Inside Donald Shrum's Night in the Tree

Introduction

The Cisco Grove incident of September 1964 is one of the more unusual and debated UFO close‑encounter narratives from mid‑20th century America. At its heart is the lone witness account of Donald Shrum, a bow hunter who claimed to have spent an entire night in a tree near Cisco Grove, California, confronted by strange lights, a silent craft and non‑human figures that repeatedly approached him. The most detailed accounts of the incident come from Shrum’s own testimony, later interviews with civilian researchers and summaries in UFO case files — all of which centre on his vivid recollection of that night.[UFO Insight]ufoinsight.comcisco grove encounterUFO InsightThe 1964 Cisco Grove Encounter - UFO InsightDecember 31, 2018…Published: December 31, 2018

Separation, Tree Shelter and First Sightings

According to accounts based on Shrum’s version of events, on 4 September 1964 the then‑28‑year‑old and two friends — fellow outdoorsmen — were bow hunting deer in the rugged Tahoe National Forest near Cisco Grove, Placer County, California. At some point before dusk, Shrum became separated from the other two and, recognising the difficulty of navigating back in fading light, chose to spend the night sheltering in a tall pine tree, securing himself with a belt to keep predators at bay.[UFO Insight]ufoinsight.comcisco grove encounterUFO InsightThe 1964 Cisco Grove Encounter - UFO InsightDecember 31, 2018…Published: December 31, 2018

As night fell, Shrum reportedly spotted a strange light moving silently through the trees, initially zig‑zagging and low to the ground. At first he assumed it might be a search helicopter from his friends, leading him to climb down, light flares and wave for attention. But as the light drew closer — reportedly stopping roughly 50 yards from his tree — Shrum realised it made no noise and appeared unlike any conventional aircraft.[UFO Insight]ufoinsight.comcisco grove encounterUFO InsightThe 1964 Cisco Grove Encounter - UFO InsightDecember 31, 2018…Published: December 31, 2018

Encounter With Craft and Figures

Shrum’s testimony describes the light as emanating from a craft whose form was strange to him. In some retellings it was described as cigar‑shaped with illuminated slits along the surface; in others it was associated with small craft that moved silently to positions near his tree.[paranormal-world.fandom.com]paranormal-world.fandom.comThe Cisco Grove Incident | Paranormal World Wiki | FandomThe Cisco Grove Incident | Paranormal World Wiki | Fandom Soon after the craft’s arrival beneath the treetop position, figures emerged from the woods and began approaching his perch.

Two of these figures were described as humanoid in appearance, roughly human in stature with silvery or metallic‑like coverings, while a third was described as robot‑like — shorter in height, with mechanical movement and glowing features. These figures, according to Shrum’s account, moved toward the tree and began shaking its lower branches and attempting to dislodge him.[UFO Insight]ufoinsight.comcisco grove encounterUFO InsightThe 1964 Cisco Grove Encounter - UFO InsightDecember 31, 2018…Published: December 31, 2018

Standoff, Gas, and Attempts to Defend

Shrum’s narrative holds that the robot‑like figure produced a vapour or gas that, upon reaching him, caused him to lose consciousness. He later regained awareness, feeling nauseous but otherwise physically unharmed, and attempted to defend himself by using matches, burning pieces of clothing and arrows from his bow to deter the figures — actions that caused them to retreat briefly.[UFO Insight]ufoinsight.comcisco grove encounterUFO InsightThe 1964 Cisco Grove Encounter - UFO InsightDecember 31, 2018…Published: December 31, 2018

At one point, his account says he shot an arrow that struck one of the robot‑like entities, producing sparks in the air. Despite these efforts, the figures would persist, and additional robot‑like beings were said to have appeared during the night. The standoff — a combination of Shrum’s defensive actions from his elevated position and the continuing presence of the humanoid and robotic figures below — continued through the darkness.[UFO Insight]ufoinsight.comcisco grove encounterUFO InsightThe 1964 Cisco Grove Encounter - UFO InsightDecember 31, 2018…Published: December 31, 2018

Dawn Breaks: Departure and Aftermath

Shrum’s testimony suggests that by dawn, all of the entities and any craft present had departed the scene. Exhausted, shaken and still secured by his belt, he climbed down and made his way back toward the campsite. There, he eventually reunited with his two companions, who had returned on schedule. Some versions of the story note that his friends later found broken arrows and charred bits of clothing consistent with what Shrum said he had used during the night.[UFO Insight]ufoinsight.comcisco grove encounterUFO InsightThe 1964 Cisco Grove Encounter - UFO InsightDecember 31, 2018…Published: December 31, 2018

In later decades, Shrum’s account was revisited by civilian investigators, and he reportedly shared details of his experience in interviews and in the book Aliens in the Forest: The Cisco Grove UFO Encounter, where he elaborated on the sense of a prolonged, terrifying engagement with unusual beings and phenomena during his night in the tree.[Goodreads]goodreads.comAliens in the Forest: The Cisco Grove UFO Encounter by Noe Torres | GoodreadsAliens in the Forest: The Cisco Grove UFO Encounter by Noe Torres | GoodreadsDecember 7, 2011…Published: December 7, 2011

Variations and Persistence of the Account

Different retellings of Shrum’s testimony, from UFO websites to summaries and lore archives, offer slightly varied descriptions — for example, of the number and nature of craft, or the exact visual characteristics of the humanoid and robotic figures — but consistently centre on a narrative of unexpected lights, silent objects, persistent non‑human figures and an all‑night confrontation.[paranormal-world.fandom.com]paranormal-world.fandom.comThe Cisco Grove Incident | Paranormal World Wiki | FandomThe Cisco Grove Incident | Paranormal World Wiki | Fandom

Shrum’s version also remained consistent over time in accounts collected by researchers: he neither sought fame nor substantial financial reward for telling his story and reportedly maintained the same core details into later interviews, though interpretations of what occurred vary widely among sceptics and believers alike.[UFO Insight]ufoinsight.comcisco grove encounterUFO InsightThe 1964 Cisco Grove Encounter - UFO InsightDecember 31, 2018…Published: December 31, 2018

Witness Experience in Context

While Shrum’s detailed testimony remains the primary source for this case, there is no publicly available independent physical evidence (such as verified film, debris analysis, or contemporaneous official reports) that corroborates the more extraordinary elements of his account. Some researchers emphasise partial corroboration — such as his friends’ sighting of the initial light and the reported return with arrows — but the core of the encounter rests predominantly on Shrum’s own narrative.[UFO Insight]ufoinsight.comcisco grove encounterUFO InsightThe 1964 Cisco Grove Encounter - UFO InsightDecember 31, 2018…Published: December 31, 2018

As a result, Shrum’s detailed witness experience stands as the defining record of the Cisco Grove incident, and its credibility and meaning continue to be debated in UFO research circles, folklore discussions and sceptical analysis.[paranormal-world.fandom.com]paranormal-world.fandom.comThe Cisco Grove Incident | Paranormal World Wiki | FandomThe Cisco Grove Incident | Paranormal World Wiki | Fandom

Amazon book picks

Further Reading

Books and field guides related to Inside Donald Shrum's Night in the Tree. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.

Book

The UFO Book

By Jerome Clark

Provides an objective case-file entry documenting Donald Shrum's encounter, the tree-shelter incident, and the initial report details.

See on Amazon

Book

Passport to Magonia: from Folklore to Flying Saucers

By Jacques Vallee

Analyzes how reports of humanoid figures and glowing craft in isolated forests function as modern folklore.

See on Amazon

Book

Scientific Paranormal Investigation

By Benjamin Radford

Explains how isolation, darkness, and intense fear in wilderness environments create convincing but non-anomalous visual reports.

See on Amazon

Book

Ufos and Government

By Michael Swords, Robert Powell

Contextualizes how small-town, lone-witness reports are processed within wider government and historical files.

See on Amazon

Browse more on Amazon:The UFO BookPassport to Magonia: from Folklore to Flying SaucersScientific Paranormal Investigation

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Endnotes

1. Source: paranormal-world.fandom.com
Title: The Cisco Grove Incident | Paranormal World Wiki | Fandom
Link:https://paranormal-world.fandom.com/wiki/The_Cisco_Grove_Incident

2. Source: goodreads.com
Title: Aliens in the Forest: The Cisco Grove UFO Encounter by Noe Torres | Goodreads
Link:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/229722629-aliens-in-the-forest

Published: December 7, 2011

3. Source: goodreads.com
Title: Aliens in the Forest: The Cisco Grove UFO Encounter by Noe Torres | Goodreads
Link:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19445922-aliens-in-the-forest

Published: December 7, 2011

4. Source: ufo.se
Title: 1844 cisco
Link:https://www.ufo.se/index.php/c/1844-cisco

Published: september 1964

5. Source: unbelievable.fandom.com
Title: Cisco Grove Alien Encounter
Link:https://unbelievable.fandom.com/wiki/Cisco_Grove_Alien_Encounter

6. Source: ufoinsight.com
Title: cisco grove encounter
Link:https://www.ufoinsight.com/aliens/encounters/cisco-grove-encounter

Published: December 31, 2018

7. Source: paranormalcatalog.net
Title: the cisco grove ufo encounter
Link:https://www.paranormalcatalog.net/ufos/the-cisco-grove-ufo-encounter

Published: April 6, 2023

8. Source: kb42.info
Title: The Cisco Grove Incident
Link:https://kb42.info/index.php?title=The_Cisco_Grove_Incident

Published: September 4, 1964

Additional References

9. Source: allbookstores.com
Link:https://www.allbookstores.com/Aliens-Forest-The-Cisco-Grove/9781467945554

Published: December 7, 2011

10. Source: tvi.show
Link:https://www.tvi.show/nexus/the-cisco-grove-ufo-incident-don-shrums-1964-alien-encounter-in-tahoe-national-forest

11. Source: theufochronicles.com
Link:https://www.theufochronicles.com/2021/01/alien-seige-at-cisco-grove-bow-and.html

Published: January 19, 2021

12. Source: theufochronicles.com
Title: new book tells of alleged 1964 ufo
Link:https://www.theufochronicles.com/2011/12/new-book-tells-of-alleged-1964-ufo.html

Published: December 15, 2011

13. Source: tall-white-aliens.com
Title: Before very long, the avi
Link:https://www.tall-white-aliens.com/alien-encounter-in-cisco-county/

Published: September 4, 1964

14. Source: youtube.com
Title: Aliens, Robots and Knockout Gas? | The Cisco Grove Incident
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zehtFlT9I5U

15. Source: youtube.com
Title: Mystery in Cisco Grove: Don Shrum’s Encounter with UFOs, Aliens and Robots
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yEkCSyTTxg

16. Source: youtube.com
Title: The Cisco Grove UFO Encounter: Trapped by Robot-like Beings in the Forest
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSwOO2C0aao

17. Source: xufos.com
Title: cisco grove 1964
Link:https://xufos.com/cisco-grove-1964.php

18. Source: find-more-books.com
Link:https://www.find-more-books.com/book/isbn/9781467945554.html

Published: December 7, 2011