Sightings of Bigfoot, (also known as Sasquatch,) have been going on in the United States and Canada since the 1820s. Numerous people claim to have seen him, casts of his footprints have been made and samples of his fur have been found. He's even been captured on film. So, does this mean Bigfoot is real?
Sightings of Bigfoot
Bigfoot has allegedly been seen in various locations throughout the United States with a lot of the sightings reported in the Pacific Northwest. In 1924, a group of miners at Mount Saint Helen in Washington claimed to have spotted a couple of these creatures and claimed they attacked their cabin. Also in 1924, a logger in British Columbia, by the name of Albert Ostman, claims he was kidnapped by a group of Sasquatch who held prisoner for six days.
It has also been reported that Deputy Sheriff Verlin Herrington nearly struck a Bigfoot when driving through Grays Harbor County in Washington on July 26, 1969. In 1977, a group of teenagers reportedly spotted a Bigfoot eating apricots from a tree near Sacramento, California. These are just a few samples of the various Bigfoot sightings throughout the years.
Evidence to Support Bigfoot
One of the biggest pieces of evidence to support the existence of Bigfoot has come from hair samples that have been obtained.
When examined by scientists, the hair has been shown not to match any known species of animal, although it has been found to be close to that of a gorilla
The Famous Bigfoot Film by Roger Patterson
Bigfoot enthusiasts are probably familiar with the famed Bigfoot footage shot by Roger Patterson. Many believe this film offers proof that Bigfoot truly exists. However, it was ultimately revealed that Patterson's footage of Bigfoot was fake. Patterson's children come forward following the death of their father to admit that the footage was a hoax.
Patterson reportedly made molds to create phony footsteps and the "Bigfoot" is nothing more than a man in a costume. It's said that Patterson's son, Dale Patterson, still has the molds his father used. In 2004, Bob Heironimus admitted to wearing the ape costume for the film.
Even with a lack of evidence, the scientific community is taking a closer look at Bigfoot. Primatologist Russell Mittermier discovered five new species of primates between 1996 and 2006, showing that new species of primates continue to be discovered.
Archaeologists have found rock carvings of large apelike creatures in the western United States where previously, there was no evidence to indicate any indigenous monkeys or apes. Famed primatologist Jane Goodall has said that she believes that undiscovered primates still exist. For now, there isn't enough evidence to support that Bigfoot is real, but, with the growing number of zoologists showing interest in this ape-like creature, it's possible that at some point in the future, proof will be discovered.
Readers may also enjoy Is The Abominable Snowman Real?, along with Are Zombies Real?, and Are Vampires Real?
Sources:
- Exploring the Unexplained, Matthew McCann Fenton, (Time Books,) 2006.
- Mysteries of the Unexplained, Richard Marshall, Shirley Miller, Georgea Pace, and Tanya Strage, (The Reader's Digest Association, Inc.) 1989.
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