Monsters and Mysteries in America (2013–…): Season 2, Episode 5 - California Monster Country - full transcript

Narrator:
TRAPPED IN BIGFOOT TERRITORY...

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

Gonzalez:
WE GOT STUCK IN THE MUD.

WE WERE ALL PUSHING THE VEHICLE.
WE SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE'RE GONNA BE
DEAD IN THE WATER."

WE WERE NOT GONNA GET OUT.

NATIVE AMERICANS ALWAYS TOLD ME,
"DON'T GO THERE."

Man:
GOT THAT CAMERA READY, JEFF?

Strain:
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SOME BIGFOOTS
THAT AREN'T VERY NICE.

WHO'D BE MORE THAN WILLING
TO KILL A HUMAN.

Narrator:
AND FROM A BIGFOOT ATTACK,



ACTUAL
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE RECOVERED.

Burrows: THIS COULD BE
THE FIND OF THE CENTURY --

MYTH TURNED TO REALITY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

Narrator: A FAMILY HARASSED
BY AN EVIL GNOME...

[ GROWLS ]

Tammy: I WAS AFRAID
THAT IT WAS GONNA TRY

TO COME IN THE HOUSE
AND GET ONE OF MY KIDS.

DON'T GO OUTSIDE, OKAY?

I WAS SCARED TO DEATH --
MORE SCARED THAN I'D EVER BEEN.

Narrator: A NEIGHBORHOOD
INVADED BY HELLHOUNDS...

Palfrey:
I WENT OUT TO LOCK THE DOOR,

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
WHAT IN THE WORLD?

I WAS SCARED TO DEATH.



I MEAN, I WAS PETRIFIED.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator:
200 MILES EAST OF SAN FRANCISCO,
IN CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL VALLEY,

THE EDGE OF ONE
OF THE LARGEST WILDERNESS AREAS

IN THE LOWER 48 STATES,
THE SIERRA MOUNTAINS.

THE REGION
IS SO HUGE AND SECLUDED,

SOME WONDER IF IT'S SHELTERING

ONE OF AMERICA'S
LEGENDARY BEASTS,

A TERRITORY THE GIANT CRYPTID
SEEMS WILLING TO DEFEND.

[ ANIMAL GROWLS ]

[ GROWLING ]

MOST SCIENTISTS
DISPUTE ITS VERY EXISTENCE.

YET OVER THE PAST 90 YEARS,
THE CONTROVERSIAL CREATURE

HAS BEEN SEEN AND REPORTED
MORE THAN 3,000 TIMES.

WHILE THE INFAMOUS APE-MAN

IS OFTEN ASSOCIATED
WITH THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST,

ALMOST AS MANY SIGHTINGS
OCCUR IN THE SIERRAS

THAN ANYWHERE ELSE
IN NORTH AMERICA.

Smeja:
WHERE I THINK THAT A BIGFOOT
WOULD THRIVE IN HIDING

WOULD DEFINITELY BE THE SIERRAS

BECAUSE IF YOU GET MORE THAN
100 YARDS OFF THE ROAD,

YOU MIGHT BE STANDING
WHERE NOBODY STOOD IN 10 YEARS.

[ ANIMAL GROWLS ]

Narrator:
GROWING UP IN THESE MOUNTAINS,
ALLEN THOMAS

DIDN'T TAKE THE BIGFOOT LEGENDS
TOO SERIOUSLY.

LEARNING THE TRACKS AND SIGNS
OF WILDLIFE WAS HIS PRIORITY.

ALL MY LIFE, I HEARD THESE
STORIES ABOUT THESE THINGS,

AND I REALLY DIDN'T BELIEVE IT
TILL I ENCOUNTERED IT MYSELF.

IN 1987, I WAS ON
ONE OF MY HUNTING TRIPS.

WE PICKED A PLACE
THAT WE WERE GOING TO

HIKE OFF THE TRAIL
INTO THE WILDERNESS.

[ ANIMAL GROWLS ]

WE SAW, AT FIRST,
WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A BEAR.

IT WAS JUST THIS BLACK THING
BENT OVER IN A BUSH.

Narrator:
SENSING THE BEAR WOULD BE
AN EASY KILL, THEY MOVED CLOSER.

Allen:
AND THEN THE BEAR STOOD UP.

AND IT WAS A MAN.

DON'T SHOOT.
DON'T SHOOT.

AND I'M LOOKING
AT THIS BIG, HUGE, HUGE GUY

COVERED WITH BLACK, SHINY FUR.

AND THEN IT WAS LIKE, "OH,
MY GOD, WHAT IS THAT," YOU KNOW?

I WANTED TO, LIKE, LOOK AT IT.
I JUST WANTED TO SEE HIS FACE.

SO I STARTED, LIKE, TRYING
TO MANEUVER MY RIFLE AROUND,

TRYING TO GET THIS BIGFOOT
IN MY SCOPE.

[ CREATURE GROWLS ]

AND HE STARTED YELLING.

[ CREATURE ROARS ]

HE WAS SWINGING HIS ARMS
LIKE THIS.

I FELT LIKE
THAT IF I TOOK ONE STEP,

I COULD LEAP
ALL THE WAY BACK TO TOWN.

MY WHOLE BODY WANTED TO RUN.

I FELT LIKE, "THAT'S SCARY."

LET'S GO.

THAT FREAKED ME OUT BAD.

I DIDN'T GO BACK
TO THE MOUNTAINS FOR SIX YEARS.

Broughton: FROM WHAT I'VE
LEARNED IN THE BIGFOOT WORLD,

USUALLY THEY'RE PRETTY MASSIVE,
AT LEAST EIGHT FOOT,

SIMILAR TO A NEANDERTHAL
BUT BIGGER,

WHICH IS WHY PEOPLE ARE USUALLY

SCARED OUT OF THEIR MIND
IF THEY HAVE AN ENCOUNTER.

Narrator:
ALLEN THOMAS HAD INADVERTENTLY
STEPPED INTO CONTESTED TERRAIN.

ACCORDING TO SOME NATIVE
AMERICAN LEGENDS,

AREAS WITHIN THE SIERRAS ARE
AGGRESSIVELY GUARDED BY BIGFOOT,

AND THEY
DON'T TREAT VISITORS KINDLY.

Strain: A BIGFOOT COULD
EASILY KILL A HUMAN.

THEY'RE MUCH STRONGER
AND BIGGER THAN HUMANS.

THEY COULD KIDNAP YOU,
TAKE YOU OFF SOMEPLACE

AND MAYBE
NEVER HEAR FROM YOU AGAIN.

Narrator:
BIGFOOT WITH A BAD ATTITUDE.

THIS SIDE OF THE BEAST
ISN'T AS WELL-KNOWN,

YET SOME RESEARCHERS CLAIM,
THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO,

A FULL-SCALE WAR BROKE OUT
WITH THESE CREATURES.

THE BIGFOOT WARS ARE AN EVENT

THAT HAPPENED IN THE SIERRAS
IN PREHISTORIC TIMES.

NATIVE PEOPLE BELIEVE
THAT BIGFOOTS WERE CANNIBALS

AND THAT THEY WOULD OFTEN
STEAL CHILDREN

AND TAKE THEM OFF AND EAT THEM.

Narrator:
KATHY STRAIN IS AN ARCHAEOLOGIST
FOR THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE,

SUPERVISING TRIBAL
HISTORICAL SITES AND ARTIFACTS.

SHE CLAIMS THAT TRIBAL ELDERS
IMPARTED TO HER

A SECRET HISTORY ABOUT A TIME

WHEN NATIVE AMERICANS
AND BIGFOOT CAME TO BLOWS.

[ ANIMAL GROWLING ]

ONE DAY, A BIGFOOT CROSSED OVER
INTO THE TRIBE'S TERRITORY,

STOLE A CHILD
AND TOOK IT BACK...

[ BABY CRYING ]
[ ANIMAL GROWLS ]

...AND KILLED IT AND ATE IT.

AND SO THEY HAD A GIGANTIC WAR

WHERE THE NATIVE PEOPLE
WERE GOING TO KILL

ALL THE BIGFOOTS
THAT WERE IN THAT AREA.

Narrator: BIGFOOT
PLUNDERED INDIAN VILLAGES.

INDIAN WARRIORS RETALIATED.

Strain: NATIVE PEOPLE HAD SPEARS
AND BOWS AND ARROWS

AND WERE MORE SUCCESSFUL

'CAUSE ALL THE BIGFOOTS HAD
WERE STONES AND STICKS.

Narrator:
EVENTUALLY, A PEACE WAS FORGED,
TERRITORIES ESTABLISHED.

Strain: NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE
HAVE OFTEN TOLD ME

THAT IN THOSE DAYS
AND EVEN TODAY

THAT THEY RESERVE AREAS
FOR BIGFOOTS TO BE.

THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO
WITH THOSE AREAS AT ALL.

THEY CONSIDER IT
TO BE BIGFOOT TERRITORY.

Narrator: SO, WHAT HAPPENS

IF YOU INADVERTENTLY CROSS
INTO BIGFOOT TERRITORY?

Strain: WE COULD STILL HAVE
A BIGFOOT UP THERE

THAT WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING
TO KILL A HUMAN

EITHER JUST TO KILL A HUMAN
OR TO USE IT AS A FOOD RESOURCE.

Narrator:
AFTER HIS OWN ENCOUNTER,

ALLEN THOMAS
DIDN'T NEED CONVINCING

THAT BIGFOOT
WAS A POTENTIAL THREAT.

Allen: IT TOOK SIX YEARS
TO GET OVER MY FEAR.

YOU'RE THINKING, "THIS DUDE'S
WANDERING AROUND OUT THERE.

HE'S FAST, HE'S HUGE,
HE COULD PROBABLY JUST

GRAB MY TENT LIKE A BACKPACK
AND CARRY ME AWAY."

Narrator: JUST AS HIS FEARS
WERE SUBSIDING,

THOMAS LEARNED
OF A REMOTE LOCATION

IN THE SIERRAS
WHERE BIGFOOT LIVED.

LURED BY THE PROSPECT
OF CONFIRMING BIGFOOT IS REAL,

ALLEN AND HIS RESEARCH BUDDIES
WERE READY TO GO.

I HAD TO SEE FOR SURE,
"DID I REALLY SEE THAT?"

'CAUSE AFTER
A LITTLE BIT OF TIME,

YOU QUESTION YOURSELF,
EVEN THOUGH YOU KNOW YOU SAW IT.

SINCE I WAS A KID,
PEOPLE WERE TELLING ME

THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE
CREATURES UP IN THE SIERRAS.

WHILE CAMPING
UP IN THE MOUNTAINS,

THERE WAS ALWAYS THAT --
IN THE BACK OF MY MIND --

THAT "WHAT IF THERE WAS?"

Narrator:
TRYING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION
WOULD BRING MUCH MORE

THAN THESE MEN
EVER BARGAINED FOR.

I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT DAY.

IT WILL BE WITH ME FOR THE REST
OF MY LIFE UNTIL I DIE.

THERE WERE EYES LOOKING AT ME.

IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.
IT BLEW MY MIND.

[ ANIMAL GROWLS ]

Narrator: IN CALIFORNIA'S
SIERRA MOUNTAINS,

LEGENDS PERSIST
ABOUT AN ANCIENT BIGFOOT NATION

HIDDEN DEEP IN THE FOREST.

SOME BELIEVE THESE ARE
SHY AND GENTLE GIANTS.

OTHERS ASSERT THAT BIGFOOT

WILL DEFEND ITS TERRITORY
LIKE KING KONG.

IN 2011, JEFF GONZALEZ,
ALLEN THOMAS,

AND THEIR RESEARCH BUDDIES
LEARNED ABOUT

A SECRET LOCATION FOR BIGFOOT
IN THE SIERRAS.

Strain:
THIS PARTICULAR VALLEY,

THE NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE
ALWAYS TOLD ME, "DON'T GO THERE.

THIS PLACE
HAS GOT BIGFOOT THERE.

IF YOU GO,
SOMETHING'S GONNA HAPPEN."

Narrator: WARNED TO STEER CLEAR,
THEY WENT ANYWAY.

Allen:
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE,
DOWN IN THIS CANYON,

A LITTLE VALLEY THAT'S ABOUT
TWO HOURS AWAY FROM ANYONE.

YOU CAN'T GET PHONE SERVICE.

IT'S FAR.

Gonzalez:
THE PLAN ON THAT WEEKEND
WAS PRETTY MUCH

TO ARRIVE ON FRIDAY
AND TO LEAVE SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

Narrator: AS A TECHNICIAN
FOR THE TELEPHONE COMPANY,

JEFF GONZALEZ IS ADEPT
AT RIGGING SURVEILLANCE GEAR

FOR BIGFOOT INVESTIGATIONS.

I SET UP ALL OF OUR ELECTRONICS,
THE NIGHT-VISION CAMERAS,

MOTION DETECTORS, HOPING
SOMETHING WAS GONNA HAPPEN.

Man: GOT
THAT CAMERA READY, JEFF?

JUST TURNING IT ON.

Gonzalez: EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL.
HAD DINNER, YOU KNOW.

EVERYTHING WAS PRETTY QUIET.

Man:
ARE YOU OKAY?

YEAH. YEAH.
JUST ABOUT DONE HERE.

Narrator: THEIR CAMERA
WAS SCANNING THE WOODS.

ONLY IT WAS THE CAMPERS
WHO FELT WATCHED.

[ ANIMAL GROWLS ]

AS THEY SETTLED IN
FOR THE NIGHT,

HEAVY STORM CLOUDS APPROACHED.

SIERRA WEATHER IS UNPREDICTABLE.

WHEN A BIG STORM HITS,

SURVIVAL IN THE BACKCOUNTRY
IS AN IFFY PROPOSITION.

IT STARTED TO RAIN REALLY HARD.

YOU KNOW,
ALL OF US ARE IN ONE TENT.

THE TENT STARTED TO LEAK.

I WAS HALF-SOAKED.

MY SLEEPING BAG WAS SOAKED.

I MEAN, IT WAS LIKE
THE CAMPING TRIP FROM HELL.

WE WERE DEBATING,
"SHOULD WE LEAVE NOW?"

IT'S COMPLETE DARKNESS OUTSIDE.

SO WE SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE BETTER NOT."

[ THUNDER RUMBLES ]

Narrator:
THEN THEY HEARD THE HOWLING.

[ HOWLING ]

Allen: THAT SCARED ME SO BAD
I WAS FEELING IT IN MY STOMACH.

THERE ARE
SOME VERY FAMOUS SOUNDS

THAT HAVE BEEN RECORDED
IN THE SIERRAS --

SCREAMS AND HOWLS.

REALLY WELL DOCUMENTED.

Allen: IT WAS GETTING
LOUDER AND LOUDER AND LOUDER.

IT WAS COMING STRAIGHT FOR US.

WE RECORDED SOME AWESOME AUDIO
THAT WILL --

IT'LL MAKE YOUR SKIN CRAWL.

[ GROWL ]

Man:
IT'S GETTING LOUDER.

[ GROWL ]

Narrator: WHEN MORNING ARRIVED,
THEY WERE ALL SAFE.

ONLY, THE SENSE OF SECURITY
DIDN'T LAST LONG.

THE ROADS ARE VERY TREACHEROUS.

THE WATERS CAN GET UP
TO FIVE FEET ON THE DIRT ROAD

AND YOU'RE LUCKY
YOU'RE GONNA GET IN OR OUT.

SO THAT'S WHAT REALLY SCARED US.

Narrator:
STRANDED INSIDE ENEMY LINES,
THEY KNEW THEY HAD TO GO.

Gonzalez: WE STARTED THROWING
EVERYTHING IN THE TRUCKS

TO GET OUT OF THERE
AS SOON AS WE CAN.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

I STARTED MY TRUCK,
AND MY WHEELS STARTED TO SPIN.

I DID NOT HAVE
ANY TRACTION AT ALL.

I WAS PRETTY MUCH
DEAD IN THE WATER.

Gonzalez: I'M STUCK!
COME ON, COME ON, COME ON!

TRY AND HELP ME
GET MINE OUT.

NOW WE'RE SCARED.
WE HAVE ONE TRUCK THAT'S LEFT.

Man: COME ON.

Together:
ONE, TWO, THREE! LET'S GO!

WE WERE PUSHING THE VEHICLE.

WE GOT STUCK IN THE MUD.

IT SCARED US 'CAUSE WE THOUGHT
WE WERE NOT GONNA GET OUT.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

LET'S GO!
LET'S GO! LET'S GO!

Narrator:
THEY ALL CRAMMED INTO THE 4x4.

IT WAS THEIR LAST HOPE TO
MAKE IT OUT OF BIGFOOT VALLEY.

Gonzalez:
IT USUALLY TAKES US 15 MINUTES.

THAT MORNING, IT TOOK US
ALMOST TWO HOURS TO GET OUT.

Narrator:
A COUPLE DAYS LATER,

THEY RETURN TO RETRIEVE
THE VEHICLE THEY'D LEFT BEHIND.

BUT SOMEHOW,
THE SECLUDED ROAD HAD CHANGED.

Gonzalez: WE STARTED
TO RUN INTO BARRICADES.

SOMEBODY PHYSICALLY PLACED
TREE LIMBS IN THE DIRT ROAD.

THAT'S WHEN
I STARTED LOOKING AROUND.

IT STARTED
TO GET A LITTLE BIT SCARY.

A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE, THESE
THINGS WEREN'T ON THE ROAD.

Narrator: AND THEN THESE STRANGE
BARRICADES GOT EVEN STRANGER.

THERE WAS NO TRACKS,
NO TIRE TRACKS, NO FOOTPRINTS.

THERE WAS NOBODY UP THERE.

EVERYBODY'S JUST FLOORED.

EVERYBODY'S LOOKING
FOR ANY TYPE OF EVIDENCE.

Narrator: IT WAS AS IF THE LOGS
WERE A MESSAGE JUST FOR THEM.

WHEN YOU GO INTO AREAS
THAT ARE OCCUPIED BY A BIGFOOT,

THEY WILL DO THINGS
TO KEEP YOU OUT.

[ ANIMAL GROWLS ]

Allen:
PEOPLE THAT RESEARCH BIGFOOT,
THEY KNOW RIGHT AWAY

WHEN THEY START
SEEING THESE BARRICADES,

THAT'S A BIGFOOT, NOT A HUMAN.

IT'S A BIGFOOT.

Narrator: AND BIGFOOT'S WORK
WENT ON AND ON.

THERE WAS FOUR BARRICADES.

THE FIRST THREE
WERE REGULAR TREE LIMBS

THAT ANYBODY COULD'VE PLACED
IN THE ROAD.

THE FOURTH BARRICADE
REALLY BLEW MY MIND.

IT MUST'VE WEIGHED
OVER 1,000 POUNDS.

IT WAS LIKE 14 FEET LONG
AND 14 INCHES AROUND.

IT TOOK FOUR OF US ON OUR KNEES
TO PUSH THAT LOG OUT OF THE WAY.

EVERYBODY WAS JUST BLOWN AWAY.

Narrator:
AN INTIMIDATING DISPLAY
OF MONSTER MUSCLE.

Strain: IF A BIGFOOT
DOESN'T WANT YOU SOMEWHERE,

THEY WILL MAKE SURE
THAT YOU KNOW ABOUT IT.

[ ANIMAL GROWLS ]

YOU'LL GET SCREAMED AT,

YOU'LL GET ROCKS
THROWN AT YOU SOMETIMES,

AND WHEN THOSE THINGS HAPPEN,
IT'S BETTER FOR YOU TO LEAVE.

Narrator: THEY'D COME TOO FAR
TO TURN BACK.

IT TOOK ALL THEIR COURAGE
TO PRESS ON

TO RECOVER
THEIR ABANDONED TRUCK.

AND WHEN THEY ARRIVED,
ONE LAST MESSAGE FROM BIGFOOT.

Gonzalez: WE GOT THERE.

I LOOKED RIGHT AT MY TRUCK.

I OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR.

I SEE WHAT LOOKS LIKE
A CREATURE LOOKING RIGHT AT ME.

IT FELT LIKE SOMEBODY
SOCKED ME IN THE STOMACH.

THAT SCARED ME TO DEATH.

Narrator: THE SIERRA MOUNTAINS
OF CALIFORNIA --

BIGFOOT TERRITORY.

IN 2011,
A STORM FORCES A RESEARCH GROUP

TO ABANDON THEIR VEHICLE
IN THE MOUNTAINS.

COME ON, COME ON,
COME ON!

TRY AND HELP ME
GET MINE OUT.

DAYS LATER, WHEN THEY RETURNED,

THEY FOUND THAT BIGFOOT
HAD LEFT HIS CALLING CARD.

WE ARRIVED AT THE SPOT.
I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK.

I STARTED TO WALK,

LOOKING VERY CAREFULLY
FOR ANY TYPE OF FOOTPRINTS.

I OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR,
AND I HAD TO CATCH MY BREATH.

IT'S A PICTURE
RIGHT ON THE WINDOW.

Allen:
JEFFREY -- ALL OF A SUDDEN,
HE HAD THIS SICK LOOK.

I MEAN, IT ABSOLUTELY LOOKED
LIKE HE SAW A GHOST.

Gonzalez:
I ALMOST WENT DOWN ON MY KNEES.

IT WAS SO INTENSE.

IT WAS SO IN YOUR FACE.

IT LOOKED LIKE SOMEBODY
WAS LOOKING RIGHT AT ME.

THAT SCARED ME.

Narrator: ON JEFF'S WINDOW
WAS A MASSIVE SMUDGE --

THE OILY OUTLINES
OF A BEASTLY FACE.

Gonzalez:
IT FREAKED ME OUT SO BAD,
I WAS JUST, LIKE, FROZEN.

WE ALL KNEW IT WAS A BIGFOOT.

A BIGFOOT MADE THAT IMPRESSION
ON THE WINDOW.

EVERYBODY WAS INTENSE.

IS WHATEVER LEFT THE IMPRESSIONS
ON THESE WINDOWS STILL HERE?

SO, THAT GOT US TO THINKING
REALLY, REALLY QUICK.

"LET'S JUST GET OUR TRUCKS GOING
AND LET'S GET OUT OF HERE."

ON THE WAY DOWN,
I CALL MY FRIEND MICKEY BURROW,

WHO WAS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

HE'S A FORENSIC EXPERT.

AND HE STARTS TO LAUGH AT ME.

I SAID, "WE HAVE THE BEST
EVIDENCE I THINK EVER

OF WHAT WE THINK THIS IS --
A BIGFOOT."

HE WAS VERY EXCITED.

INITIALLY, HE ASKED ME
TO JUST COME TAKE A LOOK AT IT

AND PHOTOGRAPH IT FOR HIM,
WHICH I HAD NO PROBLEM DOING.

Narrator:
AS A CRIME-SCENE INVESTIGATOR
WITH 16 YEARS ON THE JOB,

MICKEY BURROW IS FAMILIAR
WITH CASES OF MURDER AND MAYHEM.

WHAT COULD HE DO

WITH A SASQUATCH-SIZE SMUDGE
ON JEFF'S CAR WINDOW?

I APPROACHED THIS
AS IF IT WAS A CRIME SCENE,

JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
EXACTLY IT IS I'M LOOKING AT.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

Narrator: SOON,
THE FACE PRINT CAME INTO FOCUS.

Burrows: WE'RE LOOKING
AT A VERY LARGE CREATURE.

THE LIPS, IN WIDTH,
WERE EIGHT INCHES ACROSS,

AND THE NOSTRILS
WERE SIX INCHES ACROSS.

AND I'M THINKING,
"YOU KNOW WHAT?

IF THERE'S GONNA BE DNA HERE,
IT'S PROBABLY IN THE BEST STATE

THAT WE'RE GONNA FIND IT IN
IS RIGHT HERE.

HE GOT THE DNA, AND HE
ENCLOSED THEM IN THE TUBES.

Narrator:
WITHIN ALL THAT SLOBBER,

IS THERE THE MEANS
FOR IDENTIFYING THE MONSTER?

AFTER THE TEST,
IT CAME BACK THAT IT WAS --

IT HAD HUMAN
POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION,

WHICH WAS VERY ODD TO ME

BECAUSE WHEN MICKEY TOOK
THE SAMPLES OF THE DNA,

HE WAS VERY CAREFUL WITH IT.

AT ALL TIMES, GLOVES WERE WORN.

OUR FACES WERE FAR APART
FROM THE WINDOWS

TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE DIDN'T BREATHE ON THEM.

Narrator:
THE TEAM MAY HAVE CONTAMINATED
THE SAMPLES WITH THEIR OWN DNA.

ANOTHER THEORY ARGUES
THAT THE PRESENCE OF HUMAN DNA

POINTS TO BIGFOOT'S
HALF-HUMAN HERITAGE.

IT'S A QUESTION STILL WAITING
FOR ANSWERS.

EVEN WITHOUT DNA PROOF,

MICKEY AND JEFF ARE IMPRESSED
WITH THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.

Gonzalez: WHEN I SAW
THAT FACE IN THE WINDOW,

I KNEW EXACTLY
WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT.

THERE'S SOMETHING
OUT IN THOSE WOODS

THAT YOU NEED TO BE
VERY CAREFUL ABOUT.

Burrows: WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE IS OUT THERE.

I MEAN, THIS COULD BE
THE FIND OF THE CENTURY.

THERE ARE CREATURES OUT THERE
THAT WE --

THAT HAVE YET TO BE DISCOVERED,

AND THIS COULD BE
ONE OF THOSE CREATURES.

Narrator: 75 MILES
DOWN THE CENTRAL VALLEY,

ANOTHER TOWN SITS
ALONGSIDE RUGGED WILDERNESS.

ONLY HERE, RATHER THAN BIGFOOT,

TROUBLE ARRIVES
WITH TINY, TERRIFYING STEPS.

THE QUIET RIVER TOWN
OF PORTERVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

ITS HISTORIC MAIN STREET IS
REMINISCENT OF AN EARLIER TIME,

WHEN GOLD SEEKERS AND SETTLERS

BRAVED THE MOUNTAINS
TO FIND THEIR FORTUNES.

IN THIS FRONTIER TOWN,
SOMETIMES EVIL GREETS NEWCOMERS.

PORTERVILLE IS THE KIND OF PLACE
I WOULD EXPECT TO SEE

SOMETHING WEIRD, SOMETHING
PARANORMAL OR JUST STRANGE.

Narrator:
TAMMY THOMAS CAME TO PORTERVILLE

TO START A NEW LIFE
FOR HER FAMILY.

A WIDOW AND SINGLE MOTHER,

TAMMY WAS HOPING
TO MOVE PAST MISFORTUNE.

SHE HAD FOUND A HOUSE ALONG
THE TULE RIVER WEST OF TOWN.

Tammy: WE HAD LIVED
WITH MY PARENTS FOR A WHILE

AFTER OUR HOUSE BURNED DOWN.

I WAS SO HAPPY
TO HAVE MY OWN HOME AGAIN,

WHERE ME AND THE KIDS
COULD BE COMFORTABLE

AND THEY HAD A PLACE
WHERE THEY COULD

GO RUN AND PLAY
AND JUST BE KIDS.

Narrator:
TAMMY ENJOYED BEING OUTDOORS

AND BEGAN TO PLANT
A LITTLE GARDEN.

Cockren: IT WAS A PRETTY BIG
PIECE OF PROPERTY.

WE USED TO HAVE CHICKENS,
PEACOCKS, DOGS, CATS.

ANYTHING YOU COULD THINK OF,
WE HAD IT.

Narrator: THEY SOON REALIZED
THEIR NEW HOME

WASN'T AS PEACEFUL
AS IT APPEARED.

Tammy: I STARTED FEELING
THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.

I BEGAN HEARING NOISES
THAT I COULD NOT EXPLAIN.

[ SHUFFLING ]

WE WOULD HEAR WHAT SOUNDED LIKE
SOMEBODY RUNNING

OR SOMETHING RUNNING
REALLY, REALLY FAST.

THERE WAS AN OLD SHED
BESIDE THE HOUSE.

NONE OF THE ANIMALS
WOULD GO NEAR IT.

MY DOGS, THE NEIGHBORS' DOGS --
NOTHING WOULD GO NEAR THAT SHED.

I STARTED FEELING NERVOUS.

SOMETHING WAS THERE
THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN.

IT WAS JUST AN EERIE FEELING.

WE COULD FEEL IT --

SOME THING WATCHING US
OUT THE WINDOW OF THAT SHED.

Narrator: A DARK PRESENCE
WAS CREEPING INTO THEIR LIVES.

TAMMY DID NOT WANT TO CROSS
PATHS WITH WHATEVER IT WAS.

SHE KEPT HER CHILDREN CLOSE.

Tammy:
I STOPPED GOING OUT AT NIGHT.

I LIKE TO SIT OUTSIDE
IN THE EVENINGS, BUT AFTER THAT,

I WOULDN'T GO OUTSIDE ANYMORE,
AND I DIDN'T LET MY KIDS

GO OUTSIDE AT NIGHT
BY THEMSELVES.

Narrator:
BUT ONE NIGHT, TAMMY GOT HOME
A LITTLE AFTER DARK.

COME HERE, GAVIN.

ALL RIGHT. DOWN WE GO.

YOU ALL RIGHT?

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?

WHAT ARE...

WHEN I TURNED AROUND, THERE WAS
A CREATURE STANDING THERE.

[ MANIACAL LAUGHTER ]

IT WAS LAUGHING.

I WAS SCARED TO DEATH.

Narrator:
IN THE FOOTHILLS OF CALIFORNIA'S
SIERRA MOUNTAINS,

A LITTLE BIT OF EVIL
IS LURKING --

SOMETHING TINY BUT TERRIFYING.

MONSTERS AREN'T NECESSARILY BIG.

SOMETIMES, SOMETHING SINISTER
COMES IN A SMALL PACKAGE.

Offutt:
GNOMES HAVE BEEN REPORTED
ALL OVER THE WORLD.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT NAMES
FOR THEM --

TROLLS, GOBLINS, ELVES.

BUT THEY'RE ALL BASICALLY
THE SAME TYPE OF CREATURE.

THEY'RE SMALL,
CHILDREN-SIZED CREATURES,

AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE GOOD,
AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE BAD.

GNOMES, IF THEY'RE ANGERED,
WILL TAKE IT OUT ON PEOPLE.

ANYTHING,
FROM SOMETHING MISCHIEVOUS

LIKE TYING
ANIMALS' TAILS TOGETHER

TO AS FAR
AS EATING HOUSEHOLD PETS.

LITTLE ONES, WHEN THEY'RE GOOD,

ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GUARDIANS
AND THEY BRING YOU GOOD LUCK.

BUT THE BAD ONES
ARE SUPPOSED TO BE

AN OMEN OF SOMETHING VERY BAD.

[ GNOME GROWLS ]

Narrator: IT WAS PROBABLY
ONE OF THE BAD ONES

THAT TAMMY THOMAS ENCOUNTERED

ON A NIGHT IN 1999
AS SHE ARRIVED HOME.

Tammy: STAND RIGHT THERE
WHILE I GET THE GROCERIES.

MY GRANDSON AND I HAD COME HOME
FROM GROCERY SHOPPING.

Narrator:
AFTER TAKING HER GRANDSON
OUT OF THE CAR

AND UNLOADING THE GROCERIES...

GAVIN?

...TAMMY LOST TRACK OF THE BOY.

GAVIN?

GAVIN!

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?

WHAT ARE...
[ MANIACAL LAUGHTER ]

Tammy:
WHEN I TURNED AROUND,

THERE WAS A CREATURE
STANDING THERE, LOOKING AT US.

[ GROWLING ]

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DESCRIBE IT

OTHER THAN IT LOOKED LIKE
AN EVIL GARDEN GNOME.

Cockren: ALL I SEE
IS THESE BIG, GLOWING, RED EYES.

I JUST FROZE 'CAUSE I DIDN'T
KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

Tammy: WE WERE PROBABLY
ABOUT 25, 30 FEET AWAY.

I WAS SCARED TO DEATH --
MORE SCARED THAN I'D EVER BEEN.

I KNOW IT WAS EVIL
BY THE WAY IT LAUGHED AT US.

IT CACKLED.

I GRABBED MY GRANDSON

AND RAN INTO THE HOUSE
AS FAST AS WE COULD GO.

Narrator: LEGENDS ABOUT GNOMES
ARE PERVASIVE AROUND THE WORLD.

EVEN THE CALIFORNIA
INDIAN TRIBES

IN THE PORTERVILLE AREA

TELL STORIES
ABOUT A GNOME-LIKE MONSTER

KNOWN AS THE WATER BABY.

WATER BABIES ARE CREATURES
THAT LIVE IN THE TULE RIVER

IN PORTERVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

Offutt:
THEY'RE SMALL, THEY'RE POWERFUL
IN THEIR OWN CERTAIN WAY,

AND IF YOU ANGER THEM,
THEY WILL TAKE IT OUT ON YOU.

Strain:
THEY ARE KNOWN TO CREEP

INTO THE AREA
WHERE YOU'RE SLEEPING AT NIGHT

AND SMOTHER YOU,
CAUSING YOUR DEATH.

[ GNOME GROWLS ]

Narrator: WHEN TAMMY THOMAS
ENCOUNTERED A GNOME...

GIRLS!

...SHE FELT
HER HOME HAD BEEN INVADED,

HER FAMILY UNDER ATTACK.

Tammy:
MY GRANDSON WAS SHAKING.

HE WAS CRYING.
HE WAS SCARED TO DEATH.

Narrator: THEY MANAGED
TO GET SAFELY INSIDE.

BUT THE GNOME WASN'T LEAVING.

[ MANIACAL LAUGHTER ]
SHH.

[ SCRAPING ]

WE HEARD SOMETHING
AT THE WINDOW.

I COULD
STILL HEAR IT LAUGHING --

THAT CROAKING, GURGLY LAUGH.

AND WE COULD SEE
UNDER THE SHADES

THE TOP OF THE CREATURE'S HAT.

AND I PULLED THE CORD
TO LET THE WINDOW BLIND DOWN,

AND, UH...

[ LAUGHTER CONTINUES ]

UM...

[ SNIFFLES ]

[ SIGHS, SNIFFLES ]

[ GROWLS ]

AAH!
WHAT IS THAT?

[ GIRL SCREAMS ]

IT WAS JUST SITTING
OUTSIDE THE WINDOW.

AND THAT FREAKED US OUT.

I REMEMBER JUST FREAKING OUT
AND SCREAMING, "WHAT IS THAT?

WHAT IS THAT?"

Tammy:
I WAS AFRAID THAT IT WAS GONNA
TRY TO COME IN THE HOUSE...

GO UPSTAIRS NOW!

...AND GET ONE OF MY KIDS.

I RAN AND MADE SURE
ALL THE DOORS WERE LOCKED,

MADE SURE
ALL THE WINDOWS WERE LOCKED.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I KNEW IF I TRIED TO CALL
THE POLICE, I'D BE LAUGHED AT.

COME HERE, GAVIN.
COME HERE, BABY.

WE ALL SLEPT
IN THE SAME ROOM THAT NIGHT.

I WOULDN'T LET THEM
OUT OF MY SIGHT.

Narrator:
DESPITE ITS FAIRY-TALE APPAREL,
TAMMY KNEW IN A FLASH

SOMETHING SUPERNATURAL
HAD COME TO CALL.

AND IT SHOWED
NO SIGNS OF MOVING ON.

Tammy:
I WAS STILL TERRIFIED

BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS
STILL OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.

I WAS AFRAID THAT IT WAS
GONNA TRY TO COME IN THE HOUSE.

Narrator:
IN THE FOOTHILLS OF THE SIERRAS

IN THE TOWN
OF PORTERVILLE, CALIFORNIA,

TAMMY THOMAS AND HER FAMILY
SPENT MONTHS UNDER SIEGE...

[ MANIACAL LAUGHTER ]
Tammy: AAH!

...AGAINST A MINI-MONSTER --
AN EVIL GNOME.

GIRLS, WHERE ARE YOU?

FIRST, A TERRIFYING ATTACK
OUTSIDE HER HOME.

THEN, TWO NIGHTS LATER,
IT STRUCK AGAIN.

MY GRANDSON AND I
WERE SITTING ON THE COUCH

AND WATCHING TV WHEN WE HEARD

SOME OF THE PLANT POTS
ON THE BACK DECK

FALL OFF THE RAIL.

[ CLATTER ]

AND A COUPLE SECONDS LATER
WE HEARD THE DOOR,

AND WHEN WE WENT TO LOOK,
IT WAS THE CREATURE.

AND AS SOON AS IT SAW US
LOOKING AT IT, IT DISAPPEARED.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT RAN.

IT JUST DISAPPEARED.

Narrator:
THE NEXT DAY, TAMMY FOUND
HER GARDEN PULLED APART.

IT WASN'T JUST ONCE
AND IT WASN'T JUST TWICE.

IT KEPT HAPPENING.

Narrator:
OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,

THE CREATURE STALKED TAMMY
AND HER FAMILY MERCILESSLY.

[ GNOME GROWLS ]

EVENTUALLY, TAMMY SAVED UP
ENOUGH TO MOVE OUT.

WE MOVED OUT AS FAST AS WE COULD
AND NEVER LOOKED BACK.

BUT I NEVER STOPPED
THINKING ABOUT THE GNOME.

Narrator:
TAMMY STRUGGLED TO MAKE SENSE
OF WHAT SHE HAD EXPERIENCED.

AND SHE TURNED
TO THE INTERNET FOR HELP,

POSTING HER ENCOUNTER ON A BLOG.

JASON OFFUTT'S WEBSITE
IS OFTEN A FORUM

FOR PEOPLE PLAGUED BY STRANGE,
INEXPLICABLE ENCOUNTERS.

ANOTHER WOMAN, NAMED CHARLIE,

HAD CONTACTED JASON
ABOUT A SINISTER GNOME

THAT HAD RUN HER FAMILY
OUT OF THEIR HOME.

WHEN I INTERVIEWED HER,
I KEPT PUTTING TOGETHER

THE CLOSENESS TO THE RIVER,
THE DESCRIPTION OF THE HOUSE,

THE FACT THAT THIS
CREEPY SHED WAS THERE.

SO I PUT THEM IN CONTACT
WITH ONE ANOTHER.

Narrator:
TWO STORIES ABOUT EVIL GNOMES,
THEN AN AMAZING DISCOVERY.

Tammy: WE STARTED TALKING
BACK AND FORTH,

AND SHE GAVE ME THE ADDRESS.

OH, MY GOD.

I WAS SHOCKED.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.

IT WAS THE SAME HOUSE.

Narrator:
CHARLIE HAD RENTED THE HOUSE
SOME YEARS BEFORE --

SAME HOUSE, SAME GNOME.

Tammy: IT MADE ME FEEL
LIKE I WASN'T CRAZY

BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE
HAD SEEN THE SAME THING.

I WAS TERRIFIED
BECAUSE I KNEW THEN IT WAS REAL.

Offutt:
TAMMY AND CHARLIE GOT TOGETHER
AND WENT OUT TO THE HOUSE,

AND THEY FOUND
THE SHED HAD BEEN TORN DOWN.

Narrator: THE SHED WAS GONE,
THE EVIL GNOME EVICTED.

ALL WE SAW WAS ONE, BUT I THINK

THAT THERE'S MORE
OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.

IT'S STILL ALWAYS
IN THE BACK OF MY MIND.

THERE'S ALWAYS
THAT LITTLE BIT OF FEAR

THAT SOMETIME
IT MIGHT COME BACK.

[ GNOME GROWLS ]

Narrator: 260 MILES SOUTH,
THE SIERRAS GIVE WAY

TO ANOTHER
INLAND CALIFORNIA WILDERNESS,

A PLACE WHERE SCRUB MOUNTAINS
MIX WITH THE BARREN MOJAVE.

AND PERCHED IMPROBABLY
IN ALL THIS WASTELAND,

THE RESORT TOWN OF PALM SPRINGS.

Flood: WELL, THE WILDERNESS
IS VERY CLOSE IN PALM SPRINGS,

BECAUSE THERE ARE
A LOT OF WASHES,

WHICH HARBOR
A LOT OF WILD ANIMALS,

COYOTES PARTICULARLY.

A LOT OF PLACES TO GET LOST,
A LOT OF CANYONS,

A LOT OF TRAILS, A LOT OF PLACES
YOU CAN'T IDENTIFY,

YOU KNOW,
EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE.

Narrator: JUST NEXT
TO ALL THIS WILDERNESS,

PEOPLE COME TO PALM SPRINGS
FOR REST AND RELAXATION.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS SO RESTFUL.

Palfrey:
IN A GOLF-COURSE COMMUNITY,

YOU DON'T THINK
OF COYOTES ROAMING AROUND

WHEN THE MOON COMES OUT
AND THEY'RE ALL HUNGRY

AND ROAMING AROUND
LOOKING FOR DINNER.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT
OF ANIMALISTIC NOISES

NEAR THE GOLF COURSE
OVER THE YEARS,

PARTICULARLY IN THE EVENING.

Narrator: AND SOME OF THESE
ANIMALISTIC NOISES

ARE ATTRIBUTED
TO CREATURES FAR LARGER,

FAR MORE BLOODTHIRSTY
THAN COYOTES --

THE LEGENDARY HELLHOUND,
MONGREL BEARERS OF DEATH --

BLACK AS CHARCOAL,
GLOWING EYES, RAZOR FANGS.

THERE ARE SIGHTINGS OF
HELLHOUNDS REPORTED WORLDWIDE

AND THEY'VE BEEN OCCURRING
FOR CENTURIES NOW.

SPECIFICALLY, THERE HAVE BEEN
SIGHTINGS ACROSS THE U.S.

AND ALL THE WAY OVER

TO THE WESTERN PORTIONS
OF CALIFORNIA.

I'VE READ ABOUT
HELLHOUNDS BEING SEEN,

WHICH ARE VICIOUS ASTRAL DOGS

WITH SHARP TEETH
AND SOMETIMES RED EYES

AND ABLE TO MOVE
AT INCREDIBLE SPEEDS,

BUT NO PHYSICAL BEING
CAN MOVE THAT FAST.

Narrator:
IMAGINE THESE CREATURES
VEERED FROM THE BACKCOUNTRY

AND SET THEIR SIGHTS
ON SUBURBIA.

RESIDENTS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD
IN PALM SPRINGS

ARE STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND

WHAT HAPPENED ONE RAINY NIGHT
IN EARLY 2013.

Palfrey: WE'RE SITTING DOWN
AND WATCHING TELEVISION.

I TOLD MY WIFE, "I'M GONNA
GO OUT AND LOCK THE GATE,"

WHICH WE LIKED TO DO
WHEN IT GETS DARK,

JUST FOR SECURITY PURPOSES.

[ THUNDER RUMBLING ]

[ CREATURE SNORTS ]

[ GROWLING ]
IT SOUNDED LIKE GROWLING.

I COULD HEAR THEM
BREATHING REAL HARD.

I LOOKED ACROSS THE STREET,
AND IT JUST BLEW ME AWAY.

THESE BIG MONSTER ANIMALS
LOOKED KIND OF LIKE A DOG,

BUT THEY HAD A HEAD OF A WOLF,

BUT THEY WERE
BIGGER THAN A WOLF.

I REALLY WAS TERRIFIED.
THEY WERE RUNNING REAL FAST.

THEY WERE UNLIKE
ANYTHING I'D EVER SEEN.

THESE WEREN'T HOUND DOGS.
THESE ARE HELLHOUNDS.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

Narrator:
WHEN RON PALFREY RETIRED

FROM THE PRINTING BUSINESS
15 YEARS AGO,

HE AND HIS WIFE
MOVED TO THEIR DREAM HOUSE

ALONG A GOLF COURSE
IN PALM SPRINGS.

ONE APRIL EVENING IN 2013,

THAT DREAM TURNED INTO
A HELLHOUND NIGHTMARE.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

[ CREATURES SNORT ]

[ CREATURES GROWLING ]

Palfrey: I JUST SAW
THESE BIG MONSTER ANIMALS.

THEY LOOKED LIKE DOGS,

BUT THEY WERE BIG DOGS
WITH A WOLF'S HEAD.

YOU KNOW,
IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME.

THEY WERE REALLY AGGRESSIVE.

THEY LOOKED BLOODTHIRSTY.

I WAS ACTUALLY
SCARED FOR MY LIFE.

[ CREATURE GROWLS ]

I IMMEDIATELY CAME RUNNING IN

AND LOCKED THE FRONT DOOR
OF THE HOUSE.

RON CAME RUNNING IN THE HOUSE.
HE WAS BESIDE HIMSELF.

HE SAID HE SAW THESE ANIMALS
RUN ACROSS THE STREET,

AND HE WAS JUST SCARED
BECAUSE HE SAID

HE WASN'T SURE
WHAT IN THE HECK IT WAS.

Narrator: HELLHOUNDS.

STORIES
ABOUT THE MONSTROUS CANINES

GO BACK TO BIBLICAL TIMES.

THE HELLHOUND
IS STEEPED IN MYSTERY.

THEY EITHER HAVE
CONTROL OVER FIRE,

OR, IN SOME CASES,
THEY CAN POSSIBLY BREATHE FIRE.

ACCORDING TO THE LEGEND,

YOU DEFINITELY DON'T WANT
TO LOOK THIS THING IN THE EYES.

I MEAN, THAT'D BE THE LAST THING
YOU'D WANT TO DO.

THEY'RE POWERFUL DOGS.

THEY'RE JUST
GONNA CHASE YOU DOWN.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ENCOUNTER
ONE OF THESE THINGS

[LAUGHS] YOU BETTER RUN.

THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

Narrator: WHILE RON PALFREY
WAS IN THE MIDST

OF HIS NIGHTMARE THAT EVENING,

HIS NEIGHBOR JIM FLOOD
SLEPT SOUNDLY,

UNAWARE THAT SOMETHING WICKED
HAD COME TO CALL.

AFTER MANY YEARS OF RUNNING

A PUBLIC-RELATIONS AGENCY
IN L.A.,

JIM FLOOD ALSO RETIRED
TO PALM SPRINGS.

Flood: THE PACE IN PALM SPRINGS
IS A LOT SLOWER.

IT'S A LOT MORE RELAXED.

IN MANY PLACES,
THEY DON'T HAVE STREETLIGHTS

BECAUSE THEY WANT PEOPLE TO BE
ABLE TO SEE THE STARS AT NIGHT.

WE WALK IN THE EVENING,
WE WALK AT DUSK,

WE WALK IN THE MORNING,
WE WALK AT DARK.

YOU KNOW, IN PALM SPRINGS,

IT'S PRETTY COMFORTABLE
AND VERY SAFE.

Narrator:
BUT THAT FEELING OF SECURITY
WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE.

Flood:
WELL, THAT MORNING, IT WAS
A TYPICAL SUNDAY MORNING FOR US.

I USUALLY GET UP AROUND 6:30.

I WALKED OUT
TO PICK UP THE SUNDAY PAPER.

OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE,
I NOTICED SOMETHING

LIKE A LITTLE REFLECTOR
OR A PIECE THAT LOOKED LIKE

IT WAS PART OF THE CAR
LYING ON THE GRAVEL.

I WENT OVER THERE
AND TOOK A LOOK AT IT.

I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I SAW.

Narrator: THEN JIM SAW
THE COVER ON HIS CAR...

MY GOD.

...RIPPED AND TORN.

HEY, HONEY,
COME OUT HERE!

I THOUGHT IMMEDIATELY THAT
SOMEBODY HAD VANDALIZED THE CAR.

HONEY!
WHAT'S WRONG?

VANDALS ARE NOT NORMAL,

PARTICULARLY
IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE THOUGHT, "WELL,
WE BETTER CALL THE POLICE."

LOOKING AT THE FRONT.

Narrator:
VANDALISM IS PAINFUL.

THIS DAMAGE
WAS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT.

Palfrey: THE POLICE CAME OUT,
AND THEY SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS WASN'T MISCHIEF
BY ANY KIDS OR ANYTHING.

THIS WAS SOME KIND OF AN ANIMAL
THAT DID THIS."

Flood:
I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I SAW.

METAL WAS TORN,
PLASTIC WAS TORN.

I MEAN, IT WAS AMAZING.

THEY LITERALLY TORE OFF
THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS BUMPER.

Flood: THE ENTIRE COVER
AROUND WHERE THE WHEEL IS

TOTALLY RIPPED OFF
AND LYING NEXT TO IT.

IT HAD TO BE
SOMETHING THAT WAS STRONG.

THERE WERE TEETH MARKS. THERE
WERE FANGS AND HUGE, BIG HOLES.

Palfrey: AND THEN THERE WAS
A LITTLE BIT OF SALIVA

OR SOMETHING ON THE FENDER.

AND THEN OVER HERE.
LOOK AT THESE PAW PRINTS.

THAT'S WHAT
IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME.

PAW PRINTS ON THE DRIVER -- BIG.

IT WAS HARD TO FIGURE.

IT WAS REALLY HARD TO FIGURE
WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED.

Narrator: THE CAR COVER RIPPED,
FANG MARKS ON THE BUMPER,

AND PAW PRINTS ON THE GROUND.

JIM.

JIM.

AND THAT'S WHEN I PUT
TWO AND TWO TOGETHER AND SAID,

"JIM, I THINK
I SAW THOSE ANIMALS."

RON TOLD US ABOUT
THE TWO LARGE ANIMALS

THAT HE SAW ACROSS THE STREET
FROM HIS HOUSE

RUNNING TOWARDS OUR HOUSE.

HE SAID, "OBVIOUSLY
CHASING SOMETHING.

THEY WERE RUNNING PRETTY FAST."

[ CREATURE GROWLS ]

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
THE STRENGTH OF WHATEVER ANIMAL

THAT COULD DO THIS
TO AN AUTOMOBILE, TO THE METAL,

IT'S HARD TO KNOW
WHAT THEY WOULD DO TO A PERSON.

Palfrey: YOU KNOW,
IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME.

THESE ARE REALLY WEIRD ANIMALS.

I MEAN, THEY'RE
A DIFFERENT BREED, TOTALLY,

THAN WHAT I'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.

I WOULDN'T EXPECT TO SEE
ANY KIND OF A BIG, HAIRY BEAST

IN PALM SPRINGS AT ALL.

THESE KIND OF THINGS
DON'T HAPPEN.

IT WAS SOMETHING
TOTALLY IN OUTER SPACE

THAT THIS COULD EVER HAPPEN
IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

Narrator: WHERE TOWNS BUMP UP
AGAINST ROUGH COUNTRY

AND FAMILY HOMES
ARE SET CLOSE TO THE WILD,

THOSE ARE THE PLACES
MYSTERIOUS BEASTS

ARE FOUND TO BE LURKING.

Flood:
NOW, WHEN I GO OUTSIDE,

I'M A LOT MORE CAUTIOUS
THAN I USED TO BE.

THE UNKNOWN IS KIND OF SCARY,

AND I REALLY DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO EXPECT.

Allen:
WHEN I GO TO THE MOUNTAINS NOW,
I FEEL LIKE I'M THE HUNTED.

I'M THE PREY.

I'M NOT THE APEX PREDATOR
ANYMORE. THEY ARE.

THEY LIVE IN THE WOODS.
THEY'RE NINJAS OF THE FOREST.

THEY CAN BE FIVE FEET FROM YOU
AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW IT.

ANYTIME THEY WANT, THEY COULD
JUMP OUT AND POP YOUR HEAD OFF.

PFFT.

CARRY YOU AWAY.