The Florida Skunk Ape

In the Himalayas, the 8' tall two-legged upright walking ape-man or humanoid creature is known as the Abominable Snowman or the Yeti. In the northwest Pacific spanning from southern Alaska to northern California, the same or a similar creature is known as Sasquatch or Bigfoot. In Missouri, such a creature is known as the Mo-Mo, while here in the Sunshine State we call this cryptozoological critter the Florida Skunk Ape.

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What Is a Florida Skunk Ape?
According to the Florida Skunk Ape web site, the Skunk Ape is "what Floridians call their local version of Bigfoot." Cryptozoologists believe that this 8' to 10' tall creature, which leaves 2'-3' long footprints as its evidence, may be a descendant or even a remnant of the species Gigantopithecus which lived in China 500,000 years ago. No one is sure exactly, however, what this creature's origins are, or where it comes from, if indeed it exists at all. Although such creatures have been witnessed in all 48 contiguous States and Alaska, it is most commonly sighted in the remote dense forests of Washington, Oregon and northern California. The remote areas in and around the Florida Everglades, the Big Thicket of Texas, high, forested areas of the southeastern Appalachians, and forested areas of Michigan's Upper Peninsula follow this.

Why the name "Skunk Ape?"
Quite simply because it stinks to high heaven! Some witnesses say it smells like rotten eggs, others says it smells like a garbage dump, while yet others say it smells like a road killed skunk.

Sightings
The Florida Skunk Ape web site currently has 126 Florida sightings available, and the site receives new sightings on a weekly basis. Although the creature has been spotted statewide, it is, as mentioned above, most commonly sighted in remote areas in or around the Everglades in Collier, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties.

Early Accountings
There is not a lot of written documentation on the Florida Skunk Ape. There were, however, lots of word of mouth rumors of giant, hairy bi-pedal hominids inhabiting abandoned or desolate areas around the state. The Weedon Island Monster, which allegedly inhabited the mangrove swamps and pine flatwoods of the current day Weedon Island State Preserve (formerly the same site as the abandoned Sky Harbor Airport which was reviewed in a La Floridiana column about Florida Aviation in the NCPCR several months back) between the late 50's and early 70's is but one such example. One of the earliest documented sightings of a Florida Skunk Ape occurred in April 1966 not long after Interstate 75 was opened in Hernando County. A young woman's car broke down not far from Hickory Hill Road during the night. As she got out of her car to see what the problem was, a foul smell began to fill the air. She then heard a disturbance in the adjacent woods that were preserved for the roadway's median. Frightened, she quickly jumped back into her car and locked the doors. Within a few moments a large hairy creature, about 10' tall and standing on two longs stared through the front windshield at her, its eyes fiery red when reflecting the light of what few passing cars went by. The creature milled around for several minutes (or a short eternity for the poor lady in the car) and ambled back into the woods. Managing to safely hitch a ride to the nearest pay phone several hours later she contacted both a towing service and the Florida Highway Patrol. A subsequent search by the FHP troopers of the area proved inconclusive. In November of that same year a trucker was fixing a multiple blow out of his rig at the same location, again at night. This time the Skunk Ape stood at the wood's edge and made no attempt to get any closer to the witness. Once the trucker changed the flats he proceeded to the nearest pay phone and contacted the FHP. Again the FHP searched the area to no avail.

Mass Sightings
Sightings of the Florida Skunk Ape by more than one witness per incident have occurred statewide, but were prevalent in the Brooksville area from the 60's to the 70's, in the Davey area in the mid to late 70's, and east of Naples from the 60's to the present. Although day time sightings are not as common as night tome sightings, hunters and outdoorsman account for most daytime sightings, particularly in the Big Cypress National Preserve area in Collier County, and the Everglades in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties.

Real, Myth, or Mistake?
Much like the UFO's, the Florida Skunk Ape begs the question above. Could many of these sightings be that of the native Florida Black Bear? Such an animal can easily grow to 8' and stand on its two hind legs for a limited amount of time. Could these be primates such as apes or orangutans that may have escaped from zoos or circuses? Until such time as one is captured or killed we may never know. But if you plan to walk some lonely stretch of beach, hunt in the deep woods, or canoe through a mangrove thicket, especially near sunset or at dark, be sure to have clear sinuses so you can smell any trouble as it approaches!

Here's wishing everyone a most Happy and Blessed New Year, and next week we will truly get back "down to earth" as we take a look at several of Florida's notable arboretums and botanical gardens.