A Strange Creature & Disappearances: The Pterodactyl Hypothesis

By Anthony F. Sanchez, Author & UFO Researcher
For UFO Currents

"UFOs dropping off Bigfoot-like creatures, swarmed by pterodactyls, as campers vanish and emaciated bodies are found partially eaten—this is not a legend but the chilling accounts from witnesses near El Dorado Hills, California."

This might be unlike anything you’ve come to expect from UFO Currents, but it’s a topic we need to delve into. Let me start with a question: Have you ever heard of the "Pterodactyl Attack Theory?"

To many, this idea might seem far-fetched, but seasoned investigators like Ric Prestel of MUFON (Reno, NV, and Sacramento), a long-time cryptid expert, are often tasked with exploring such phenomena.

Back in 2017, the Travel Channel invited both Ric and me to appear on an episode of Mysteries of the Outdoors (Season 2, Episode 8, “Without a Trace,” aired December 12, 2017). My segment focused on a UFO crash and retrieval near the park, while Ric’s segment addressed a rash of reported pterodactyl sightings and missing persons cases.

After my filming was done, Ric was called up by the producer to the outdoor seating area where the shooting was set. As Ric began recounting stories, particularly about disappearances near El Dorado Hills, CA, close to his remote cabin, a palpable sense of fear overtook the crew. The producer, a French Canadian, visibly shook, and the team froze as Ric shared not just accounts of pterodactyl sightings but also tales of Bigfoot and Dogman encounters with campers and local residents.

For those unfamiliar, Dogman is a creature some describe as having a human torso and a canine-like lower body. But Ric revealed something even more startling—something he had learned from the late Ed Grimsley, a UFO researcher from Calistoga, CA. Ric described reports from local residents who claimed to have seen UFOs dropping off Bigfoot-like creatures, accompanied by swarms of pterodactyl-like beings hovering above. According to these accounts, the sightings coincided with people going missing. The recovered bodies were often emaciated, partially naked, and in some cases, partially eaten.

The producer's demeanor shifted abruptly as the camera crew pressed Ric for more details. His fear gave way to anger, and production came to an immediate halt. When Ric returned to meet with me, Ben Hansen, and others from the shoot, he looked deeply concerned. Shortly after, the producer entered the restaurant alone, leaving his crew outside. Whatever was said between Ric and the producer remains a mystery, but Ric’s segment never aired, and we never heard from that producer again.

The next day, the producer left abruptly, and Ric has never returned to Yosemite.

When I later spoke with Ric, he elaborated on his hypothesis regarding flying creatures. He shared detailed characteristics of these attacks: 

     • Victims are carried away by a flying predator. 
     • Clothing or shoes are removed due to how the creature grabs its prey. 
     • Many cases occur before a storm, suggesting hunger-driven behavior by these predators. 

This leads us to a chilling possibility: Could strange disappearances in North America, especially in national parks and wilderness areas, be linked to attacks by large flying creatures resembling pterosaurs, or “pterodactyls”? 

Ric, a local legend and respected investigator, might hold more information. However, as demonstrated by the fear displayed by the French Canadian producer and crew, what Ric knows may be too dangerous to share publicly. 

David Paulides, a former lawman who compiled mysterious missing persons cases, has documented numerous incidents that align with this hypothesis. How many of the events he catalogued could be tied to pterodactyl-like creatures? 

Could these sightings connect to Native American legends of the Thunderbird? Or are they evidence of the Ropen—a cryptid often described as a large bat-like or pterosaur-like creature, whose name means "demon flyer"? 

Take, for instance, the disappearance of 12-year-old Kenny Miller, who vanished near Yosemite. His body was found at an elevation 1,400 feet higher than where he disappeared. The hypothesized explanation suggests a ropen may have attempted to carry him off but lost him during flight, leading to his tragic death from exposure. 

Yosemite National Park and wilderness areas like New Mexico’s Santa Fe National Forest are frequently cited in discussions of mysterious disappearances. Other hotspots include northern British Columbia’s 500-mile stretch between Prince George and Prince Rupert, as well as Papua New Guinea, where numerous attacks by large, featherless flying creatures resembling pterosaurs have been documented. 

This phenomenon appears global in scope. Over the years, expeditions, eyewitness accounts, and scientific discussions have surfaced, but the mystery remains unsolved. 

When I last interviewed Ric, I asked for his warnings and recommendations. His response was simple but cautionary: 

     • Stay vigilant in open wilderness areas, especially near bodies of water. 
     • Always supervise children and avoid situations where large flying predators could target humans. 

Biblical Context of Pterosaurs  

For those seeking a deeper connection, consider the possibility that even ancient texts describe these creatures. In their book Man-Made: The Chronicles of Our Extraterrestrial Gods, authors Rita Louise, PhD, and Wayne Laliberté, MS, propose that biblical accounts align with the existence of such beings. 

In Chapter 2, they discuss Genesis 1:20–23, which they interpret as describing the Mesozoic era, known as the "Age of Dinosaurs."

The fifth day of the biblical story begins. So does the next era, the Mesozoic. Life on Earth during this period is about to see some big changes. The Mesozoic era is best known as the "Age of Dinosaurs." We see the rise of dinosaurs on land. Giant creatures inhabit the seas. Pterosaurs, or as they are better known—pterodactyls, take flight and fill the air. This next step in evolution is clearly described in Genesis 1:20–23 (Louise & Laliberté, 2011, p. 24). 

The biblical passage states:  

And God went on to say: “Let the waters swarm forth a swarm of living souls and let flying creatures fly over the earth upon the face of the expanse of the heavens.” And God proceeded to create the great sea monsters and every living soul that moves about, which the waters swarmed forth according to their kinds, and every winged flying creature according to its kind. And God got to see that [it was] good. With that God blessed them, saying: “Be fruitful and become many and fill the waters in the sea basins, and let the flying creatures become many in the earth” (Genesis 1:20–1:23, New World Translation). 

Louise and Laliberté (2011) argue that this passage describes the evolutionary rise of flying creatures, including pterosaurs. 

In conclusion, while evidence for these phenomena remains circumstantial, the claims demand further investigation. The accounts, whether grounded in cryptozoology, ancient texts, or firsthand experiences, suggest that we are far from understanding the full scope of what lurks in the wilderness. 

Stay safe, and Godspeed. 

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Anthony is the author of the books 'UFO Nexus' and 'UFO Highway 2.0', available in paperback or eBook @ https://StrangeLightsPublishing.com

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Citations:

Louise, R., & Laliberté, W. (2011). Man-Made: The Chronicles of Our Extraterrestrial Gods. SoulHealer Press.

Paulides, D. (2012). Missing 411 Western United States & Canada. North America Bigfoot Search.