BFRO #72283: Gov-connected snake researcher describes daytime encounter in Pine Barrens swamps

📍 Location

📝 Description

Have been out scouting research locations for snake studies on google earth and found an area that we really wanted to check out which was an open paleodune ridge that offered plenty of basking/nesting habitat that the snakes we were researching liked to use. The hike there was pretty rough, walking through knee deep wetlands at points and wrestling with tangles of greenbrier and other thorny bushes to get to the location which was about a mile and a half back into the woods. Upon finally arriving at the site we were able to settle down and start looking for good spots that the snakes we were looking for used. As we were walking up one of the ridge fingers, we came upon an abandoned hunting stand that looked like it could be used as a shelter. I was a little unnerved because we didn�t really wanna run into someone out there especially if they weren�t expecting company. As I was looking around my friend went back behind me to look around or use the bathroom while I continued to look. I began to hear bipedal walking in the swamp below us, what sounded like sticks breaking and snapping. I was pretty freaked out thinking it was a hunter so I yelled down at it saying �hello? Anyone there?�. No response as I continued to look I saw part of a dark figure go tree from tree. Long enough to know I wasn�t imagining it, but not long enough to identify shape, size and detail. My memory fails to remember exactly how tall off the ground it was but the encounter lasted several seconds, from when I first heard the walking, saw the dark flash and when it subsequently disappeared or stopped in the swamp. After this I rounded up my friend and we headed out of there pretty quickly not knowing if a nearby hunter was there or worse, some crazy dude was stalking us. A few days went by before I really began to realize what I could have seen and it just made little sense that someone was out there messing with us. Have since returned to the location to look some things over, large game trails surround the dune. But other than that, not much further evidence was able to be found.

🔍 Circumstances

My friend Cooper

🌤️ Weather Conditions

Sunny, warm summer day. Incident took place around early afternoon. Between 12-2, unsure of lighting conditions but sun was just about over head.

ℹ️ Additional Details

Sunny, warm summer day. Incident took place around early afternoon. Between 12-2, unsure of lighting conditions but sun was just about over head.

🔗 Sources (1)

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