Florida, known for its sunny beaches, theme parks, vibrant wildlife, and nightlife, has a rich tradition of eccentric lore of ghostly legends and even cryptids — animals that resemble humans but often have ape-like characteristics as well.
Among these stories is the tale of the Bardin Booger, a mysterious creature said to haunt the dense woods and swamps near Bardin, a small unincorporated community in Putnam County not far from Palatka. While less famous than Bigfoot or the Skunk Ape, the Bardin Booger holds a special place in local folklore, captivating both skeptics and believers alike.
The Origins of the Bardin Booger
Bardin was a small, sleepy unincorporated community in the early 1900’s, surrounded by dense forests and wetlands. Sometime around then local residents began reporting strange occurrences: eerie howls echoing in the night, enormous footprints found in the mud, and fleeting glimpses of a towering, hairy creature lurking in the woods.
Descriptions of the Bardin Booger often align with those of the other so-called cryptids such as Bigfoot, Yeti or the Jersey Devil — hairy, humanoid creatures said to inhabit the wilds of North America. Keep in mind that the first sightings were years before legends of Bigfoot and other similar creatures widely entered into the cultural consciousness, so these stories don’t seem to be a repeat of what others were seeing in other parts of the country. On the other hand, myths can often spread far and wide. from town to town, county to county and even across the country over time.
Over time, the creature earned the nickname “Bardin Booger,” using the Southern slang term “booger,” which refers to something scary or monstrous and not the dried mucous inside your nose. Maybe you’ve heard of the “Boogie Man” or the “Bogeyman” — they are variations of the same sort of monster — something that lurks in the woods, rarely emerging and always startling someone half out of their wits.
Early accounts vary, but most describe the Bardin Booger as standing between 6 and 8 feet tall, covered in matted, dark hair, and emitting a foul odor. Its glowing red eyes are said to pierce the darkness, adding an extra layer of terror to its legend. Living in or near swamps and wetlands that are common through the area, the Booger was rarely seen and never found…except once in a while when someone had a new story about the creature.
Sightings and Encounters
Over the years, numerous sightings of the Bardin Booger have been reported, adding to the myth and reinforcing believers’ confidence that the creature is real.
One of the earliest documented encounters occurred in the 1940s, when a group of hunters in the Bardin area reported seeing a large, shadowy figure watching them from the edge of the forest. The hunters claimed that the creature let out a deep, guttural roar before disappearing into the swamp. The men, spooked and confused, abandoned their hunt and returned to town, sharing their chilling story with the locals.
In the decades that followed, reports continued to trickle in. Several travelers driving along rural roads near Bardin claimed to see a hulking figure dart across the road in their headlights. Families living near the woods spoke of hearing bloodcurdling screams at night or finding broken tree limbs and other signs of an enormous creature moving through the area.
Sightings have been reported in newspapers throughout the years. A 1981 story in the Weekly World News, for example, quoted a Bardin resident who said he had seen the Booger many years before.
“We had planned to meet my brother near the Etoniah Baptist Church,” the 70-year-old man told the News. “It was a bright moonlit night and we just kinda stretched out beside the road to rest until my brother arrived.
“There was an old cypress pond nearby and suddenly I heard somebody mumbling. I couldn’t understand the mumbling, but I saw something moving in the pond. It didn’t have any legs and it didn’t make a sound in the water.”
B. J. Glisson, to the Weekly World News, 1981\
Later, the same paper — known for its wild, unbelievable and thoroughly entertaining stories, said that the Booger had moved to Virginia. Take that for what it’s worth.
One particularly famous account came from a local farmer in the 1970s. He awoke one morning to find his livestock agitated and a series of massive footprints—far too large for a human—trailing across his property. The farmer’s attempts to track the creature led him deep into the swamp, where he encountered a foul stench and a fleeting glimpse of something large and hairy disappearing into the trees.
Despite the countless sightings, no concrete evidence of the Bardin Booger has ever been found. Photographs are grainy, and physical evidence—such as hair samples or footprints—often turn out as inconclusive or completely absent altogether. Yet, this lack of proof has only fueled the legend, allowing the Bardin Booger to remain an an active piece of folklore with true believers and skeptics alike.
Skepticism and Theories
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As with any cryptid tale, the Bardin Booger has its share of skeptics and non-believers who firmly say the creature has never existed. Many believe the sightings can be attributed to misidentifications of known animals, such as a black bear raised on its hind legs. Florida’s dense forests and swamps are home to a wide array of wildlife, some of which—like bears, wild boars or large alligators—can be startling when encountered unexpectedly.
Others suggest that the legend is purely a product of imagination, fueled by the human tendency to exaggerate stories of the unknown. Swamps and woods are inherently eerie places, especially at night. Strange sounds, shifting shadows, and the natural isolation of these areas can easily fool even experienced woodsmen and in turn, their recollections can give rise to tales of monsters lurking in the darkness.
A third theory posits that the Bardin Booger could be a regional variation of Bigfoot, part of a broader phenomenon of large, ape-like creatures reported across North America. While no scientific evidence supports the existence of such creatures, the similarities between the Bardin Booger and other cryptids like Bigfoot and the Skunk Ape are hard to ignore.
Visiting Bardin and Booger’s Haunts
For those curious enough to seek out the Bardin Booger for themselves, a trip to its ostensible home in Putnam County offers a chance to experience the creature’s stomping grounds. The area’s dense forests, winding rivers, and swampy terrain provide the perfect backdrop for a cryptid hunt—or simply a day of exploring Florida’s natural beauty around the nearby Ocala National Forest.
Graphic: Apple Maps
Visitors can hike through nearby conservation areas, paddle along the St. Johns River, or camp under the stars while keeping an ear out for strange noises in the night. Who knows? You might just become the next person to catch a glimpse of the elusive Bardin Booger. If you do, reach in your pocket and record a video or capture some photos.
If you are looking for more information about the Booger, your first stop should be at Bud’s Grocery, general store on Bardin Road. Bud’s is a rural institution of sorts, and a throwback to the time when a general store was the effective center of a small town: even today, Bud’s has food, drinks and even tire service and light mechanical repairs to local residents needing them. Bud’s also has a variety of Badin Booger souvenirs, and the trip there is worth it for that alone. While you may not encounter any strange creatures (or maybe you will, who knows!) you’ll get to see a slice of Florida’s fast-disappearing inland small-town life.
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