HUMANS. >> narrator: FOX BELIEVES
THE HILLBILLY BEAST COULD HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO PRODUCE
INFRASOUND AND DISORIENT POTENTIAL PREY.
THE EXPEDITION TEAM HAS RECRUITED LOCAL GUIDES TO TAKE
THEM INTO SWAMPS DEEP IN THE BACKWOODS.
MANY OF THE EYEWITNESSES CLAIM TO HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE MONSTER
NEAR WATER. >> AND OBVIOUSLY,
WE'RE ON THE OHIO RIVER, AND ANIMALS, BY NATURE,
ARE LAZY. THEY ALWAYS TAKE THE PATH
OF LEAST RESISTANCE. SO RIVERS ARE NATURAL TRAVEL
CORRIDORS FOR ANY LARGE-BODIED ANIMAL.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET GOING. MOST OF THESE LOGS IS REAL
DIFFICULT TO SEE, SO YOU TEND TO JUST RUN UP ON THEM
AND GET STUCK. >> WOW, THIS THING JUST GOES
FOREVER, DOESN'T IT? >> YEAH.
>> YOU GET A LOT OF REPORTED SIGHTINGS OF CREATURES
DOWN IN THESE CYPRESS SWAMPS, DON'T YOU?
>> YEAH, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S CERTAINLY A GREAT PLACE,
I THINK, FOR WILDLIFE TO HIDE OUT.
NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE COME OUT HERE.
YOU KNOW, THESE SWAMPS AREN'T PLACES THAT PEOPLE TYPICALLY
LONG TO BE, UNLESS THEY GREW UP AROUND THEM OR SOMETHING.
>> IT'S VERY INACCESSIBLE BACK HERE, ISN'T IT?
IT'S EXTREMELY REMOTE. >> YEAH.
>> THIS IS SOME SPOOKY STUFF. I TELL YOU.
>> YEAH, IT IS.
>> narrator:<i> MONSTER QUEST</i> IS COMBING KENTUCKY'S BACKWOODS
FOR THE HILLBILLY BEAST, A SEVEN-FOOT FLESH-EATING
MONSTER. THE EXPEDITION TEAM IS NEAR
GENEVA, KENTUCKY. FRESH EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT
MANY OF THE ENCOUNTERS HAVE OCCURRED ON OR NEAR THE AREA'S
MANY RIVERS AND STREAMS. >> AND THEN I FELT SOMETHING
HIT MY VAN... AND KNOCK IT.
>> narrator: BOB GANYARD IS AN AVID BOATER, AND WHEN A NEW
BOAT RAMP OPENED UP ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, HE AND
A BUDDY WERE EAGER TO CHECK IT OUT.
>> SO WE WENT DOWN INTO THE BOTTOMS TO GO DOWN AND LOOK
AT THIS BOAT RAMP. AND IT WAS A BIG CONCRETE HUGE
SLAB, NICE RAMP, BUT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
>> narrator: WHEN GANYARD ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE, HIS VAN
ENDED UP STUCK IN THE MUD. >> I BACKED OUT ON THE ROAD
THE BEST I COULD SEE IT AND STARTED TO HEAD AWAY
FROM THE RAMP, AND I GOT OFF THE TRACKS.
I JUST HAPPENED TO SLIDE TO THE RIGHT, AND IT SUCKED ME
RIGHT IN AND LEFT MY VAN SITTING AT AN ANGLE.
>> narrator: THE VAN NEEDED A TOW, SO HIS FRIEND WENT TO GET
HELP WHILE GANYARD STAYED WITH THE VEHICLE.
>> I'VE GOT THE WINDOWS DOWN, THE BACK WINDOWS OPENED UP,
AND I HAD THE DASH LIGHTS ON JUST IN CASE ANYBODY ELSE
IN A 4x4 OR SOMETHING COME FLYING DOWN THE TRAIL.
AND THEN I FELT SOMETHING HIT MY VAN...
AND KNOCK IT. AND THE VAN STARTED ROCKING.
AND EACH TIME, IT WENT A LITTLE BIT FARTHER,
AND I GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I HAD MY FEET ON THE PASSENGER
DOOR AND I'M LEANING STRAIGHT UP.
[screaming] >> narrator: GANYARD CAUGHT
A GLIMPSE OF A POWERFUL BEASTLY CREATURE.
>> I SAW A REFLECTION IN THE WINDOW, JUST FOR A
SECOND. BUT IT LOOKED LIKE TWO BIG BROWN
EYES, AND THIS SUCKER, WHATEVER IT WAS, WAS LOOKING
DOWN AT ME, AND I'M YELLING. I'M LOOKING UP AT HIM.
HE'S LOOKING DOWN AT ME. WE'RE THAT FAR APART.
AND I'M CUSSING AND SWEARING AND YELLING AND SCREAMING.
AND AFTER I'M SCREAMING AND YELLING AND EVERYTHING ELSE,
IT DROPPED ME. AND I CAME, BOOM.
I THOUGHT I WAS GOING OVER. >> narrator: THE ATTACK ENDED
AS QUICKLY AS IT BEGAN. >> I DIDN'T PUT THE WINDOWS
DOWN, AND I DIDN'T GET OUT. AND I SAT THERE ABOUT ANOTHER
15, 20 MINUTES. >> narrator: THE EXPERIENCE IS
ONE THAT STILL TERRIFIES GANYARD.
>> I WAS SHAKEN. IT SCARED THE TAR OUT OF ME.
>> narrator: THE EXPEDITION TEAM IS EXPLORING THE WOODS OUTSIDE
HAMMANSVILLE, KENTUCKY... >> LOOK.
>> narrator: WHERE MICHAEL MANFOX BULEY RECENTLY
DISCOVERED AN UNUSUAL TOOTH. >> AND LITERALLY, RIGHT BACK
HERE IS WHERE YOU FOUND THAT TOOTH.
>> YES. >> I'M VERY CURIOUS TO SEE
WHAT IT IS. I HAVE MY OWN IDEA.
I BELIEVE IT'S ONE OF THESE CREATURES' TEETH.
BUT YEAH, I'M VERY CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT IT IS.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, MARK?
>> WELL... BECAUSE OF THE SHAPE OF THIS,
IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE IT WOULD BE A CANINE FROM SOMETHING.
IS THAT KIND OF WHAT YOU THINK? >> I'M THINKING IT'S A CANINE
TOOTH, YEAH. >> narrator: PETERSON
IMMEDIATELY NOTES SOMETHING ELSE.
>> CANINES NEVER HAVE A DOUBLE ROOT.
THEY ALWAYS HAVE A SINGLE ROOT. SO THAT AUTOMATICALLY TELLS ME
IT'S NOT A CANINE. IT COULD BE SOMETHING
LIKE A PREMOLAR. >> TAKE IT FOR GRANTED...
>> narrator: THE TEAM WOULD LIKE TO DO DNA TESTING ON THE TOOTH,
BUT BULEY DOES NOT WANT TO PART WITH WHAT HE CONSIDERS
A SACRED OBJECT. THEY DECIDE TO TAKE
HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE TOOTH FOR ANALYSIS.
IT WILL TAKE SOLID PROOF TO CONVINCE TIM FARMER THAT THERE
ARE ANY UNKNOWN BEASTS IN THESE WOODS.
>> I'VE PROBABLY BEEN IN EVERY COUNTY, BEEN IN THE WOODS,
IN THE DEEPEST, DARKEST PART OF THE WOODS, BEEN IN TREE
STANDS AND SAT FOR HOURS, SAT FOR 12, 13 HOURS IN A DAY,
AND BEEN ABLE TO SEE, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES FOR A HALF
A MILE OR BETTER. AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THAT. >> narrator: FARMER BELIEVES
EVEN THE MANY REPORTS OF UNIDENTIFIED HOWLS AND SHRIEKS
HAVE A LOGICAL EXPLANATION. >> THERE ARE SO MANY ODD SOUNDS
THAT DIFFERENT CREATURES MAKE. FOXES MAKE A HUGE AMOUNT OF
NOISE. BOBCATS MAKE A HORRIFIC NOISE
IN THE WOODS. COYOTES CAN MAKE THE HAIR STAND
UP ON YOUR NECK, AND THEY DO A RANGE OF VOCALIZATION
FOR DIFFERENT TIMES OF YEAR, WHETHER THEY'RE BREEDING OR
MOVING AROUND, LOOKING FOR FOOD. THERE'S ONLY ONE TIME THAT
I HEARD SOMETHING I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
AND I WAS ON TOP OF A MOUNTAIN, AND I HEARD THE AWFULLEST SOUND
I'VE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE. I RAN OFF THE TOP OF THAT HILL.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I DIDN'T KILL MYSELF GOING DOWN THE
MOUNTAIN, BUT IT WAS A FOX. [high-pitched moaning]
THERE ARE SO MANY CRITTERS OUT THERE MAKING SO MANY NOISES,
IT'S--YOU KNOW, SOME NIGHTS, IT REALLY LIGHTS UP OUT THERE.
>> narrator: OUTSIDE LAWRENCEBURG, KENTUCKY,
THE EXPEDITION TEAM IS RECORDING THE SOUNDS IN THESE WOODS.
THE TEAM HOPES TO CAPTURE THE BEAST'S VOCALIZATIONS.
THEY WILL TRY TO ELICIT A RESPONSE USING BOTH RECORDINGS
OF KNOWN ANIMALS AND UNIDENTIFIED RECORDINGS
COLLECTED BY AUDIO EXPERT JOE FOX.
[animal howling] THE TEAM WILL RUN A NIGHTTIME
EXPERIMENT USING A TECHNIQUE KNOWN AS CALL BLASTING.
CALL BLASTING INVOLVES TRANSMITTING A SOUND INTO
THE WILDERNESS IN ORDER TO PROVOKE RESPONSES FROM CREATURES
NEARBY. >> IT'S NOW ABOUT 10:00 AT
NIGHT, AND WE'RE GONNA START WITH SOME CALL BLASTING.
THAT'S WHERE WE PROJECT PRERECORDED SOUNDS
OR VOCALIZATIONS OUT AT A HIGHER-THAN-NORMAL AMPLITUDE.
OKAY, WE READY TO GO? [loud recorded shrieks]
OKAY. EVERYBODY BE QUIET.
[insects chirping] [animal barking]
>> THAT'S A DOG. >> YEAH.
>> narrator: THE FOREST AROUND THEM IS ACTIVE WITH ANIMALS.
>> HAS IT BEEN REWOUND? >> narrator: HIGH-FREQUENCY
RESPONSES THE TEAM CAN'T HEAR WILL BE PICKED UP BY THE
RECORDING DEVICES. [insects chirping]
[animal barking] >> WELL, I HEAR SOMETHING.
>> YES. IT'S TO OUR SOUTH AT ABOUT
TEN TO ELEVEN O'CLOCK. [animal barking]
[high-pitched whine] >> DO YOU HEAR THAT?
>> YEAH. >> THAT HIGH-PITCHED SCREAM?
>> EXACTLY.
>> narrator:<i> MONSTER QUEST</i> IS IN A REMOTE CYPRESS SWAMP
DEEP IN THE KENTUCKY WILDERNESS TRACKING DOWN PROOF
OF THE HILLBILLY BEAST. >> WHEN IT STEPPED OUT OF THE
TREES, I SORT OF JUST JUMPED. WELL, IT DID THE SAME THING.
>> narrator: LYNN HUTTON TOOK HIS EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SON DEER
HUNTING ALONG A TRAIL NOT FAR FROM THEIR HOME IN LAWRENCEBURG,
KENTUCKY. >> I'D TAKEN HIM ALONG JUST SO
HE COULD SEE WHAT IT WAS LIKE. >> THAT'S IT RIGHT HERE.
>> narrator: THE PAIR WAS IN AN AREA THICK WITH CEDAR TREES
AND TRAILS, HOPING TO FIND DEER. >> DEER LIKE CEDARS FOR COVER,
AND SO THEIR PATH NATURALLY WILL FOLLOW INTO CEDAR THICKETS
A LOT. ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.
>> narrator: LATE IN THE DAY, FATHER AND SON GATHERED THEIR
GEAR AND HEADED HOME. >> GOT CLOSE TO BEING DARK.
I TOLD HIM WE BETTER BE GETTING BACK, 'CAUSE IT WAS QUITE A GOOD
LITTLE WALK BACK TO THE TRUCK. >> narrator: THEY WERE HIKING
HOME WHEN THEY ENCOUNTERED THE BEAST.
>> NATURALLY, I WASN'T EXPECTING IT TO BE THERE, BUT WHEN IT
STEPPED OUT, I DON'T BELIEVE-- THE WAY IT ACTED, I DON'T
BELIEVE IT EXPECTED US TO BE THERE.
JUST KIND OF SHOCKED ME. I LOOKED AT IT.
I TOOK MY SON, KIND OF PUSHED HIM TO THE
BACK BESIDE ME. >> narrator: THE ENCOUNTER
LASTED ONLY A FEW SECONDS, BUT IN THAT SHORT TIME, HUTTON
GOT A GOOD LOOK AT A HUGE HULKING BEAST.
>> THIS THING WAS BETWEEN SEVEN AND EIGHT FOOT TALL.
IT HAD LONG BROWN MATTED HAIR ALL OVER IT.
ITS FACE WAS COVERED, ITS ARMS, BODY.
THE WHOLE THING WAS JUST COVERED IN THIS LONG MATTED BROWN HAIR.
AND I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WERE-- YOU KNOW, IF THE THING
WAS GONNA ATTACK. >> narrator: HUTTON HAD A GUN
STASHED IN HIS COVERALLS. >> BY THE TIME I HAD THOUGHT
TO ACTUALLY LAY MY BOW DOWN ON THE GROUND AND UNZIP MY
COVERALLS AND GET MY GUN OUT, THIS THING STEPPED BACK INTO
THE CEDAR TREES JUST LIKE HE STEPPED OUT.
>> narrator: WHEN THE CREATURE DISAPPEARED, HUTTON AND HIS SON
RAN TO THEIR TRUCK. HE NEVER REPORTED HIS STORY
TO POLICE. >> I WOULDN'T TAKE ANYTHING
FOR THAT MINUTE OR TWO, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T WANT TO
DO IT AGAIN. [laughs]
IT WAS SCARY. IT REALLY WAS SCARY.
I MEAN, IT SCARED ME REALLY, REALLY BAD, TO THE POINT THAT
I NEVER WENT DEER HUNTING ON THAT FARM AGAIN, NEVER.
[distant howling] [loud recorded howling]
>> narrator: THE EXPEDITION TEAM IS OUTSIDE OF LAWRENCEBURG,
KENTUCKY, IN AN AREA WHERE STRANGE HOWLS AND CALLS
HAVE BEEN REPORTED. [loud recorded howling]
THEY HAVE BEEN CALL BLASTING UNIDENTIFIED SOUNDS
INTO THE SURROUNDING WOODS. THESE AMPLIFIED CALLS, COLLECTED
BY THE TEAM'S AUDIO EXPERT, JOE FOX, ARE THE PURPORTED
VOCALIZATIONS OF THE BEAST. THE TEAM IS WAITING TO RECORD
WHATEVER MIGHT RESPOND TO THESE EERIE RECORDINGS.
>> narrator: THEY WAIT. THE TEAM HAS PROVOKED A RESPONSE
FROM SOMETHING VERY CLOSE. [high-pitched whine]
[loud recorded howling] >> narrator: THE TEAM BLASTS
THE CALL SEVERAL MORE TIMES. THE RECORDERS WILL CAPTURE
SOUNDS INAUDIBLE TO HUMAN EARS. [loud recorded wailing]
THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE TEAM REVIEWS THE TAPES.
>> LAST NIGHT, WE MADE A NUMBER OF PROJECTIONS OUT TOWARDS
THE RIVER AWAY FROM OUR BASE CAMP.
>> THE MOST INTERESTING ASPECT, I THOUGHT, LAST NIGHT WAS THE
RESPONSES WE GOT FROM THE CALL BLASTING.
>> narrator: THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED THE CALLS OF A NUMBER
OF COMMON NOCTURNAL PREDATORS-- A SCREECH OWL, A DOG, A COYOTE.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOUNDS THEY CANNOT IDENTIFY.
THOSE WILL HAVE TO BE ANALYZED BACK AT THE LAB.
JOE FOX SCOUTS BY THE RIVER. IT IS HERE WHERE MOST OF LAST
NIGHT'S UNIDENTIFIED RESPONSES SEEMED TO EMANATE.
[loud clack] >> DID YOU HEAR THAT?
[water splashes] >> narrator: SOMETHING SEEMS
TO BE MOVING TOWARDS FOX. >> SOMETHING JUST WHACKED A TREE
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER FROM ME AND THEN THREW A ROCK
IN THE RIVER IN MY DIRECTION. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT,
BUT IT JUST HAPPENED.
>> narrator:<i> MONSTER QUEST</i> IS IN KENTUCKY HUNTING FOR THE TRUTH
BEHIND REPEATED SIGHTINGS OF THE HILLBILLY BEAST.
THIS COUPLE SAW THE CREATURE AND THEN HEARD THE CRIES OF A
DEER THAT IT MAY HAVE ATTACKED. THIS MAN MAY HAVE PHOTOGRAPHIC
PROOF OF THE BEAST. THIS BOATER WAS WAITING FOR
A TOW OUT OF THE MUD WHEN HIS VAN WAS VIOLENTLY ATTACKED.
AND THIS SCIENTIST MIGHT HAVE PROVOKED THE CREATURE'S
AGGRESSION. >> IT LOOKED LIKE A ROCK,
AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS DIRECTED TOWARDS ME.
[eerie music] ♪ ♪
>> narrator: THE EXPEDITION TEAM HAS RECEIVED A RESPONSE THEY DID
NOT ANTICIPATE. [water splashes]
SOMETHING IS MOVING NEAR THE RIVER, AND AN OBJECT HURLED
IN THE DIRECTION OF JOE FOX HAS HIM ON EDGE.
>> DO YOU COPY? OVER.
[radio beeps] >> narrator: THE REST OF THE
TEAM HEADS TO FOX'S LOCATION. >> OKAY, MAN, WE'RE ON OUR WAY.
WE'LL JUST SEE YOU IN A LITTLE WHILE, OVER.
[radio beeps] >> narrator: THE TEAM SEARCHES
THE WOODS AS THE DAYLIGHT HOURS SLIP AWAY.
THEY CAN FIND NO SIGN OF THE CREATURE.
BUT SOMETHING SEEMS TO BE ON THE MOVE, AND IT IS AGITATING
A PACK OF NEARBY COYOTES. [animal squealing]
>> I HAVE TO ADMIT THAT WHEN I TURNED AROUND AND I SAW THAT
ROCK BEING THROWN IN MY DIRECTION FROM THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE RIVER, IT REALLY SORT OF FRIGHTENED ME, BECAUSE IT'S
SOMETHING THAT I'D NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AT LEAST A FRAGMENT OF THE JAWBONE SO
THAT YOU'D HAVE SOME IDEA OF WHERE THE TOOTH WAS POSITIONED.
>> narrator: DR. GRAHAM HICKMAN HAS RECEIVED THE PHOTO OF THE
TOOTH PROVIDED BY THE EXPEDITION TEAM.
HE HAS COMPARED IT TO KNOWN MAMMALS IN THE AREA AND NOTES
SOME UNUSUAL FEATURES. >> THE THING THAT STRUCK ME
WAS THE FLUTING ON THE TOOTH. THE UPPER PART OF THE ENAMEL
HAS THESE STRIATIONS, AND I'M NOT PARTICULARLY FAMILIAR WITH
THOSE. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S NOT
A COMMON FEATURE. IT'S JUST THAT I HAVEN'T COME
ACROSS IT IN MY TRAVELS. AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE WORKED WITH
AFRICAN MAMMALS AND NORTH AMERICAN MAMMALS.
>> narrator: WITHOUT THE ACTUAL TOOTH, HICKMAN CANNOT IDENTIFY
THE CREATURE. >> ANYTHING UNKNOWN IS
INTRIGUING. I THINK WE ALL LIKE TO HAVE
ANSWERS FOR THINGS, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO REMEMBER ALSO THAT
SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LITTLE MORE TIME TO GET AN ANSWER, AND IT'S
BETTER THAN RUSHING TO JUDGMENT. >> narrator: THE KENTUCKY FIELD
AUDIO RECORDINGS ARE BEING ANALYZED AT TEXAS A&M
UNIVERSITY. THE PROCESS INVOLVES LISTENING
TO EACH TAPE, MAKING FILES OF THE SOUNDS, AND ANALYZING
THEM WITH COMPUTERS. THE TEAM MAKES
A STARTLING DISCOVERY. >> THERE WERE A NUMBER OF
VOCALIZATIONS THAT WE LISTENED TO AND THAT WE RECORDED
AT THE SITE THAT DIDN'T REALLY FIT INTO ANY CATEGORIES.
WE IDENTIFIED PROBABLY 15, 16 KNOWN SPECIES IN THE
VOCALIZATIONS. BUT ON TOP OF THAT, WE HAD
ANOTHER 20 OR 30 THAT WE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THEY WERE.
[animal howling] >> narrator: ALL ANIMALS HAVE
A RANGE OF FUNDAMENTAL FREQUENCIES IN THEIR
VOCALIZATIONS. >> THE FULL CONTEXT OF...
>> THIS IS AROUND... >> narrator: WHILE IN THE FIELD,
THE TEAM HEARD COYOTES STIRRING. NOW THEY LEARN THAT A MYSTERIOUS
HOWL SET OFF THE PACK. >> THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT
THESE COYOTE VOCALIZATIONS IS THAT SOME OF THEM WERE PRECEDED
BY SOME OF THESE UNKNOWN VOCALIZATIONS THAT WE HEARD,
WHICH WERE UNLIKE THE COYOTE VOCALIZATIONS THEMSELVES.
[animal howling] >> YOU HEAR THAT CALL?
>> WE'RE GETTING SOME HOWLS AS WELL.
>> YEAH. [animals howling]
THERE'S OUR UBIQUITOUS COYOTE PACK.
HERE'S WHAT WE THINK IS A PRE-HOWL THAT SETS OFF
THESE SUBSEQUENT VOCALIZATIONS WITH THE COYOTES.
[insects chirping] [animal howling]
THERE SEEMED TO BE A TRIGGER CAUSING THE COYOTES TO START
THEIR HOWLING, AND IT WAS A HOWL OF SHORT DURATION THAT WAS AT
MUCH LOWER FREQUENCY. IT'S DEFINITELY A LARGER ANIMAL
THAN A COYOTE. [animal howling]
>> WE CAN DRAW SOME CONCLUSIONS, AND THEY'RE NOT PRECISE
CONCLUSIONS, IN THAT THERE ARE SOME UNKNOWN VOCALIZATIONS
OUT THERE, AND IT JUST CALLS FOR THE NEED FOR MORE
INVESTIGATIONS LIKE THIS TO BRING INTO CONTEXT WHAT WE MIGHT
BE HEARING. >> narrator: WILDLIFE EXPERT
MARK PETERSON HAS RETRIEVED TRAIL CAMS.
THE CAMERA'S SENSORS WERE TRIGGERED.
PHOTOS HAVE BEEN TAKEN. >> WE'VE GOT TWO SETS
OF TRAIL CAMS THAT WE'LL LOOK AT NOW.
THE FIRST SET, WE'VE GOT FOUR PHOTOS.
THE WEATHER HAS BEEN TERRIBLE OUT HERE, SO WE DIDN'T DO A LOT
ON OUR TRAIL CAMS. WE GOT A COUPLE OF DEER,
JUST COMING DOWN THAT DRAW. >> narrator: THE DEER ARE
THOUGHT TO BE A FOOD SOURCE FOR THE CREATURE.
>> COYOTE. >> COYOTE.
>> YEAH. HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU THINK
YOU TALK TO A YEAR THAT CLAIM TO SEE SOMETHING, ON AVERAGE?
>> WELL, ON AVERAGE, ABOUT 15 OR 20 A YEAR,
THROUGHOUT THE STATE. >> THE SHOT OF WHAT APPEARS
TO BE THE SASQUATCH... >> narrator: IMAGE EXPERT
PETER SCHMITZ HAS ANALYZED THE PHOTO OF THE STRANGE
CREATURE TAKEN BY A KENTUCKY MAN IN THE FALL OF 2009.
>> I IMMEDIATELY STARTED LOOKING AT WHAT ELSE WAS IN THE IMAGE
BESIDES THE PERCEIVED CREATURE. I LOOKED AT THINGS SUCH AS CORN
THAT WAS GROWING IN FRONT OF THE CREATURE.
BASED ON THE CORNSTALKS, I ESTIMATED THE CREATURE TO BE
FAIRLY LARGE AND POSSIBLY THREE-FEET-ACROSS SHOULDERS,
HEIGHT-WISE, SIX-PLUS FEET. >> narrator: TO COMPARE, SCHMITZ
TOOK A CONTROL PHOTO IN THE SAME LOCATION AS THE ORIGINAL.
THE CALIBRATION PHOTO USES A TAPE MEASURE TO DETERMINE
WIDTH AND DISTANCE IN THE ORIGINAL.
>> I CAN NOW GO IN AND ACTUALLY MEASURE FROM SHOULDER TO
SHOULDER WITH MY CALIBRATION FILE ALREADY IN PLACE.
YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 2 1/2 FEET.
AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND REALLY STUDYING THE IMAGE
CLOSER, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER PHOTOS THAT WERE TAKEN FROM THE
SAME GAME CAMERA, THERE WERE OTHER IMAGES THAT POPPED UP THAT
SUDDENLY STARTED TO MAKE SENSE. WHAT WE LEARNED WAS THAT THE
TARGET THAT WE THOUGHT WAS AT A GREATER DISTANCE FROM THE
CAMERA WAS FAR CLOSER, MUCH CLOSER, PROBABLY WITHIN TEN
YARDS OF WHERE THE CAMERA WAS LOCATED.
SO NOW ONCE WE'VE DETERMINED THAT, WE SUDDENLY REALIZE
IT'S NOT THE LARGE CREATURE THAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS.
IT'S--IT'S A BIRD. HERE YOU'VE GOT THE WINGS
WRAPPED AROUND THE BODY AS IT'S COMING DOWN IN ITS DOWNWARD
STROKE, IF YOU WILL. YOU CAN SEE THE FEATHERS IN THE
LEADING EDGE OF THE WING HERE. YOU CAN SEE THE TAIL FEATHERS
IN THE BACK CONTROLLING HIS LANDING.
>> narrator: FOR THE MAN WHO TOOK THE PHOTO, SCHMITZ'S
SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS DOESN'T SOLVE THE MYSTERY OF THE BEAST.
>> YOU KNOW, JUST ACRES AND ACRES OF WILDERNESS THAT,
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE JUST REALLY ARE SCRATCHING THE SURFACE ON,
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT'S OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR
SOMETHING TO BE BACK THERE THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
>> narrator: THE EXPEDITION HAS TURNED UP SOME INTERESTING
RESULTS. THE UNIDENTIFIED TOOTH INDICATES
THAT UNKNOWN CREATURES COULD BE PROWLING KENTUCKY'S WOODS
AND WETLANDS. THE ANALYSIS OF THE TRAIL CAM
PHOTO IS LIKELY THAT OF A BIRD LANDING.
BUT THE OTHER SHAPE REMAINS UNIDENTIFIED.
[animal howling] AND THE CALL BLAST RECORDINGS
SUGGEST THAT THERE IS AN UNKNOWN BEAST LURKING
IN THESE WOODS. >> WHAT YOU HEAR WITH THE HUMAN
EAR MAY NOT SOUND LIKE MUCH, BUT ONCE YOU START RECORDING IT
AT THE LEVEL WE WERE, EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU'RE OUT
IN THE WILDERNESS, YOU'RE NOT LIVING IN A QUIET WORLD.
>> IF THIS CREATURE DOES EXIST, IT'S NOT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO
BELIEVE THAT IT'S BEEN UNDISCOVERED.
AND THEY'RE DISCOVERING NEW CREATURES ALL THE TIME.
>> I THINK THIS CREATURE, WHATEVER IT IS, I THINK IT'S
A LITTLE BIT MORE INTELLIGENT THAN EVERYBODY PUTS OFF, BECAUSE
IT WATCHES YOU, AND IT-- IF IT'S GONE THIS LONG WITHOUT,
YOU KNOW, BEING SEEN VERY MUCH, JUST THESE RARE GLIMPSES OF IT
AND SOUNDS OF IT, THEN I MEAN, IT'S GOT
SOME KIND OF INTELLIGENCE.
