Scroll to the end for the most RECENT sighting and information on the April 2024 Bigfoot Expedition so you can join in on the hunt!

DOES BIGFOOT CALL NEW JERSEY HOME?

When you think of Bigfoot, your mind probably jumps to the Pacific Northwest: misty forests, endless mountains, and grainy footage of a hulking beast vanishing into the trees.

But what if I told you that New Jersey has its own Bigfoot problem?

Yeah, you read that right. The Garden State - home of diners, the Turnpike, and the Jersey Devil - also has a history of massive, hairy creatures lurking in the woods.

Meet Big Red Eye and The Big Hairy Man, two terrifying figures that have haunted North Jersey for decades. They stalk the deep woods of Sussex, Passaic, and Somerset Counties, leaving behind eyewitness reports, eerie howls, and more questions than answers. One has glowing red eyes and a scream that can shake you to your core. The other is a towering, deer-colored beast that walks like a man and vanishes into the swamps.

Are they separate creatures, or just different sightings of the same mysterious being?

One thing’s for sure…Bigfoot might be closer than you think.

BIGFOOT-LIKE LEGENDS IN NEW JERSEY: MEET BIG RED EYE & THE BIG HAIRY MAN

Alright, let’s set the record straight: New Jersey doesn’t do basic cryptids.

We’re not out here with just some average, run-of-the-mill Bigfoot. Nah, we’ve got options. Depending on who you ask, the Garden State’s version of Sasquatch goes by one of two names:

👀 Big Red Eye

The glowing-eyed, night-screaming nightmare that’s been terrifying Sussex County for decades.

🦍 The Big Hairy Man

An 8-foot-tall, deer-colored beast that wanders the Great Swamp and Somerset Hills, lurking in the shadows of backroads.

The question is: Are these two separate creatures? Or are we talking about one legendary beast with a whole lot of personality?

On one hand, Big Red Eye sounds like a damn horror movie. This thing has been heard wailing through the forests for hours, making noises that don’t match any known animal. Witnesses describe glowing red eyes, standing over six feet tall, covered in dark, shaggy hair.

Then you’ve got The Big Hairy Man, who’s been spotted walking across roads, hopping fences, and lurking through the Great Swamp. He’s huge, covered in brown or deer-colored fur, and moves like a man. No glowing eyes, no horror-movie screams, just a massive, humanoid creature that shouldn’t exist.

So, what are we dealing with here?

Two different creatures? One cryptid with multiple forms depending on the conditions? Or just a whole lot of terrified Jersey locals misidentifying something that science “can’t explain”?

Whatever this thing is, it’s been lurking in New Jersey’s forests for DECADES.

And the sightings? They only get weirder.

THE LAKE OWASSA BIGFOOT SIGHTING (1975)

FIVE WITNESSES, ONE MASSIVE BEAST

Let’s set the scene.

It’s 1975. The air is crisp, the forests of Sussex County are dense, and five people are about to have the most WTF moment of their lives. Near Bear Swamp, just south of Lake Owassa, a massive figure emerges from the trees. Not a deer. Not a bear. Something bigger. Nine feet tall. Completely covered in shaggy gray hair. Walking upright like a human.

Yeah. Not your average Jersey wildlife.

The witnesses watched in shock as the creature stalked through the woods, moving with purpose. Not stumbling. Not confused. Like it knew exactly where it was going. Locals who hunt and fish in the area later chimed in, saying, “Honestly? Not shocking. That area is so remote, anything could be out there.”

I’m not surprised either, Sussex County is PRIME Bigfoot territory. Thick forests, barely any people, and enough space for something massive to stay hidden.

So, what did these five people see? A massive, undiscovered species living in the deep woods of Jersey? A hoax? (Unlikely, considering it was 1975 before internet clout-chasing.), or something we’re just not meant to understand?

All of that felt like a run on sentence but we runnin’ with it.

Anyway - this was just the beginning.

THE NORTHWEST SWAMP ENCOUNTER (1976)

A GAME WARDEN’S NIGHTMARE

If you think Bigfoot sightings are just for conspiracy theorists and drunk campers, think again.

This one comes straight from a seasoned game warden. You know...someone whose literal job is to know the difference between a bear and something that shouldn’t exist.

It was September of 1976, deep in the wilderness of Flatbrookville, a remote area twelve miles northwest of Newton, New Jersey. Irving Raser, a State Deputy Game Warden with over twenty years of experience, was checking out a beaver dam with his friend Charles Ames. It was supposed to be a routine day in the woods.

Then their dogs lost their minds.

At first, Raser assumed they’d found a bear, which sure, is alarming, but not unheard of. As he got closer though, something felt…off. The dogs weren’t just barking. They were circling. Stalking. Like they had something cornered. 

Then it stood up.

A creature pulled itself from the swamp, rising to a full six feet tall, covered in long brown hair. It was massive - at least 250 to 300 pounds - and standing upright like a man. But it wasn’t just its size that stopped Raser in his tracks. It was the details. The creature had a flat face, deep-set eyes, and long arms that hung low at its sides. And maybe the eeriest part? Its palms were completely hairless.

"If I didn’t know better, I’d say it was a man in a monkey suit," Raser later told The New York Times.

But the thing is, he did know better. This wasn’t some prank. This wasn’t something explainable. This was something else. For the next thirty minutes, the men watched in horror as the creature screamed at their dogs, pounding its massive hands against a nearby tree. It wasn’t running or trying to hide. It was making itself known. Finally, shaken and completely out of their depth, Raser and Ames did what any sane person would do: they jumped into their truck and floored it to the nearest police station. When they returned with two state troopers and loaded shotguns, the swamp was dead silent. The creature was gone.

HOWEVER...there were signs that something had been there.

Near the area where the creature had been standing, the officers discovered a fresh deer carcass, ripped apart. Its injuries were brutal, like it had been fought over. But there was something even stranger. The spot where the creature had stood was inaccessible. The water was too deep.

According to the police report? The whole thing must have been a mistake.

A mistake? Two grown men - one of them a game warden with over two decades of experience in the woods - watching something for thirty minutes and mistaking it for…what, exactly?

Whatever they saw that day, it wasn’t a bear or any other typical wild animal.

And it definitely wasn’t a mistake.

THE WANTAGE RABBIT MASSACRE (1977)

A BLOODY, HEAD-SCRATCHING MYSTERY

Bigfoot sightings are one thing.

Strange noises in the woods? Creepy. A shadowy figure crossing the road? Suspicious. But when something breaks down a solid oak door, slaughters an entire group of animals, and leaves behind a crime scene straight out of a horror movie?

Yeah. That’s different.

That’s what happened in May of 1977, when a farmer in Wantage, New Jersey walked into his barn and found his rabbits brutally killed. But this wasn’t your typical predator attack. Some of the rabbits had been crushed. Others had their heads completely torn off. But…there was almost no blood.

Now, let’s pause for a second. Anyone who’s ever dealt with foxes, coyotes, or even bears knows that when an animal goes after prey, it’s messy. Blood everywhere. Signs of feeding. Tracks. Fur. Something.

But this? Nothing.

The only thing the farmer knew for sure was that something strong - unreasonably strong - had done this. The wooden barn door was an inch thick, solid oak. It had been completely ripped apart. The farmer wasn’t the only one who wanted answers. Word spread fast, and soon enough, four armed men were camping out near the barn, waiting for whatever had done this to return.

And it did.

At dusk, the creature came back. The men described it as massive, covered in thick brown hair, and completely neckless - just head to shoulders, like a walking boulder. But the most terrifying detail? Its glowing red eyes. They wasted no time. They fired. Bullets tore through the night as they shot at the creature at least three or four times. But instead of dropping, it let out a deep, guttural growl and disappeared into the woods.

That was the last time anyone saw it - at least, in Wantage.

A few days later, there were rumors that the wounded beast had reemerged. But no carcass was ever found. No tracks, blood, or evidence that it had even been hit.

So what exactly happened on that farm in 1977?

A Bigfoot-like cryptid hunting for food? Something more supernatural - an entity that can’t be killed? Or an unknown predator with strength far beyond anything we’ve ever documented?

All I know is I hope to never come across such a creature because I WILL die (hopefully it doesn’t eat humans). And if it survived? It might still be out there.

THE BIGFOOT IN JEANS ATTACK (1970s)

WHAT THE FORK DID THEY SEE?!

Alright, let’s just get this out of the way…Bigfoot doesn’t wear pants.

At least, not according to every other sighting ever recorded. But this 1970s Sussex County encounter? It's certainly DIFFERENT.

A man, who chose to remain anonymous (because, well, who the hell would believe this?), was camping with his friends deep in the Sussex County wilderness when they heard it. A low, guttural growl.

As they turned toward the sound, their flashlights hit something crouched by a brook, gripping a half-eaten deer carcass. And that’s when their brains short-circuited. The creature was huge - at least seven feet tall - covered in thick, matted fur, and built like a damn linebacker. But the part that made this sighting legendary?

It was wearing jeans.

Ripped-up, tattered, barely-holding-together jeans. AND IT REEEEKED. Blood, sweat, and something even worse: an animalistic, rotten stench that made their eyes water. The campers stood frozen, gripping their weapons, unsure if they were hallucinating or if Bigfoot had just raided someone’s laundry line.

Then, the thing charged.

It let out a soul-piercing scream and tackled one of the campers, biting and clawing at him. Panicked, the group started firing everything they had - .22 rifles, bows, arrows. One shot hit the creature. It let out a howl, stumbled back, and bolted into the woods. Shaken, bleeding, and in total shock, the group rushed to the hospital. They filed a police report, expecting someone - anyone - to investigate.

But when they called back a few weeks later? The police claimed there was no report. No record of them ever being there.

A cover-up? A clerical error? Or something the authorities didn’t want people asking questions about?

And the biggest question of all?

WHAT was this thing wearing JEANS?!

And if it was wearing pants, what else is it capable of?

THE HUNTER’S NIGHTMARE (1970s)

SOMETHING WAS WATCHING HIM

There’s a golden rule every experienced hunter follows: When the forest goes silent, something is wrong.

That’s exactly what happened to one Passaic County hunter on a brisk October morning in the 1970s. He had been out in the woods with his two older brothers, scoping the area, tracking wildlife, and listening for movement. Birds were chirping, small animals rustled through the underbrush, it was just another hunting trip.

Until it wasn’t.

Out of nowhere, everything went dead silent. No birds. No squirrels. No wind. Nothing. Then, he heard it.

THUD.

A deep, earth-shaking impact.

THUD. THUD.

The hunter froze. His heart started pounding. The sound was heavy, like two massive trees being slammed together.

Then again. THUD. THUD. THUD.

Each impact came about ten seconds apart. Whatever was making that noise wasn’t small. It was strong enough to shake the ground. Then came the snapping branches. Whatever it was, it was moving. Trees cracked. Limbs shattered. But still, he couldn’t see anything. The sound of something massive, something powerful, was getting closer, but there was no visible movement.

And then, just as suddenly as it started, it stopped. The hunter stood there, frozen, gripping his weapon, waiting for something to step out from behind the trees.

Nothing.

The silence stretched on for minutes before he finally snapped himself out of it. After an unsuccessful day of hunting, he returned to the exact spot where he had heard the noise. He had to know.

What he found made his stomach drop.

The entire area was wrecked.

• Thick branches - some six inches in diameter - had been completely snapped in half.

• A tree, at least ten inches thick at the base, had been torn out by its roots.

• The damage was fresh - no browning on the broken wood, no signs of decay.

And yet, there were no tracks or any sign of what had done this.

That was enough for him. He got the hell out of there.

Looking back, he regrets not investigating further. Maybe he could’ve found something - a clue, a footprint, proof of whatever was lurking in those woods.

But frankly I think he was better off not knowing.

THE BIG HAIRY MAN OF SOMERSET COUNTY: FAST, FURIOUS, AND IMPOSSIBLE TO EXPLAIN

It’s one thing to hear one person claim they saw a giant, bipedal beast wandering the woods. But when multiple people, in multiple locations, across multiple years keep reporting the same damn thing?

At some point, you have to wonder - what the hell is going on in Somerset County?

Locals call it The Big Hairy Man.

Eyewitnesses describe the creature as around eight feet tall, covered in fur “the color of a deer,” and moving with an unnatural speed and agility. It’s been spotted from the Great Swamp to the Somerset Hills, all the way to Hillside.

One of the strangest encounters came from two people who, on paper, should’ve been the least likely to believe in something like this.

A bone specialist and a physical therapist were driving down Lord Stirling Road, taking a shortcut through the Great Swamp. It was late, and they were in a hurry, probably thinking more about work the next day than what was lurking outside their car.

Until something massive stepped onto the road right in front of them. The figure was tall, shaggy, and unmistakably humanoid.

Before either of them could process what they were seeing, it hopped the fence on the side of the road and vanished into the darkness at lightning speed. The witnesses never saw its face as it had been looking down as it moved. But what they did see was enough to shake them to their core. And this wasn’t a one-off sighting.

For years, people have reported a massive, upright creature moving through the woods of Somerset County. Some see it from a distance, watching them from the trees. Others swear they’ve heard deep, guttural breathing nearby only to find nothing when they turn around. A few even claim to have seen it sprint across roads in just a few strides, disappearing before they could get a second look.

Could this be New Jersey’s version of Bigfoot? Or is The Big Hairy Man something different? More importantly, how has something this massive managed to avoid being captured, tracked, or even photographed?

Maybe it’s still out there, hiding in the Great Swamp, waiting for the next unlucky driver to take the wrong shortcut home.

BIG RED EYE: NEW JERSEY’S MOST FEARED CRYPTID

Some cryptids are just big. They lumber through the woods, maybe knock over a few trees, scare the occasional hiker, and go about their business.

Big Red Eye? It’s something darker. Something that doesn’t just appear but lurks…AND SCREAMS.

In 1977, people living along Wolfpit Road started reporting something disturbing - a noise.

It started around 2 AM, and it wouldn’t stop until just before dawn. A deep, guttural, wailing scream that echoed through the trees for hours. One local described it as “some kind of huge primate.” Another said “it went right through you,” making the hairs on their arms stand up. And it wasn’t just a one-time thing.

The screaming went on for two weeks straight.

No one could explain it. No animal in the area made a noise like that. And those who tried to track the sound? They never found the source. 

Eyewitness I.D. Grant didn’t just hear Big Red Eye, she saw it.

It was 1996, and she and a friend were walking down Layton Road late at night when they suddenly felt like they were being watched. And that’s because they were. Standing completely still, half-hidden by the trees, was a tall, shaggy figure. At first, she thought it might be a bear. But bears don’t stand that still. They don’t watch you. And then she saw them: The glowing red eyes. Not like LED lights. Not like headlights reflecting in an animal’s pupils. These eyes burned red from deep within like mothman.

The figure never moved. Never made a sound.

Grant and her friend did the only logical thing…they ran.

IS BIG RED EYE THE SAME AS THE BIG HAIRY MAN?

There’s been plenty of debate about whether Big Red Eye and The Big Hairy Man are the same creature.

Big Red Eye is always reported with glowing eyes but The Big Hairy Man isn’t. Big Red Eye is linked to eerie sounds, howls, and wailing but that’s not true for The Big Hairy Man. The Big Hairy Man is more of a physical presence sighted moving quickly through the woods.

So what’s the deal? Are these two separate entities?

Or is Big Red Eye just The Big Hairy Man under different circumstances? Maybe when its eyes catch the light just right. Maybe when it gets angry enough.

Or maybe, just maybe…Big Red Eye isn’t Bigfoot at all.

Maybe it’s something far worse.

SCIENCE VS. BELIEF: CAN BIGFOOT REALLY EXIST?

Alright, let’s take a breath. We’ve been deep in the horror movie that is North Jersey’s Bigfoot sightings, but now it’s time to ask the big question:

Is any of this actually possible?

Because let’s be real, if someone told you they saw an eight-foot-tall, glowing-eyed, denim-wearing creature in the woods, your first instinct wouldn’t be, “Oh yeah, that checks out.”

But too many people, for too many years, in too many places, have described the same thing.

And the science of whether Bigfoot could exist? It’s a lot more complicated than just laughing it off.

THE CASE FOR BIGFOOT: WHY IT COULD BE REAL

First, let’s talk evolution.

Gigantopithecus - a prehistoric, ape-like creature that stood up to ten feet tall - was very real. It roamed parts of Asia hundreds of thousands of years ago. So the idea that a massive primate could have survived in remote areas? That’s not impossible.

And New Jersey, as crowded as it seems, has plenty of remote wilderness. The Kittatinny Mountains stretch for miles. The Pine Barrens are so vast that people have gone missing for days without a trace. Passaic, Sussex, and Somerset Counties have dense forests, deep swamps, and barely-touched wildlife areas.

If a massive creature wanted to stay hidden? It absolutely could.

And then there’s the physical evidence.

   👣 Footprints have been found. Huge, deep tracks - some with midfoot flexibility that doesn’t match human prints.

   🌲 Tree damage. Hunters and hikers have found massive trees twisted and snapped at impossible angles.

   🔊 Unidentified howls. Recordings of deep, guttural screams have been captured in remote woods.

Now, does any of this prove Bigfoot exists? No. But it does suggest something is out there.

THE CASE AGAINST BIGFOOT: WHY IT PROBABLY ISN’T REAL

Now, let’s be skeptics for a second.

If Bigfoot is real, where’s the hard evidence?

• No confirmed bones or fossils.

• No clear, undisputed photos or videos.

• No DNA, hair, or remains.

And then there’s human nature.

• The mind plays tricks especially in the woods, at night, when fear kicks in.

• Mass hysteria is real. One person sees something, and suddenly, more people “remember” seeing the same thing.

• Hoaxes absolutely exist. (Let’s not forget the infamous Bigfoot suit pranks.)

And about those red eyes?

Biologists say some animals - like deer, owls, and alligators - have a phenomenon called "eyeshine." Light reflects off their retinas, creating a glowing effect. Could Big Red Eye just be a misidentified animal?

Or…and hear me out…what if some of these sightings weren’t creatures at all, but actual people?

There’s a rare genetic condition called Hypertrichosis, aka “Werewolf Syndrome.” It causes excessive hair growth all over the body - even on the face, hands, and ears.

People with hypertrichosis used to be exhibited in sideshows throughout history as "Wild Men" or "Dog-Faced Boys." It’s extremely rare, but it still exists today. Barbara van Beck, born in the 17th century, was known for her extensive hair growth and was exhibited across Europe. Similarly, Julia Pastrana, a 19th-century performer, had hypertrichosis and was showcased in exhibitions due to her appearance. In recent times, individuals like Lalit Patidar from India have gained attention. Lalit, an 18-year-old, has over 95% of his face covered with hair due to hypertrichosis and has been recognized by Guinness World Records for this unique feature.

I want you to imagine seeing someone with hypertrichosis deep in the woods, wearing tattered clothes, living off-grid. Pair that with bad lighting, fear, and adrenaline?

Boom - instant Bigfoot sighting.

Could some of these encounters have been a reclusive person, not a cryptid? It’s not the most exciting explanation, but it’s one we can’t ignore. And yet that still doesn’t explain the glowing eyes or the bone-chilling screams.

BIGFOOT SIGHTING IN LACEY TOWNSHIP, NJ (2024) & UPCOMING EXPEDITION! 

If you thought Bigfoot was just a backwoods legend, think again.

In November 2024, a New Jersey resident out for a routine dog walk in Lacey Township had a terrifying and unforgettable encounter. According to the witness, a large, shadowy figure emerged from the dense treeline, standing at least 7 feet tall, covered in dark matted fur, and walking upright.

The witness reported:

"At first, I thought it was a bear…until it turned and walked like a man. My dog froze, growling, and the thing just stood there, watching us. Then, in a second, it bolted back into the woods—faster than anything I’ve ever seen."

This isn’t the first time strange activity has been reported in the Pine Barrens region. Lacey Township sits near Wharton State Forest, a notorious hotspot for paranormal encounters, cryptid sightings, and unexplained phenomena.

But here’s where it gets even wilder.

BFRO ANNOUNCES 2025 BIGFOOT EXPEDITION IN NORTH JERSEY

Following this shocking sighting, the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) has scheduled an official North New Jersey Expedition from April 24-27, 2025.

What does this mean?

   ✔️ A full-scale, boots-on-the-ground investigation into New Jersey’s Bigfoot activity

   ✔️ Expert-led night operations using FLIR thermal cameras & audio recording devices

   ✔️ Eyewitness interviews from locals who have encountered something… not human

   ✔️ Expedition teams deployed to key sighting locations across Sussex County & the Pine Barrens

This isn’t a joke. The BFRO has led scientific investigations across the country, documenting encounters with physical evidence—footprints, tree structures, and unexplained vocalizations in the woods.

And now? They’re coming to Jersey.

So if you’ve ever doubted Bigfoot’s presence in the Garden State, it might be time to reconsider.

Could 2025 be the year we finally prove the existence of New Jersey’s own Sasquatch?

WANT TO JOIN THE EXPEDITION?

🔗 Sign up & learn more here: BFRO North Jersey Expedition 2025

If you’ve seen something, SAY something.

The hunt for Bigfoot is ON. And New Jersey is the new frontier.

SOOOOOO WHAT’S THE TRUTH?

The truth is…we don’t know.

Maybe Bigfoot is real. Maybe it’s an undiscovered species, an ancient relic of evolution that’s been avoiding human contact for centuries.

Or maybe it’s a mix of folklore, fear, and the human mind’s ability to fill in the blanks when faced with the unknown.

New Jersey has some damn weird things lurking in its forests.

And real or not?

People keep seeing something.

👀 Want to get even weirder?

📲 Download our app for a weekly dose of New Jersey’s weirdest happenings!

Source: Weird NJ Vol. 1