Basswood Lake

Over the next week, the pattern expanded.

Three more animal carcasses were found within a 10-mile radius of the original incidents: a deer near Stuart Lake, a beaver at Moose River, an otter at Basswood Lake, all partially eaten, showing the same tearing pattern.

The locations formed a rough arc, it looked like, moving south and east toward more populated areas, toward the main access points.

Hikers started to report odd experiences, feeling watched, hearing sounds we had difficulty matching to any known wildlife.