'Flying Witch' Reported over Turtle Creek near Darien, Wisconsin

The witness said the creature was gliding at “tree-top altitude” prior to heading in her direction. (Emily Wayland / Singular Fortean Society) — The witness said the creature was gliding at “tree-top altitude” prior to heading in her direction. *(Emily Wayland / Singular Fortean Society)*

Lon Strickler of Phantoms and Monsters was contacted by a witness on February 25th to report the sighting of a winged being she had seen that morning at around 5:30 a.m.

Strickler spoke to the woman over the phone.

[The witness] was traveling west on Creek Road on her way to work. As she approached the Turtle Creek bridge she observed a large winged being that she described as a 'flying witch.' The being was at a tree-top altitude and was gliding in her direction. It was early dawn, but enough light was available for [her] to make out a form.
The winged being suddenly descended towards [her] car and barely missed colliding with the hood. [She] described that the being's wingspan was much wider than her car and that the body was a 'brownish’ color, like a 'paper bag.' The body looked feminine and slight. The wings were bat-shaped and very large. She never noticed the wings flapping. The speed in which it descended was 'not natural.' The face was unremarkable, almost 'blank.' [She] noted that she swerved and almost hit the guard rail.
[The witness] did not notice where the winged being flew to after the encounter. [She] is of Hispanic descent and stated that the being looked similar to a 'witch' that was described to her as a child. [She] was quite upset and worried that she may encounter this being in the future.

The witness’ identification of the creature as a “witch,” may be related to legends of the Lechuza. In Mexican folklore a Lechuza is an old woman—often a witch, or 'bruja'—who can turn into a giant, black bird. In most stories, the bird is an owl, but sometimes it is described as an eagle.

The witness was so startled by her experience that she almost collided with the bridge’s guard rail. (Emily Wayland / Singular Fortean Society) — The witness was so startled by her experience that she almost collided with the bridge’s guard rail. *(Emily Wayland / Singular Fortean Society)*

The bridge crossing Turtle Creek is less than 50 miles west of Lake Michigan, and around 30 miles southwest of the site of a 2017 winged entity sighting that occurred in Mukwonago, Wisconsin.

After consulting with Strickler, the Singular Fortean Society opted not to contact this witness.

Contact information for witnesses is routinely shared between Strickler and the Society, but in this case Strickler mentioned that he had not initially secured permission from the witness for other investigators to contact her.

He spoke to the witness again, but she was reluctant to discuss the matter further.

Strickler described the witness as “skittish,” and added she told him that “she is afraid that the more she talks about it, the more likely it will come for her.”

Based on that assessment, and the Singular Fortean Society’s commitment to the comfort and safety of witnesses, it was decided that she was better left alone for the time being.

However, if the witness sees this article and would like to speak to the Society—or there are other witnesses in the area who would like to share their experiences—then they are encouraged to reach out through the Singular Fortean Society’s contact page; a link to that page is listed below.

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. Many of the sightings have taken place near the lakefront in Chicago within a few miles of Lake Michigan, although increasingly reports are coming from within a few hundred mile radius surrounding the great lake—including every state bordering it. 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, gray-or-black 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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