Been following those reports and yeah, I think there's something worth digging into there. The clustering of sightings in a pretty tight geographical area over just a few weeks is what catches my attention - that kind of pattern doesn't usually come from random hoaxes or misidentification, people in different towns aren't usually coordinating that stuff.
My background is mostly ghost hunting rather than cryptid stuff but the methodology overlaps more than you'd think. You're still trying to document something that leaves inconsistent evidence and relies heavily on witness testimony. The audio recordings someone posted on reddit last week are interesting, not conclusive obviously but worth proper analysis rather than just dismissing.
Anyone actually based near the Ozarks? Would be good to hear from locals whether this feels like a genuine uptick or just the usual seasonal noise getting amplified online.