The Chicago Mothman Wave

Beginning in April 2017, the Chicago metropolitan area has experienced an unprecedented wave of sightings of a large, winged humanoid creature bearing a striking resemblance to the famous Mothman of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. With over 100 documented sightings, the Chicago Mothman represents the largest cluster of flying humanoid reports in modern history.

The First Sightings

April 2017

The wave began on April 7, 2017, when a security guard walking near the Chicago lakefront observed a large, bat-like creature flying above the city skyline. He described:

• A humanoid figure with large wings
• An estimated 6-7 feet tall
• Glowing red eyes
• Silent flight
• A feeling of intense dread

Within weeks, similar reports began flooding in from across the Chicago area.

The Sightings

Characteristics

Witnesses consistently describe:

Physical Appearance:

• Height: 6-7 feet tall
• Large, bat-like wings spanning 8-10 feet
• Dark coloring (black or dark gray)
• Humanoid body shape
• Glowing red or orange eyes
• Sometimes described as having no visible head (eyes on chest)

Behavior:

• Often seen flying between buildings
• Observed near water (Lake Michigan, Chicago River)
• Sometimes perches on rooftops
• Silent or nearly silent movement
• Appears to observe witnesses

Psychological Effects:

• Witnesses report intense, inexplicable fear
• Feelings of dread that persist after sighting
• Some report nightmares following encounters
• A sense of being “chosen” or “marked”

Key Locations

Sightings have clustered in specific areas:

The Lakefront: Many sightings occur along Lake Michigan, from Montrose Harbor to Jackson Park.

O’Hare Airport Area: Multiple reports from the airport vicinity have raised questions about flight safety.

Pilsen and Little Village: Southwest side neighborhoods have reported numerous sightings.

Downtown: The Chicago Loop has been the site of several dramatic sightings.

Notable Incidents

The Sears Tower Sighting (April 2017)

A couple driving on Lake Shore Drive observed a large winged figure gliding between downtown skyscrapers, passing near the Willis (Sears) Tower. They described it as “too large to be a bird” with a “human-like shape.”

The O’Hare Sighting (May 2017)

An airport employee reported seeing a “large, black, bat-like creature” flying over the airport’s parking structure. The witness was shaken, describing it as the most terrifying thing he had ever seen.

The Train Platform (August 2017)

A commuter waiting for the Red Line train at the Argyle station saw a winged figure perched on a nearby building. When she looked directly at it, it spread massive wings and flew away.

The Attack Claim (October 2017)

One witness claimed the creature “dove” at them while they were walking near Lake Michigan at night. While no physical contact was made, the witness reported feeling an intense cold and a sense of malevolence.

Investigation

Lon Strickler and Phantoms & Monsters

Paranormal researcher Lon Strickler, who runs the Phantoms & Monsters website, has been the primary documentarian of the Chicago sightings. He has:

• Interviewed dozens of witnesses
• Created a database of sightings
• Mapped locations and patterns
• Published multiple reports

The Singular Fortean Society

This Chicago-based research group has also investigated, finding:

• Witnesses span all demographics
• Many sightings occur in populated areas with corroborating witnesses
• Reports continue to accumulate
• No obvious explanation fits all data

Patterns Identified

Analysis has revealed:

• Sightings increase during spring and fall
• The creature appears more frequently near water
• Nighttime sightings are most common
• Multiple witnesses often report the same incident independently

Connection to Mothman

The Point Pleasant Comparison

The Chicago sightings bear striking similarities to the famous Mothman reports from Point Pleasant, West Virginia (1966-1967):

Similarities:

• Large, winged humanoid
• Glowing red eyes
• Feelings of dread
• Sightings cluster in a specific geographic area
• Associated with tragedy? (Mothman preceded the Silver Bridge collapse)

Differences:

• Chicago sightings are more numerous
• The wave has lasted longer (7+ years vs. 13 months)
• No associated disaster has occurred (yet)
• Multiple creatures may be involved (some sightings suggest different sizes)

The Warning Theory

Some researchers wonder if the Chicago Mothman, like its Point Pleasant predecessor, is a harbinger of disaster. Point Pleasant’s Mothman sightings ended with the Silver Bridge collapse that killed 46 people.

Is the Chicago Mothman warning of something? Or is it simply a phenomenon unto itself?

Theories

What Is It?

Cryptid/Unknown Species: A biological creature unknown to science—perhaps a surviving prehistoric species or an undiscovered bat-like humanoid.

Ultraterrestrial: A being from another dimension that periodically manifests in our reality.

Tulpa/Thoughtform: A creature created by collective belief and psychological energy—literally willed into existence by human consciousness.

Misidentification: Skeptics suggest witnesses are seeing:

• Large owls (Great Horned Owls can appear humanoid in flight)
• Drones with lights
• Paragliders or hang gliders
• Combinations of mundane objects in darkness

Hoax: Some suggest the sightings are coordinated pranks or performance art.

Against Skeptical Explanations

Researchers counter that:

• Witnesses consistently describe something larger than any known bird
• Many sightings occur in bright conditions
• Multiple independent witnesses report identical features
• The psychological impact suggests something genuinely anomalous
• Experienced outdoors people among witnesses would recognize owls

Cultural Impact

Media Coverage

The Chicago Mothman has been featured in:

• Local and national news coverage
• Multiple paranormal documentary series
• Podcasts and radio programs
• Newspaper investigations

Public Response

Chicago has developed a complex relationship with its cryptid:

• Some neighborhoods embrace the sightings as local lore
• Tourism has increased at sighting hotspots
• Art and merchandise depicting the Chicago Mothman have appeared
• Some residents are genuinely frightened

Ongoing Activity

Recent Sightings

Reports continue to accumulate. Notable recent patterns include:

• Increased sightings near construction sites
• Reports from suburban areas expanding the range
• Multiple-witness encounters becoming more common
• Sightings at higher altitudes

What’s Next?

The Chicago Mothman wave shows no signs of ending. Questions remain:

• Will sightings continue to increase?
• Is there more than one creature?
• What is drawing it to Chicago?
• Will a disaster eventually occur, as in Point Pleasant?
• Will the creature ever be captured on clear video?

Conclusion

Since 2017, something strange has been flying over Chicago. Hundreds of witnesses have reported a large, winged, humanoid creature with glowing red eyes—descriptions that match the legendary Mothman of West Virginia folklore.

Whether it’s an unknown animal, a dimensional interloper, a manifestation of collective anxiety, or something else entirely, the Chicago Mothman has become a modern mystery.

The creature doesn’t seem hostile—but those who see it report a profound, lasting dread. Something is watching Chicago from the night sky. And whatever it is, it doesn’t want to be understood.

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Since 2017, Chicago has been haunted by something impossible—a winged figure with glowing red eyes that soars over the lakefront, perches on skyscrapers, and fills witnesses with inexplicable terror. The Chicago Mothman is real to those who’ve seen it. What it is, what it wants, and why it has chosen the Windy City remain questions without answers.