The first crop circle of 2005 here in the USA--a 176'-diam. circle--was reported to BLT on June 12th, at Green Mountain, North Carolina. During the investigation of that circle, we learned of another formation, also in Yancey County in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountain chain, found by 2 local men clearing a field about a mile away, far back in a "holler" where it would never have been seen had it not been that these men had been asked to clear the land.  It appears that this formation probably occurred at about the same time and it was reported to have had two 20 ft.-diam. circles, connected by a pathway--a classic "dumbbell" type.  No photos were taken, since the men had not heard about the circle at Green Mt. and had never heard of the crop circle phenomenon, and proceeded to clear the land. 

In the following week an email to the BLT office alerted us to another formation reported on Ebay--which was said to have occurred on the night of June 22/23rd, also in "western North Carolina," although no precise location was given (photo below).  What was most strange about this formation (a 65 ft. +/- center circle with 3 smaller circles around it placed in a triangular configuration) was that it was being reported on Ebay--and that samples of the plants were being offered for SALE.  The report also stated that very dramatic light phenomena had been associated with the arrival of the formation, and that the owner's dogs had become extremely agitated.  We had never heard of a crop formation being reported this way, much less of anyone trying to SELL the plants. Additionally, the Ebay report stated that there were "burned" areas in the centers of each of the 3 small circles.

Nancy Talbot  BLT Research TEAM

Details:    Farmer had been planting tobacco in a nearby section of the field until 8:30 pm Saturday night and, when he left the field, no circle was present.  The following day was "Decoration Day" (a day when local residents routinely visit their cemetery to tidy it up and place fresh flowers on the graves); when residents arrived at the cemetery immediately after church services they discovered the circle near the crest of the ridge above the tobacco field.  The farmer and first visitors state they observed no tracks or footprints leading into or near the circle, and the lay of the crop was very tight to the ground.   There are no houses immediately close to the field and, so far, there are no reports of EM interference,  or unusual animal disturbance. This is the first crop circle reported to BLT in this area of the Blue Ridge section of the Appalachian Highlands (Yancey County has the highest average elevation of any county in North Carolina).   Because the hay was mature the farmer has now cut the field. 

On Sunday afternoon (6/12/05) Marc Witson, a local resident, drove by the formation to take some photos at about 7 - 7:30 pm.  It was getting close to dusk and some storm clouds were gathering but it was not raining and examination of his photos seems to indicate the flash did not discharge.  Multiple small semi-transparent orbs and a few brighter and more opaque orbs appeared on several of his photographs which--if the flash did not discharge--cannot be explained as moisture droplets or dust reflecting the light from the flash close to the lens.  One of Marc's photos is enclosed above..

UP-DATE ON JUNE 12TH NORTH CAROLINA CIRCLE: While talking with various local residents about the Green Mountain, NC 176'-diameter circle discovered on June 12th, I heard that another formation had been discovered just "over the mountain" two days later. Two men doing "bush hog" work (using tractors to clear a field which had become overgrown) way back in a "holler" (where a now-abandoned white-water rafting facility had once been) discovered two 20'-diameter circles, connected by a small pathway, in a grassy area of the field. This part of the mountains is about as remote as exists here in the U.S. nowadays and is about 1 mile away, as the crow flies, from the circle reported earlier.  The men had not heard about the earlier circle and at first thought that the 2 circles were caused by deer bedding down.   After learning of the large circle and seeing photos, they realized that what they had found was another crop circle, and they mentioned their discovery to a local relative, who informed me. Since at the time of discovery they had no idea what they were seeing they proceeded to clear the entire field, eradicating the dumbbell-style formation.  No photos were taken.  A wild cat found on the property in one of the abandoned buildings was observed to behave as if "mesmerized," although it is unknown if the animal's behaviour was in anyway related to the crop circle nearby.