Paranormal State (Part I)

It was December Third, 2009. I was in Wharton State Forrest (the Jersey pines) walking along a long rectangular lake, a former cranberry bog. I heard a loud noise come across the lake from the woods beyond. It was a strange noise, somewhat like a cross between a lion’s roar and an elephant’s trumpet blast. After about a minute I heard the noise again. It was closer and louder this time. The third time, it seemed very close, directly across the lake from me. I was a little scared wondering if I should turn back to my car or continue the walk. Two weeks later, I was watching Paranormal State on A&E and saw their season finale all about “The Jersey Devil”.  About half way thru the episode, the local expert was asked “Have there been any recent sightings?” He replied, “Sighting no, but several people have reported hearing the beast.” He played a cassette tape. It was the same noise I heard….. 

Now I’ll fill in some details I left out. About 20 years ago, I was hiking in Jackson NJ just outside the Great Adventure Safari Park. I heard this strange wild blast of a noise coming from the woods. I heard it three times getting closer and louder each time until one of the park’s zebra striped safari trucks appeared from that direction. I later found out they blast that noise along the outside of the fence to drive the animals out to the open so park visitors can see them.   

In 2009, the noise I heard was the same or very similar to what I heard outside the safari park. I also heard a diesel truck engine creeping slowly along with the second and third blasts of the noise.  So unless the Jersey Devil drives a diesel pickup, this was a man made noise. As I entered the area, I noticed a bearded guy sitting in a red pickup truck. At the time, I couldn’t account for why anyone would be driving around the pines blasting this noise. I guessed maybe it was to drive game towards a hunter’s tree stand. But a few days later I got my answer. Paranormal State was airing their season finale, a show all about the Jersey Devil. I think the guy in the red pickup was one of the “local experts” interviewed for the show. These guys, knowing the show was about to air, were obviously out to create buzz about the Jersey Devil and keep the myth alive.