Witness in Gary, Indiana Terror-Stricken by 'Grayish, Bat-Winged' Flying Creature

Lon Strickler of Phantoms and Monsters published a report last Monday from a woman whose husband had witnessed a "grayish" flying creature "with large wings that were similar to bat wings" on January 19th.

According to the report:

My husband and I live in Gary, Indiana. He came home freaking out tonight (Saturday, January 19th) saying he saw something that had to of been 4-5 feet tall with large wings that were similar to bat wings. He said it was a grayish color and it flew in front of his truck just inches of it getting hit, He said it flew up in the trees and disappeared. It was on Chase St.

I don't know if it's the same thing people have been reporting in the area, but it can't be the Mothman...can it? I'm not sure but whatever it is, he's scared him to death.

Strickler has so far been unable to speak to the witness directly, but hopes to be able to do so soon.

“The email was dated Saturday, January 19th at 11:11 p.m. [EST]," he said. "I have attempted to talk to the witness, but he is far too shaken and fearful this being will re-engage with him. Hopefully, the witness will eventually open up."

Chase Street, referenced in the report, runs north to south and is intersected by the Little Calumet River. The city of Gary itself sits on the shore of Lake Michigan, and Chase Street begins less than three miles from the great lake, and just south of the Grand Calumet River. The height and coloration of the creature described is consistent with a great blue heron or other large migratory bird, which live in the floodplains around bodies of water and have been noted to be coming north earlier and wintering farther north more consistently due to climate change—in one recent case a witness was shown through video evidence to have misidentified a large bird as a creature with “bat-like” wings.

This article will be updated with any additional information provided by the witness.

This is the latest in a string of flying creature sightings around Lake Michigan that ostensibly began in the spring of 2017, but more historical accounts are being reported as more people become aware of the phenomenon.  Most of the sightings have taken place near the lakefront in Chicago within a few miles of Lake Michigan, although there are some reports coming from the suburbs surrounding Chicago and even farther afield in every state bordering the great lake.  The sightings generally take place in the evening or at night, often in or near a park, and around water.  Witnesses consistently describe a large, bat or bird-like creature—although in a small number of cases the creature was described as insect-like—sometimes with glowing or reflective red, yellow, or orange eyes; and humanoid features such as arms and legs are often reported.  Many of the sightings are also of something seen only briefly or are described only as a flying creature with few details, which leaves open the possibility that a large bird or bird-like being could explain some encounters. 

To report a sighting reach out to us directly at The Singular Fortean Society through our contact page.

You can view a timeline of the sightings so far here, and an interactive map here.

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