HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — As Halloween arrives, we're taking a closer look at "cryptid sightings" in Tampa Bay.
Cryptids are creatures whose existence is disputed or unsubstantiated by science — think, bigfoot or the lochness monster. Some conservationists believe they could be lurking in your backyard.
"I've definitely heard a lot of people hiking out here who just maybe have like the hair on the back of their neck stand up, and they just feel like they're being watched," said Rebecca Winch with Environmental Lands Management in Hillsborough County.
Winch says there have been reports on Tampa Bay's conservation land of the strange, the sensational and the spooky.
Ross Firth, a local fossil hunter who spends a lot of time on conservation land, said he's had a handful of strange experiences while wandering the woods.
"There's been a few times when I've heard things that didn't sound quite right," Firth recalled. "Like a little chatter in the background, like someone is in the distance and about to walk up, but there's no one there."
Possibly lurking in the brush are Florida's cryptids — creatures like the Wampus Cat, the Mega Alligator, and most notably, the Skunk Ape.
The Skunk Ape is recognized as a shorter cousin of the Yeti and is said to carry a terrible stench.
There have been apparent sightings of the Skunk Ape in Florida, notably pictures and videos taken around the Myakka River area in Sarasota County.
Conservationists believe future sightings could be had at the Alafia River Corridor in Hillsborough County.
"I think that the Skunk Ape is known to be pretty shy," Winch said. "So I think that this would be a really great place for the Skunk Ape to be because as far from people."
The possibility is enticing for those brave enough to believe.
"I hear a lot of strange things and I have to remind myself that it's probably something normal, but you never know," Firth said.
Winch reminds the public that if they're passionate about these creatures, it's in their interest to support conservation.
"I would like to say that if you love Cryptids, if you're interested in Cryptids, just know that they need the same habitat as all of Florida's other native plants and animals. So it is very important if you want the Skunk Ape to continue thriving in Florida to make sure that you focus on conserving Florida's native habitats for the skunk ape and all the other cryptids out there," he said.