Name: Mark Wilson

Age: 52

Number of witnesses: 1

Location of Sighting: Canaan Valley, WV

Date of sighting: 4/16/21

What you believe the creature was: Two Hyena-like creatures

Message: “I had just finished up dropping my third load of garbage in the eighteen-wheeler I drive in Thomas WV Landfill and I was driving through Canaan Valley. I was nearing the end of the straight stretch overlooking the fields at the Canaan Valley State Park. Off to the right, I could see something running in the distance coming my way. At first, I thought it was a deer until I saw it getting closer. I slowed my truck down and stopped when I saw it heading toward my truck.

A dead deer was lying off the side of the road to my right. This creature came up over the bank to exactly where the deer was lying dead and stood there looking at me. It was as tall as a donkey. It was a light brown color with black spots everywhere. The only animal I could describe it resembling was a hyena. It had a long mouth with so many teeth, it looked like it couldn't close its mouth because it had so many teeth. I could see defining heavy muscles all through its body. It looked like it had hooves, but it was split. It stared at me for several seconds. It was not afraid of my truck or the noise coming from my truck. I was so shocked I froze. After staring at this thing for several seconds, it grabbed the deer like it was nothing and ran across the road with the deer in its mouth.

I have lived in this state all my life and I have never seen anything like this creature. I was terrified and trying to process what I just saw. I knew I had to go because I was in the road. I started down the road, within a hundred yards a second one crossed the road, heading in the same direction as the other one. I thought I was losing my mind. I never thought in a million years I would see something like this, but I just saw two of these freaking things. My fiancé watches programs about cryptids and I say that stuff isn't real, but today I am eating my words because the creatures I saw do not belong here. I will never go fishing again without my pistol, but I wonder if a pistol would even bring these things down.”

“User Submitted” articles are shared by actual witnesses and posted without edits. The purpose is not to try and explain or prove/disprove the events which the witness experienced above, but allow them to share their story as a way for others to become knowledgeable on the strange subjects within our weird world. The PBI makes no claim on the validity of the encounter above, but allows you, the reader, to decide for yourself.

-The Pine Barrens Institute

Image Credit: Wild Images

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