Ok this is a little strange, and everyone I tried to explain it to didn't believe me. I live in southern California, but a rural part out in the Temecula Valley. I was driving home from a friends house a few months back, and it was about 1:00 in the morning. I had not been drinking or anything at all... I was driving down this long stretch of road with some shrubbery on each side, and all of a sudden this "creature" ran across the road probably 15-20 feet in front of my car. The strangest thing about it, is that it was walking upright on two legs. It was probably no more than 3 feet tall, and it definitely looked hairy. The only thing I can compare it to would be an ewok from Star Wars. It looked just like one of those little creatures, and it moved VERY fast. The whole thing probably lasted only a second... it just ran in front of my car and disappeared in the bushes. It really freaked me out at the time... and when I told my friend about it he just laughed. I know I'm not crazy... I know what I saw that night. Does anyone have any idea what it might have been?

Sounds like an ewok. I heard they breed this time of year.

isnt there alot of dairy farms around there? maybe its a chupacabra

the only other thing i can think of, is maybe it was a very big roadrunner

Oh, that's my mate Liam. If you mistake anyone for a Wookie, ring me so I can come and collect my little brother as soon as possible.

Nah, seriously, that's an interesting sighting. The most distinct feature is the bipedal part, because otherwise there are hundreds of possibilities. This narrows them down to almost nothing. The only things I could think of which would be bipedal and under three feet tall would be monkeys, or young bears/apes. However, to be around three feet tall, I'm not sure. Sorry, hope you find out more soon.

What color was it, exactly? (Havn't watched Star Wars in ages)

maybe it was a gnome
or "gob"lin

although that depends on your beleif in nature spirits.

There's a fair chance that what you saw was a Californian - there were some pretty weird ones, IIRC. Second possibility is a fatigue-induced hallucination, which I remember from my maven driving days as 'black rabbits running across the road' but might be bigger in your case. Third possibility is a critter; a Bonobo would fit for size and bipedalism but I think they go on all fours for speed.

Keep in mind that we all edit our perceptions: what you think you saw may not be very much like what you actually did see.

When you say you hadn't been drinking or anything, do you mean you weren't drinking while you were actually driving, you'd stopped drinking a few minutes before, or what? It's very important to know when you actually stopped not drinking.

Seriously, though, this sounds exactly like a case of mistaken identity. Given that you saw this late at night, and only for a second, it's a good bet that what you saw was a normal critter that looks very different in broad daylight.

Pretty much what Porlock right above me just said.

I try to discourage her, but my ex-wife gets around...................

As a very firm believer in what the Native Americans call "Spirit Animals", I believe that is what it could have been based on your description.

I,ll go for ewok "Yub Yub"

Obviously an Ewok.

How sure are you that it walked on two legs? There are plenty of critters out where you are but if what you saw did indeed walk on two legs I would find it easier to believe that a chimp escaped from the nearby Wild Animal Park, then to believe there is some unidiscovered bipedal creature living in Temecula.

I know it could be anything... I only saw it for a second but I distinctly saw it running on two legs. It's legs were sort of short and stubby too. It was almost a greenish-brown color. Whatever it was it freaked the hell out of me.

It would have freaked the heck out of me as well, but without any sort of "evidence" to look at and without any other accounts of a similar creatures, any explanation would be just pure speculation.

Yes, it would. Cases like these are very hard to identify. It actually sounds like some sort of young lizard man or alien creature. Was it hunched over and running as if it was terrified, or was it just strutting across and looking as if it just wanted to get out of your way? Did you see the face, ears, eyes, or shape of head?

I too am a strong believer in spirit animals. However, I think this may not be one. I could be wrong. It sounds like something my mom saw some years back in North Carolina. We saw a large hairy beast run across the road *nods*. The road was actually a trail through our back yard visible from the kitchen and she saw it out there around dark. We always thought it was a small bear but someone told us this tale about a small mini bigfoot-- never did find out what it was-- maybe those things are nationwide.

.....That's what it sounds like to me, if it was in fact something paranormal.