The Oakville Blobs

On August 7, 1994, and several times over the following three weeks, a strange gelatinous substance fell from the sky over the small town of Oakville, Washington. Residents who came into contact with the material became ill, animals died, and despite laboratory analysis, the substance was never definitively identified.

The Falls

The first fall occurred around 3 AM on August 7. Residents awoke to find a translucent, jelly-like material covering their lawns, cars, and rooftops. The substance had the consistency of gelatin and was described as soft and mushy.

Unlike rain, the material did not seem to wash away. It clung to surfaces and required physical removal. Over the next three weeks, the substance fell on Oakville at least six times.

Health Effects

Almost immediately, people who touched the material became ill. Symptoms included nausea, vertigo, difficulty breathing, and extreme fatigue. Some residents reported flu-like symptoms that lasted for months.

Sunny Barclift, one of the first to discover the blobs, became severely ill after handling the material. Her mother experienced similar symptoms. More disturbing, Barclift’s kitten, which had walked through the substance, died the same day.

Multiple cats and dogs in the area became ill or died following the falls. The pattern suggested something in the material was toxic to living things.

Analysis

Samples were sent to various laboratories for analysis. A microbiologist at Washington State Department of Health reported finding human white blood cells in the material. A private laboratory found two types of bacteria, including Pseudomonas fluorescens.

The presence of human cells raised disturbing questions but was never explained. Neither the source of the material nor the mechanism of its delivery was ever determined.

Theories

Various explanations have been proposed. Some suggested the material was waste from aircraft toilets, though this would not explain the white blood cells. Others proposed military experiments or jellyfish remains from bombing runs, though neither theory fits all the facts.

The most accepted theory involves waste from military planes conducting bombing exercises over the Pacific, but this has never been confirmed.

Assessment

The Oakville blobs remain an unexplained phenomenon. A substance fell from the sky, sickened people, killed animals, and contained human biological material. Neither the military nor any government agency has claimed responsibility or provided an explanation.