Hello and good day, I thank you so much for taking the time to read this and hear me out.
This was a real event that frightened me greatly and (i beleve) resulted in the death/loss of my dog. It started in the fall of 2004 my friend and i decided to sneak out on a friday night with our pellet guns. I live in southern ILLINOIS by the way. We were out in the woods when we saw a lump on a tree branch (i could only see its outline) about four feet high and two and a half feet across much like an owl outline only this was much larger. I think it was watching us for a long time before we even noticed us. When i saw it i aimed my gun at it just so i could see it through my scope. then it went crazy it made a screech not unlike the screech of the ringwraiths or nazgul from lord of the rings. it swooped down revealing an at least six foot wing span. We fled as fast as wecould and the thing kept trying to pearch on our backs, it felt leathery though not like a bat, it had no feathers nor do i recall a beak after about 45 seconds of running to my house i wide opened the door and ran in withought the beast on me, but when i opened the door my dog ran out and i was not in the state of mind to let my dog in. when i shut the door i realized my dog ran out, but (regretubly ) i was to afraid. then i heard the screech of the beast and the whimper of my dog. I never saw either of them since and i stilll dont go into the forest at night. looking back at it i am repulsed at myself for not shooting it with a couple pellets but i was much to afraid thank you for reading so plllz help me i want to know what i saw i wantto know what killed my dog.
YOURS TILL THE END
THE COUNT

Sounds like you saw a screech owl in front of a medium-dense forested area. If it wasn't a screech owl, it had to be an owl. Owls can be quite terrifying creatures.

Now, lets see. I'm not sure what to say about this one; but it sounds interesting if your account is real.
There've been a ton of Thunderbird sightings around the area of Illinois, if I recall the right state. Illinois/Indiana region at least.
Some Thunderbirds were classified as being pterosaur-like, but I've not watched Lord of the Rings so I don't have the slightest clue as to what it might have sounded like.

That's pretty much all I have to offer; seeing that a bat wouldn't do that, and an owl isn't quite leathery like you described.

I'm at a loss. -Shrug-
But if all else fails, go with an angry owl.

As for your dog, I'm sorry... but I wouldn't be so sure if it'd come back if something chased it off. o_o

Now that i think about it it does match the description of a pteridactyle hmmmmmmmm.

Well honestly I have researched the New Jersey Devil, and this seems to meet a lot of it characteristics and traits. You might want to check that avenue out

I wouldn't go jumping to conclusions, but it does seem to fit the description of one. There have been instances of people seeing pterosaur-like creatures. Not long ago I read a topic about something like this. Only, the case wasn't in America. "Nor do i recall a beak" Pterosaurs have beaks. o:


A lot? Eh. There wasn't much description in his post. Aside from the fact that he said: "about four feet high and two and a half feet across much like an owl outline only this was much larger" and "it felt leathery though not like a bat, it had no feathers nor do i recall a beak". The Devil has hooves, and I seriously can't see it settling in a tree. Also, Illinois is quite a way away from New Jersey.

COOL MAN!!!

Just an owl...Nothin' to worry. Sorry bout the dog

Maybe it was the JERSEY DEVIL who took your dog???

Can owls really steal dogs?

Owls can be pretty mean, but would one kill a dog for no good reason? Maybe it's nest was near. It does sound like an owl.

If it makes you feel better, I'd crap my pants if an owl came at me screeching. Very sorry about your dog.

What sort of dog did you have? Size, breed, age etc...... and what was your friends take on the situation?

Sounds like an Eastern Screech Owl to me...

Owl.....I dig owls, they have huge eyes and ask "O rly?"

I think we need a bit more info before saying owl. What if his dog was a 70kg great dane?

Would you still consider owl?

A screech owl would be too small to take a dog. But great horned owls have been known to take small dogs. They are light colored and look solid colored at night. As for the Jersey Devil? LOL! I lived in the Pine Barrens for 37 years and I am a hunting guide and tracker. There is no such thing.

Lapi'che

it cant be an owl...its too big...do we have owls that are leadery?

...I never really understood that. xD

As for it being an owl, I'm seriously not sure. The description just doesn't fit an owl. He clearly stated that the creature was leathery, and he didn't recall a beak.
Now, I haven't the slightest idea of what it is, but...yeah.
It's not the Jersey Devil. xD!

my dog was a sixty pound australian cattle dog and not one to run from a fight

I don't think an owl could take a cattle dog, they're also a gutsy breed.

What did your friend believe he saw? Also the next day did you go and take another look around?

I'd say this kid has quite the imagination.

Honestly I have to say I believe it was an owl…

I have seen quite large owls and have had friends whose dogs were attacked.
One friends husband had to run to their dog and beat the owl off of it…the owl was massive in size they said

I was coming out of a building once at 4 am when a very large owl swept down towards me in the doorway…I’d say it had a wingspan of at least 4 feet…

In any event, I know from dealing with large breed birds, a quick feel of one, a person won’t “feel” a soft feathery feeling…when touching a large breed bird your first thought doesn’t go to “soft feathers”

Also, with an owl, you would not feel the beak. An owl’s beak is nested further in then most bird’s protruded beaks…

They are quite capable of grabbing a small dog and carrying it away…depending on the size of the bird and the size of the dog

I never exactly said it killed my dog the dogcould of just run off, but i doubt it : (

NOTHING COOL ABOUT IT

The most plausible answer is an owl...did you ever recover the carcass of the dog?

He never said it did kill his dog.

Shhhh, that's what I was getting at...

Did you ever recover the carcass of you dog, Count Tyrannus?

I doubt that the dog is dead. I wouldn't count on one to come back after being chased away by an owl; no matter what kind of breed. (Personally, I don't like dogs. Despite the fact I drew one for my avatar. xD! I don't give them much credit.)

Shhhhhhh I want his answer to be unbiased

[A lot? Eh. There wasn't much description in his post. Aside from the fact that he said: "about four feet high and two and a half feet across much like an owl outline only this was much larger" and "it felt leathery though not like a bat, it had no feathers nor do i recall a beak". The Devil has hooves, and I seriously can't see it settling in a tree. Also, Illinois is quite a way away from New Jersey.
[/quote]

The problem i have with the owl theory is that the larges owl in North America is the Great Grey Owl, it only measure 2-2.5 ft. high. That is a lot different then 4 ft. high. If you recall one of the latter sightings of the devil was a bunch of kids that witnessed it perched in a tree. Not only that I am sure the Devil, if it does exist, doesn't really care about state boundary lines as many animals have migrated to different locations it going to Illinois wouldn't be that far of a stretch.

Thing is, people tend to over-exaggurate.

HAHAHA let me just say, i thought it was like sixfeet tall at the time, but as you said "people tend to over-exaggurate" so i knocked it down to what it probably was about four feet. And for the record IT WAS NOT AN OWL and NO I NEVER FOUND THE BODY of my poor dog

There, it probably was an Great Horned Owl...Your dog either got scared away or ran away.

AhhSorry. o_o;;


Mm. Like I said, the Devil has hooves, it'd also weigh a good amount. Good luck getting that thing up in a tree.
And as for state lines, that's not really what I meant. It's been, how long since the myth was born? You'd assume something like that would be dead by now.

Only thing is that is not like an owl still, is the size the thing was MASSIVE. But i think i know why it panicked, probably because it saw me shooting stuff with my gun when, so when i aimed my gun at it (just to look through the scope) it went nuts. Also do owls make terrifying screeeching noises.

AND TO UPDATE

I had a friend who claims there was a hugecreature on his gardage when he aimed his flash light at it, it flew off instantly. he said it was about four and a half feet tall withe a six, foot wingspan. The kids of the town are naming it the riverside mini mothman. scarey eh

Interesting story, and i'd really like to say that it was the Mothman, some demon or possibly a Roc of sorts, but I personally think that it was a type of bird indigenous to that area. The fact that you could not see feathers or a beak most likely had to do with the poor lighting and your frantic state. But, nonetheless it would scare me S***less also, I would have run just as you had. But, there is possibility that it may be something more cryptid...more sinister.

It was a chinese food resturant owner. With a jet pack. Did I go to far there?

Yes.

If a few people have seen it, how about a few of you have a camp out in one of your backyards with cameras, video recorders etc and see if you can get it on film.

Owls usually live in wooded areas bordering open land...

Actually the woods i was in is on the border of a praire TONS OF RABBITS AND MICE TONS can owls eat rabbits

mmmm im not sure about this one, it might have been a screech owl that you saw like someone said, but screech owls have never been know to attack humans or attack dogs, they mostly hang in forests and graveyards screeching through the night. but they are not known to attack unless provoked. sorry cnt help you there mate.

Owls can eat rabbits...That is a perfect owl habitat.

Since when did the roc come in?

also, i think he would know if it was mothman

hey you make a very good point here.
dnt stop bein witty will you cus if ou do then who will stop idiots from makin idiotic ideas?
thumbs up for you.

There has been another sighting of the 'mini mothman' by a local teacher he claims it was a HUGE rouge owl, i think from his description he thinks it was something else, but for the sake of his credibility he said it was an owl. he filed a complaint saying it is a hazard to his young daughter the police in short DOES NOT CAREabout this event. The teacher said the thing was on his car, when he hit the button thing that unlocks (the ranged kind) the door it screeched and flew off.

Horrible, drawn out soul-rending screech like a metal spear being scraped acroos a peice of metal.

EXACTLY

Sounds like a Screech Owl to me