Cryptid Report Database

This is by far the most prominent and well-documented cluster of sightings in 2026.

• Timeframe: March 6–10, 2026 (main activity over 4–5 days).
• Location: Portage County (Mantua Center, Garrettsville, Streetsboro, Windham) extending into Trumbull County (Newton Township), Northeast Ohio, along the Mahoning River corridor.
• Number of Reports: At least 8 credible eyewitness accounts (some sources say 6–10).
• Descriptions:
  • Tall hairy bipedal figures, estimated 6–10 feet tall.
  • Colors: Brown or black.
  • Strong musty odor reported.
  • Quick movement into woods; some seen crossing roads or in backyards.
  • One witness (an older woman who previously didn’t believe in Bigfoot) saw it run in and out of woods.
  • Dog reactions (barking, freaking out) noted in multiple cases.
• Notable Aspects: Witnesses mostly wanted anonymity. Portage County Sheriff commented on the volume of reports. The Bigfoot Society Podcast mapped the sightings showing a possible southeastward movement.
• Media Coverage: Covered by local news (Cleveland 19, Fox 8), CNN, Newsweek, and national outlets. Called the “Ohio Flap of 2026” — the first major activity in the area since the 1970s.
• Current Status: No physical evidence (e.g., clear photos or DNA) has been publicly confirmed, but the cluster of independent reports in a short time drew serious attention from researchers.

Sightings have been more frequent than average in 2026.

• Total Official Reports: At least 5–6 logged on the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register by mid-2026 (compared to 6 for all of 2025).
• Notable Individual Reports:
  • April 21, 2026 — Sara Gubicza (USA tourist) saw a white/grayish triangular fin (about 18 inches) moving north in the middle of the loch near Loch Dochfour/Urquhart Castle area while on a bus.
  • April 23 & 25, 2026 — Additional reports of humps/wakes from visitors (including Canadians on a cruise boat).
  • May 18, 2026 — Nickolas Weigand (USA tourist) captured video from a tour bus of a “large, dark object” breaking the surface.
  • Early 2026 — Trail cam footage by researcher Roland Watson showed surface disturbances/motion.
• Common Descriptions: Humps, wakes, fins, or dark objects moving against currents.
• Status: No conclusive proof, but the uptick has kept media and tourism interest high. Official searches (including drones) continue.

These are individual or smaller clusters outside the Ohio event:

• BFRO Database Additions (2026): Multiple Class A/B reports in states like South Carolina, Texas, Michigan, Idaho, Washington, Ohio (other counties), Louisiana, and West Virginia. Examples include road-crossing sightings, howls/knocks, and trail cam activity.
• Tioga Pass, California (2025–2026 follow-up): Reports of activity near Lee Vining, with expeditions following up on local claims.
• Other States: Sporadic mentions in Minnesota (footprints/hair), Ontario (Canada), and Washington State (boat encounter footage from March 2026).

These are generally single-witness or small-group reports and receive less mainstream attention than the Ohio cluster.

A photograph circulating on social media and local news (Bristol.Live) claims to show a large black cat in an open park area in Bristol. The image has sparked debate online, with many calling it one of the clearer recent photos, while skeptics suggest it could be a large domestic cat or misidentified animal. This is currently the freshest widely discussed sighting.

A witness walking along “The Cut” (a water channel near Lon Hedyn) early in the morning reported seeing a large black cat “around the size of a puma” — definitely much bigger than a house cat — about 50 metres away. The animal was described as moving purposefully. The report was passed to Puma Watch, a UK big cat monitoring group.

Multiple witnesses saw a large dark/black cat moving across farmland close to musician Ed Sheeran’s £37 million country estate. The celebrity link brought significant media attention (national and international coverage). Described as a low-to-the-ground, fluid-moving dark animal.

Wales: Welsh Government released data on 13 big cat sightings between 2020–2025, including panther and lynx reports. A video from near St David’s, Pembrokeshire, shows a large animal in a field.Dorset: Black panther reported moving through Canford Heath near Poole.Ongoing smaller reports continue across Cambridgeshire, Devon, Scotland, and other rural areas.

Recent Mothman Sighting Reports (as of June 2026)

Mothman sightings are much rarer than Bigfoot or black cat reports. There have been no major, widely verified clusters of new Mothman sightings in 2025–2026. Most current discussions revolve around the historical 1966–1967 Point Pleasant events, the annual Mothman Festival, books, and occasional unverified social media claims.

Here’s a clear breakdown of the latest activity:

1. Chicago / Midwest Area (Ongoing Sporadic Reports)

• The most consistent “modern” Mothman activity continues in the Chicago metropolitan area and around Lake Michigan.
• Sightings began surging around 2017 and have continued on and off. Researchers Richard Estep and Tobias Wayland documented many in their 2026 book.
• Witnesses often describe a tall, winged humanoid with glowing red eyes, sometimes causing intense fear or nightmares.
• No major new wave in 2025–2026, but occasional reports still trickle in from Illinois, Indiana, and surrounding states.

2. Point Pleasant, West Virginia (Classic Location)

• Occasional anecdotal sightings are reported near the old TNT area or downtown, but nothing substantiated in 2025–2026.
• Many “sightings” are tied to tourism, the Mothman statue, or festival visits rather than credible new encounters.
• In early 2026, some social media posts claimed brief glimpses, but these remain unverified and often dismissed as owls, drones, or hoaxes.

3. Other Scattered / Anecdotal Reports (2025–2026)

• South Carolina (March 2026): A claimed sighting in Columbia was shared online, jokingly linked to Mothman “heading to Myrtle Beach for Spring Break.”
• Pennsylvania: Some reports of winged figures, but these are usually vague and not widely accepted as Mothman.
• Other states (Ohio, Michigan, New York): Occasional mentions in cryptid groups, often without photos or strong corroboration.

Overall Context

• There has been no large-scale “flap” (cluster of sightings) like the 1966–67 original events or the 2017 Chicago wave.
• Most recent “sightings” are single-witness, low-credibility accounts shared on social media, Reddit, or TikTok.
• The Mothman legend remains very active culturally — through the annual September festival in Point Pleasant, documentaries, books, and tourism — but actual new eyewitness reports are quiet compared to other cryptids.

Skeptical Note: Many Mothman reports are explained as misidentified owls (especially barred owls with reflective eyes), large birds, drones, or pareidolia. The creature’s association with impending disaster (like the Silver Bridge collapse) makes every sighting emotionally charged.

Owlman Sighting Reports (as of June 2026)

The Owlman of Mawnan (Cornwall, UK) is a rare winged humanoid cryptid, often compared to Mothman. Sightings are much less frequent than Bigfoot or black cat reports.

Current Status: Very Quiet

There have been no credible, widely reported new Owlman sightings in 2025 or 2026. Activity around the legend is mostly cultural and commemorative rather than new eyewitness accounts.

Key Recent Activity (Not New Sightings)

• 2026 (50th Anniversary): Multiple podcasts, Instagram reels, and articles mark 50 years since the first major sightings in 1976. For example, the Dark Cornwall podcast released an episode in March 2026 revisiting the legend, and artist-led Owlman mask-making workshops were held in April 2026.
• 2025: Occasional social media mentions and YouTube videos discussing the classic cases, but no fresh reports.
• The most recent documented sighting still referenced by researchers dates back to September 2009 (a 12-year-old girl named Jessica near Mawnan Church).

Classic Owlman Sightings (For Context)

The legend is concentrated around Mawnan Smith church and woods near Falmouth, Cornwall:

• April 1976: Two young girls (June and Vicky Melling) saw a large, owl-like humanoid with glowing red eyes hovering above the church tower.
• 1976–1978: Multiple sightings, mostly by teenage girls, describing a man-sized, feathered figure with pincer-like claws, hissing sounds, and silent flight.
• Later sporadic reports: 1989, 1995, and the 2009 case.

Why So Few Recent Reports?

• The Owlman is a very localized legend tied to one small area in Cornwall.
• Many researchers believe early sightings may have been misidentified large owls (e.g., escaped Great Grey Owls), hoaxes, or folklore amplification.
• Unlike Bigfoot or Nessie, it never developed into a sustained “flap” of sightings.

Summary: No genuine new Owlman sightings have been reported in recent years. The creature remains a fascinating but mostly dormant piece of Cornish folklore, with interest peaking around anniversaries and through podcasts/media.