In mid-February of 2001, a number of newspapers in Florida began publishing stories of an unnamed woman who had seen an unusual ape-like entity stealing apples off of her back porch, near the Myakka River in Sarasota County.
Apparently exasperated by the intrusions of this unusually nosy animal, she finally sent a letter, including photographs of the creature, to the local sheriff’s office.
According to a column written by Steve Otto of the Tampa Tribune, the letter, in part, read:
“Enclosed please find some pictures I took. . . . My husband thinks it is an orangutan. Is someone missing an orangutan? It is in a crouching position in the middle of standing up from where it was sitting. It froze as soon as the flash went off. . . . I heard the orangutan walk off into the brushes.
I judge it as being about six and a half to seven feet tall. As soon as I realized how close it was, I got back to the house.
It had an awful smell that lasted well after it had left my yard. The orangutan was making deep `woomp’ noises.
For two nights prior, it had been taking apples that my daughter brought down from up north off our back porch. It only came back one more night after that and took some apples that my husband left out in order to get a better look at it.
We got a dog back there now, and, as far as I can tell, it hasn’t been back.
I don’t want any fuss or people with guns traipsing around behind our house. At the very least, this animal belongs in a place like Busch Gardens.
Why haven’t people been told that an animal this size is loose? . . . Please look after this situation. I don’t want my backyard to turn into someone else’s circus.”
John P
amazing!! finally!! got to see a florida skunk ape. thanks for posting this up wes.
toomuch
I always felt this picture was legitimate. Many people were quick to claim, “orangutan “. We now know these creatures come in many shapes and sizes. I believe this to be a skunk ape.
Aaron M
I don’t live far from here and I know people that live in Myakka. When I ask them about Bigfoot, they look at me like I have two heads. I tell them there have been several sightings in their area and they just laugh at me.
Aaron M
Here is the link to Bob Gymlin’s analysis of these pics. Worth watching for sure.
https://youtu.be/jndA857AkU4
Hawk
BFT is amazeballs …….. thorough and honest.
Lou V
Largest orangutan ever was 5’11, also they are tree dwellers and very rarely go to the ground and when they do they make sure their is a lot of tall trees around to get away. That is no monkey
Tony s
This is a perfect example of how not 1 but 2 fairly clear photos still are not enough information to draw any real conclusions. So maybe. Palmettos are super fiberos, not a meal worth the risk. Apples maybe, palmetto fronds not so much.