CA, US & World
Bigfoot in Ohio? "The Ohio Flap of 2026" Sparks New Debate Over Sasquatch Sightings
PORTAGE COUNTY, OH — For nearly two decades, Mike Miller of the Ohio Night Stalkers has been scouring the woods for a mystery he believes is always just around the next corner. For folklorist Benjamin Radford, that same mystery is a source of constant scientific disappointment. But in March 2026, both men—and much of Northeast Ohio—found themselves pulled into a sudden surge of activity now being called the "Ohio Flap of 2026."
The "flap," a term used by enthusiasts to describe a dense cluster of sightings in a short window, centered on Portage County, just east of Akron. Between March 6 and March 10, reports flooded in describing unidentified hairy figures averaging eight to ten feet tall, primarily in the wooded corridors along the Mahoning River.
A Herd on the Move?
Jeremiah Byron, host of the Bigfoot Society Podcast, was at the center of collecting and mapping these reports. He posited that a dramatic change in weather—a hard winter freeze followed by a sudden spring thaw—may have put a "Bigfoot herd" on the move.
The reports followed a specific eastward migration pattern through locations like Mantua Center, Garrettsville, Windham, and Newton Township. Witnesses described encounters that left even seasoned observers shaken:
The "Stilt" Gait: Multiple witnesses on the Headwaters Trail reported a 10-foot black figure with a unique, "stilt-like" walk and a torso that pivoted at the shoulders rather than the neck.
The Newton Township Shadow: A resident reported a 10-foot dark figure crashing through the woodline at 4:00 a.m., leaving their usually brave German Shepherd "shaking with fear."
Daylight Boldness: Uncharacteristically, half of the primary reports occurred in broad daylight, suggesting the creatures prioritized movement over their usual stealth.
Law Enforcement Joins the Fray
While the sightings were terrifying for some, local law enforcement took a more lighthearted approach. Portage County Sheriff Bruce D. Zuchowski published a series of satirical "gag" posts on social media, claiming that Bigfoot had been detained by authorities and ICE before "escaping" across the Canadian border.
However, the Sheriff admitted to CNN affiliate WOIO that his office received at least ten legitimate calls from residents who weren't laughing. "They were like, 'I was walking my dog at 4 a.m. and I saw this hairy figure and I smelled this musty odor,'" Zuchowski said.
The Science of Skepticism
Despite the flurry of 2026 reports, skeptic Benjamin Radford remains unconvinced. He notes that in an era where everyone carries a 4K camera in their pocket, the lack of a clear, non-blurry photo or skeletal record is telling. "At some point, a Bigfoot's luck must run out," Radford recently wrote in the Skeptical Inquirer.
Conversely, hunters like Miller believe mainstream science simply isn't looking in the right places. He views his work as that of a "caretaker" for information that academia ignores. Whether the Ohio Flap was a genuine biological migration or a collective psychological event, the debate continues to prove one thing: Americans remain deeply fascinated by the possibility that something unexplained still lurks in the deep woods.
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By: CNN Newsource
May 9, 2026
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