You can doubt the existence of Bigfoot all you want. Heck, only 14% of people actually believe they exist any way! But know that reports of these hairy bipeds continue to this day, and real science and research is being done on this subject as well. Also realize that over 18,000 new animal species are found each year, and we have barely explored the depths of our oceans. As hard as it is to believe, since World War II there have been over 75 aircraft lost somewhere in the highly inaccessible Pacific Northwest forests, that still to this day have never been found. Given that the Lowland Gorilla, the giant Panda and the Pigmy Hippo were only verified to exist in the 1930's, it is clear that there are many mysteries out there to be solved. One day we may know the truth about Bigfoot. Until then, enjoy these fun Bigfoot facts!
The famous Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot film was shot on October 20th, 1967, in Humboldt County, California. The 53 second film shows a large female Bigfoot walking along Bluff creek before disappearing into the nearby forest as Roger Patterson filmed her nearby. Research estimated her to be approximately 7’ 4” tall, weigh nearly 600 lbs., and have massive feet measuring 14.5” long and 7” wide. The hairy biped was later affectionately named Patty.
The earliest known account of a Bigfoot sighting is thought to be from 986 AD, when famed Viking explorer Leif Erikson reached the New World. The Norseman wrote about huge, horribly ugly and hairy men that towered over him and his fellow Vikings. These wild men lived in the woods, had a terrible odor and a deafening shriek. He later named the creatures “Skraeling”, a Norse word meaning Barbarian.
According to the Bigfoot Field Research Organization website, that after over 40 years of research, it believed that the average Bigfoot is approximately 8’ tall, weighs 659 lbs., and has feet measuring over 16” long. They are covered in thick dark brown or reddish hair and have human-like faces. Many reports even mention creatures that stand over 9’ and 10’ tall, with feet over 20” long and weighing over 1,000 lbs.
In 1951, English mountaineer Eric Shipton came across a mile-long series of footprints in the snow while navigating across the Himalayas during a Mount Everest expedition. The footprints were twice as wide as a human’s and sunk in the snow pack much deeper than his own. He later claimed to watch through binoculars as a bipedal, ape-like creature searched for food near his camp for over 20 minutes. The sherpas and others in Tibet called the creature “Yeti”, which translates as “The Abominable Snowman”.
Other than old legends and recent reports about these legendary creatures, further evidence of their existence can be found in countless photos, audio and video recordings, footprints – some with dermal ridges, hair fiber, scat and DNA samples that do not match any other known animal. Other anecdotal evidence includes accounts of loud tree knocks deep in the forest, large rocks being thrown, high pitched screams and whistles, snapped and twisted tree limbs, and possible feeding and bedding sights.
The top 6 states with Bigfoot sightings are Washington, California, Florida, Ohio, Illinois, and Oregon. The only US state without a Bigfoot sighting is Hawaii, proving that Bigfoot can’t swim that far, nor has it yet learned how to book a flight to the Aloha state.
Native American Indian tribes have a rich history and traditions with Bigfoot, and believe these animals are as real as the beaver, deer or bear, and offer them great respect. Tribes such as the Navajo, Cherokee, Hopi, Iroquois, Seminole, Sioux and others, hold a long kinship with these animals, holding them as “Elder Brothers” with strength, speed, size and wisdom far beyond other animals and even mankind. In all, over 100 Indian tribes across the US believe in Bigfoot, giving them names such as “Sasquatch”, “Chiye-tanka”, “Omah”, “Skookum”, Ste-ye-hah'mah”, and many more.
President Theodore Roosevelt wrote of a harrowing Bigfoot encounter in his book, “The Wilderness Hunter” which told of a fateful encounter of a Bigfoot by two fur trappers. Other famous characters of the west with Bigfoot tales include Buffalo Bill and Daniel Boone, who boasted of downing a Bigfoot in Kentucky.
In 1924, five gold prospectors claim that a large family of Bigfoot attacked their cabin one night near Mount St. Helens, Oregon. After fighting these angry giants throughout the night, they left the camp early the next morning, never to return. After one of the prospectors told the story to a news reporter, the area was renamed “Ape Canyon”, a name that still exists today.
Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum, a professor of anatomy and anthropology at Idaho State university, is one of the most famous academics who believe in, and openly study the animals known as Bigfoot. Other notable researchers, both past and present, include John Green, Grover Krantz, Henner Fahrenback, Dmitri Bayanov, John Bindernagel, Rene’ Dahinden, John Mioncznski, Dr. Mireya Mayor, James “Bobo” Fay, Cliff Barackman, Matt Moneymaker, David Paulides and more.
Many researchers believe that today’s Bigfoot population is a relative of Gigantopithecus Blacki, an extinct genus of ape that existed as recently as 300,000 years ago. These hairy apes lived in southern China, as well as areas in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. Giant in stature, they were estimated to stand up to 10’ tall, weigh upwards of 1,200 lbs., and ate mostly fibrous plants, tubers and roots. The speculation is that Gigantopithecus crossed the Bering land bridge from Asia to North America, among other locations.
The name Bigfoot first came about in August 1958. A bulldozer operator named Jerry Crew was working in the remote wilderness of Humboldt County when he discovered large, 16” manlike footprints in the mud. News of his findings was covered by reporter Andrew Genzoli, of the Humboldt Times, where he first used the name “Bigfoot” in his article. The story went out on a Sunday, on the newswires on Tuesday, and in the New York and LA Times the day after. Bigfoot was a star!
