Why did the static Unown encounter flee?

Question

Is this a known bug, or did I discover it? How do I get him now?

https://youtu.be/5kHQ74OXNdY

Comments

Haha I caught that unown

---

I had that happen to me before (on that exact Unown!), and my assumption is that Unown just runs away if you fail to catch it. It was there when I came back later, so try leaving the area and coming back?

Edit: I found this reddit post https://www.reddit.com/r/PokemonLegendsArceus/comments/sk1j35/has_anybody_had_an_unown_escape_from_its_ball_and/ that says that it does that if you examine something while catching it, it’ll flee

Answer 1

The Unown fled because you examined the campfire while catching it.

According to this Reddit post (so yes, the glitch is discovered) and experience from you, the other answerer SmellyJacket, and I, examining an interactable object or triggering a cutscene will cause the Unown to disappear after breaking out of its Pokéball.

The Unown will respawn when you go to Jubilife Village and back into the original area (in this case, the Crimson Mirelands).