The Existence of Bigfoot

The issue of Sasquatch has again been brought to light. Recent alleged evidence surfaced when two men from Georgia claimed to have the remains of Bigfoot in their freezer. Most likely a publicity stunt meant to drum up interest in their newly found cash cow, expeditions through the north Georgia woods in search of the possibility of more apelike humanoids, now offered for the meager price of $499 per person.

These men, Matt Whitton (a police officer with Clayton County police department) and Rick Dyer (a former corrections officer) claim to have stumbled across the remains while walking through the woods. Supported by sketchy evidence and an unlikely account of their discovery, all the hype looks like a mere hoax.

After the recent peak in curiosity, the question still remains “Is Bigfoot out there?” According to all accounts, obviously, Bigfoot is tall and large and covered with hair. They are believed to walk upright and undoubtedly must be very allusive. Sightings have come in from all over the world for over two centuries. In the Himalayas of Asia they are referred to as “Yeti”, Native Americans refer to him as “Tak-he” or “Sasquatch”. Bigfoot sightings estimate that he is at least seven foot tall and more than 600 lbs.

So called experts believe that there is presently between 4,000 and 6,000 Bigfoot living in North America.

The first documented sighting was reported in Jasper, Alberta, Canada in 1811. Many hoaxes and fraudulent claims have come and gone in the years since but in the midst a few accounts have been unexplainable and undisputable evidence of Bigfoot’s existence.

It is common belief that Bigfoot is docile and vegetarian in nature, but there have been accounts of large stashes of gutted deer, found by farmers in Midwestern states such as Ohio, believed to be the result of Bigfoot hunting parties. First reported attacks were during the 1920’s. Miners and prospectors in Washington State reported stones being thrown at their cabins and large footprints left as evidence. Still no substantial evidence appeared until 1958. Jerry Crew of Humboldt, California was working as a bulldozer operator when he came across what appeared to be large animal footprints. He cast the footprints and it was determined that they must belong to Bigfoot. In 1967, the first video of Bigfoot surfaced. Caught on tape by Roger Patterson and Bib Gimlin, was a few seconds of a hairy and possibly female figure walking away from but turning to look at the camera. Many have tried to disprove the video with no avail, to this day it stands as the best evidence as to the possibility of Bigfoot.

Throughout history their have been many accounts of Bigfoot sightings. One such account was told to Theodore Roosevelt, in which he writes that it was unlikely for the storyteller to be dishonest and that he, Bauman, was a mountain hunter and even less likely to be superstitious. Bauman’s account told of an intelligent, violent and spiteful monster. Who after disturbing Bauman and his friend’s camp and being shot at, came back and eventually killed Bauman’s friend.

Author, Bart Nunnelly writes about many accounts told to him by Native Americans. One in particular gives a very detailed description of what the Cherokee man believed to be Sasquatch.

In 1889, a Major Laurence Austin Waddel of the Indian Army Medical Corps reported seeing oversized footprints in the snow, around 17,000 feet above sea level, in the Himalayas. Afterward the Tibetans told him of what they called Yeti and depicted them as “hairy wild men.”

Throughout history many tales have surfaced of the Bigfoot roaming the forests throughout the world, leaving tracks, making strange noises in the night, and killing small animals for food. As of yet we still have not seen what can be considered definitive proof of the Sasquatch’s existence, but still for the love of folklore American’s long for the answer to the question. It seems we are hopeful as to the possibility of cavemen-like creatures living among us.