The infamous De Loys’ Ape

Casual crypto-thusiasts know of Sasquatch in the Pacific Northwest, Yeti in the Himalayas, and even Skunk Apes in the southern United States. But buried beneath 100 years of bubbling North American large-ape stories is one old photograph from the Venezuelan jungle. This one picture and accompanying story have provoked endless scrutiny. It was even considered by zoologists for inclusion in the animal kingdom. Behold, the strange episode of the Ameranthropoides loysi.

What is the De Loys’ Ape?

In 1920 geologist François De Loys lead a fatigued party through miles of a green inferno: the Venezuelan-Colombian jungle. Three years earlier the Swiss-French prospector began a journey with twenty men deep into the jungle to search for geologic evidence of oil deposits. At this point in their wildly unsuccessful journey, disease and fatal skirmishes with the native Motilone Indian tribe whittled the group by half. Though the petroleum treasure-explosion evaded him, De Loys was about to stumble upon arguably a much more important prize on the banks of the Tarra River that day.

As the troop rested near the water, two large shadows appeared suddenly in the tree line. These twin, five-foot screamers approached slowly, angrily shaking branches like vengeful jungle spirits. They were ape-like, but walked bipedally like humans. The odd, irritated monsters swung their torn branches like weapons and heaved their own feces at De Loys and the shocked men. Exhausted and terrified, the team fired their Winchester rifles at the more aggressive male creature. Their bullets missed, killing the female instead. The male fled into the trees, howling in agony, never to be seen again.

When the adrenaline slowed, De Loys propped the large creature’s corpse upon a crate, supported it’s head with a stick and snapped one single photograph. The creature stood approximately five feet tall, had no tail, and bore thirty-two teeth like a human (four short of your typical New World ape). De Loys collected the remains and continued the prospecting voyage. Unfortunately, in the remaining months, more deadly skirmishes with native tribes caused the body to be lost or left somewhere in the jungle. Other accounts suggest the skinned hide and skull of the creature disappeared into a river when De Loys capsized his boat. Some even report that the skull broke and corroded beyond scientific evaluation standards because it was used as a crude salt container.

Location of the encounter

Aftermath of the encounter

De Loys kept the photo in a notebook and placed the memory of the bizarre experience in back of his mind. Years later, in 1929, anthropologist friend George Montandon came across the photograph while thumbing through De Loys’ travel journals. Excited by the bizarre creature, Montandan proclaimed this bipedal ape to be a significant anthropological discovery. He brought the photograph and compelling story to several scientific journals. Ameranthropoides loysi, as he named it, was officially born.

Holes in the story?

If valid, the tale of De Loys’ ape is truly amazing. But almost 100 years later, debate still stirs over this ‘discovery.’

The Expedition:

The apes were encountered roughly ten miles west of La Fria, capitol of the region where De Loys searched for geologic indication of petroleum. This was not a full, four-year expedition ‘Indiana Jones-style’ deep into the jungle, as many believe. This was four years of abbreviated trips into the jungle from one home-base, presumably La Fria. De Loys claimed that “no fewer of his seventeen men had been killed by the arrows of native tribesmen” and that he was even shot in the thigh. Needless to say, they really wanted that oil.

So according to De Loys, his South American prospecting mission was extremely dangerous. He even stated that only a handful of men returned from the jungle alive. Why on earth would this expedition continue if men were routinely massacred? And why wouldn’t they simply return to La Fria to either bolster their party or abandon the mission after one fatality? One must also wonder why they didn’t begin their return after collecting the body. As an academic, De Loys must have realized the significance of the discovery. How can something so important be lost with such great ease and, if true, why would the skull be used as a container for anything, let alone salt?

The Politics:

Skeptics argue that Montandon alone wove the grand mythos behind the animal. Skeptics allege he used his friend’s exotic history in the Venezuelan jungle as the setting for this fake, incredible encounter. Many believe the crux of his fakery was that the existence of a human-like ape in South America would further his own, highly controversial, human evolution theory. Montandon proposed that white people evolved from Cro-Magnon, Africans evolved from gorillas, and Asians from orangutans. He suggested that the Ameranthropoides loysi was the great ape from which indigenous Native Americans evolved from. Inclusion of the De Loys’ ape completed his “grand races” theory across the continental board.

The Photograph:

In 1962, Dr. Enrique Terega came upon a magazine article about the ape. As it turns out, Dr. Terega was in Venezuala working with De Loys at the time as a medic. He wrote to the magazine, The Universal, challenging the story. Apparently, in 1919, a spider monkey with an amputated tail was gifted to De Loys, a noted “practical joker.” While stationed together in the city of Mena Grande, this ‘Marimonda’ spider monkey died. De Loys then took the famous photograph with Dr. Terega in attendance.

Additionally, the stump of a banana tree appears to grow just to the right of the ape in the photograph. Bananas are not indigenous to South America. The likelihood that the photo was shot in Venezuela, as De Loys claimed, is reportedly slim.

Real or fake, what could the De Loys’ Ape be?

It is fake:

Most zoologists involved in the evaluation of De Loys’ ape suggest the cryptid is nothing more than a creatively mutilated spider monkey. Specifically, careful analysis points to the white-fronted spider monkey, as it features “nostrils pointing forward, vestigial thumbs, and a large, external clitoris.”

It is real:

Different theories exist to describe the perplexing De Loys’ ape.

People throughout South America have reported peculiar, five foot tall apes with reddish hair and a human cry. These cryptids, known as Salvaje or “Mono Grande”, are typically considered native legend. They were said to “capture women, build huts and to occasionally eat human flesh.” A 1553 journal entry by explorer Pedro Cieza de León describes second-hand observations of the Mono Grande, including discovery of a large carcass. More recently, three were observed by a hunter in 1980, and one only five years later twenty miles from that spot.

Perhaps the most intriguing theory to explain the De Loys’ ape is from author Gian Quasar, who sees the cryptid as not only authentic, but the most practical explanation for sightings of large, bipedal apes (Bigfoot/Sasquatch) in North America. According to Quasar, the ape fits perfectly into Native American description of the D’sonoqua via totems, paintings, and masks:

“The ocular area of the masks, confirms the D’sonoqua are the [de Loy’s apes]. The unique ocular boney ridge, exclusive to the spider monkey and the Ameranthopoides loysi, is perfectly reproduced on the mask.”

He believes that De Loys encountered these apes before or during a migration to the Pacific northwest. Quasar suggests that widespread great ape encounters in the United States are due to flared migration paths of the creature:
“It is equally possible that some could travel along the Sierra Madres through New Mexico, Texas, and eventually along the Rockies until also arriving in Canada or branching off into other parts of the United States.”

“Face of Dzunuk’wa” – Cedar c.1900 (University of British Columbia)

Both sides of the crate

Now approaching 100 years of the De Loys’ ape, both sides remain split. Apparently, the details enveloping a truly successful hoax shall remain as vague… or as truly convoluted as possible. But, the encounter itself is particularly compelling, and paired with the amazing photograph continues to bolster a deep faith that the entire experience was genuine. If the ape was fake, then it was likely nothing more than anthropologist’s home-run swing to secure a place in the evolutionary history books. But if real, we have a whole new continent to consider when discussing cryptid primates.

–AJ

Sources:
Naish, Darren. “De Loys’ Ape and What to Do with It.” Scientific American Blog Network. N.p., n.d. Web.
Dunning, Brian. “De Loys’ Ape.” De Loys’ Ape. The Skeptoid Podcast
Seres, Michael. “Dr. Francois De Loys and De Loy’s Ape (Deloy’s Ape).” Dr. Francois De Loys and De Loy’s Ape (Deloy’s Ape). BigfootEncounters.com
Fabricius, Karl. “The Lethal Search for De Loys’ Ape.” Scribol.com
Redfern, Nicholas. The Bigfoot Book: The Encyclopedia of Sasquatch, Yeti, and Cryptid Primates. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 59-61. Print.
Quasar, Gian J. “Chapter 7: Odd Anthropoid Out.” Recasting Bigfoot: Uncovering the Truth about Sasquatch amidst the Hype of Bigfoot. Lexington, KY: Brodwyn-Moor & Doane, 2010. N. pag. Print.

The post A History of the De Loys’ Ape appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

In North America, reports of Bigfoot-like creatures come from all over: Mount St. Helens to North Carolina; Alaska to Arkansas and every state between… even Hawaii. Witnesses see them on every continent except for Antarctica. The true scale of this phenomenon is impressive to say the least.

‘Bigfoot Reunion’ by Sebastien-Ecosse

Little by little I believe in the idea that these bipedal, hairy, massive phantoms could inhabit ANY remote or highly inaccessible wilderness area. But where specifically would Bigfoot live?

Warning, this article attempts to analyze the distribution and habitat of a yet-undiscovered species. Trying to shape strong hypotheses with nothing more than anecdotal evidence and speculation based on ‘similar’ animals should not be taken serious. This is all just Bigfoot-flavored food for thought. That’s all we can do with such limited information, think.

JUMP TO… Where Does Bigfoot Live in the U.S. & Canada? | What Kind of Setting Would Bigfoot Require? | Where Would Bigfoot Sleep? | Historical Accounts of Bigfoot Settlements

Where Does Bigfoot Live in the United States & Canada?

The short answer? Anywhere. But there are certain places where Bigfoot is commonly considered to live:

Mount St. Helens, Washington

Nestled in the Cascade mountain range in Washington, Mount St. Helens is best known for its incredible 1980 eruption. 57 people died in debris avalanches, structure collapses, and smoke inhalation. This includes countless injuries and millions of dollars-worth of destruction. Amazingly, stories persist to this day of several Sasquatch perishing on the mountain and surrounding country. Some witnesses claim they observed army helicopters airlifting massive dead bodies away from the smoking landscape.

Many believe that a maze of lava tubes snake below Mount St. Helens and throughout the Cascades. These tunnels would offer miles of underground shelter for large animals, perhaps even Sasquatch. The state of Washington features the most Bigfoot sightings in the United States, by far. Intricate cave systems and the expansive, remote wilderness make Washington Bigfoot capital of the United States.

The Everglades National Park, Florida

A lot of people overlook states outside of the Pacific Northwest as prime Bigfoot habitats. Many people don’t realize that Florida ranks in the top five of state-by-state sightings. Miles and miles of remote, impenetrable swampland and a huge food surplus creates a fantastic habitat for a large omniverous mammmal like Sasquatch.

But down in Florida you won’t find Sasquatch. You’ll find Skunk Apes. In dense and expansive territories like the Everglades National Park and Myakka State Park, witnesses describe a putrid smelling, lithe, black-haired ape-man. These creatures contrast the hulking, barrel-chested brutes of the Pacific Northwest. The southern body types likely have stark differences due to a more limited population size (smaller territory), a unique swamp diet, and the amount of time spent living in the water.

Salt Fork State Park, Ohio

A true midwestern hot spot, Salt Fork State Park in central Ohio boasts dozens of compelling Bigfoot sightings. The largest in Ohio, this state park features 17,000 acres of majorly uninhabited land, and 8,000 acres of lakes and waterways. Ohio is another greatly overlooked state for encounters. The state is ranked 7th in overall population, but most Ohio residents live in close to large cities throughout the state. This means that there’s still a lot of sprawling, low-traffic, food-rich country in the Buckeye state. Ohio also features a vast river system with countless tributaries and smaller waterways. Salt Fork is kind of a vortex of many of these waterways. It is also right on the edge of the Appalachian Plateau, which is sort of a gateway to the Appalachian Mountain Range. Many Bigfoot researchers believe that this range is a Sasquatch super highway, trekked annually by these creatures as they follow seasonal food sources.

Salt Fork is also the site of several popular Bigfoot conferences like the Ohio Bigfoot Conference, the Annual Bigfoot Conference. Researchers also hold monthly Bigfoot night hikes and creature weekends in the park.

Considering Population Size

Let’s try to hammer down where these creatures might establish their geographic territory. Knowing that sightings occur all over the globe and throughout the United States & Canada, let’s try to magnify what kind of area these creatures would prefer to settle.

First let’s consider a sustainable population number.

There’s definitely not one Bigfoot. There’s not even a hundred Bigfoot. The minimum viable species amount for gorillas is somewhere between 842 and 11,919. This means that unless the total amount of gorillas dipped beneath 842, the species would be just fine. I cite gorillas assuming Sasquatch are actually great apes as well. Conceivably, these creatures would need similar numbers to exist in the world, unless they’re slowly dropping off– which is possible. The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) provides a general estimate of 2000-6000 Bigfoot in North America.

Estimating population size is beyond speculative. Researchers have a hard enough time determining the required breeding population of known animals, let alone one they’ve never been able to even get close to. So where would a few thousand Bigfoot live in North America? And WHERE exactly would they settle?

Where do sightings take place overall?

Let’s take a narrowed look at North America sightings and try to drill down from there. This fantastic map from Josh Stevens plots 3,313 Bigfoot sightings between 1921 and 2013. He looks at the relationship between reported sightings and population density within each county in the United States. Utilizing all reputable data from the BFRO, Stevens notes that sightings in the midwest and east coast, while numerous, are actually proportionally rare or follow the population. Per Josh, “There are distinct regions where sightings are incredibly common, despite a very sparse population. On the other hand, in some of the most densely populated areas Sasquatch sightings are exceedingly rare.”

Bigfoot sightings map by Josh Stevens

By the numbers, here’s the BFRO’s data on state-by-state reports up to November 2016. It is very possible that these creatures don’t habituate certain states, and the small number of sightings are mis-identifications and hoaxes. But, as the reports soar per state, I find it harder to believe that every single sighting is bunk.

What Kind of Setting Would Bigfoot Require?

1) Near a Reliable Water Source

Let’s go out on a limb and decide that Bigfoot drink freshwater like every other red-blooded American. Topping the list of basic needs, the need for water should place them at all times within a few miles of a known source, likely an area that is dependable. In California, for example, drought conditions frequently dry up streams and creeks. It would make more sense that they set up shop near a pond or lake that only recedes gradually. I would imagine them to take full advantage of mountain springs as well.

2) Near a Reliable Food Source

Apes aren’t known to migrate. They are more territorial animals. Likely, when food opportunities arise, Sasquatch wander to distant areas and make temporary settlement. They may maintain a small number of ‘homes’ in an ideal, base-locale, like a cave near a water source. Some suggest that “the Sasquatch are ‘slick opportunists’ in that they know instinctively where and when certain fruits ripen, crops mature, the salmon run, birds nest and the herds calve.” So let’s not project the desires/needs of MAN onto an animal. Sasquatch don’t go fishing for fun or hike for their health. There’s no reason why they wouldn’t be extremely familiar with available food sources in a 50 mile radius. That’s their purpose: to live.¹

I think that they are intelligent enough to remember previous temporary settlements and return to those spots when food sources become available. Perhaps they stay in that general area for a few days, or weeks to gather food for a cache and move on to the next spot. Perhaps they have one truly dependable location that they can always return to. Those few places would also likely be the spot where the young and old reside.

3) In Reliable Shelters

Plenty of animals sleep out “under the stars” as we romantically put it. Plenty of large mammals construct ‘beds’ with grass and bark. I don’t doubt that Bigfoot does the same, but as an intelligent great ape who, in my opinion, has an innate need to NOT be seen or heard they probably utilize a bit more strategy when they’re going to be laying down for an extended period of time. This likely translates to settlements that allow for a quick escape, total or significant floral coverage, and ideally, high ground camps to assess dangers from afar.

Where Does Bigfoot Sleep?

1) Caves

There are easily hundreds of thousands of caves strewn throughout the United States. Over one-third of all counties in the country have at least one cave, and some have so many that they haven’t been properly indexed. Most karst/limestone caves dot the Appalachians, the Ohio valley, the Ozarks, and the Florida Lime Sinks: all top regions for Sasquatch sightings (see map above).

There are also psuedokarst caves, which are most often lava tubes. These types are most often found in the western United States. They can stretch miles long, winding about in knotted passages with multiple entrances. Mount Shasta in California supposedly features a ‘lost city’ of tubes amidst the volcano roots. A lost city of Sasquatch?! Probably not, but I’m sure there’s plenty of dark space to habituate up there.

Similarly, lava tubes spread beneath Mt. St. Helens in Washington. Just like Mt. Shasta, many believe the entire volcano, above and below, to be a major hotspot for Sasquatch colonies. Stories persist to this day of government helicopters scooping Bigfoot bodies off the mountain after the 1980 eruption. The mountain is also just two miles west of Ape Canyon: an infamous site in Bigfoot lore. In 1924, rock-throwing, shrieking ‘ape men’ terrorized five miners overnight. This event is commonly called ‘The Battle of Ape Canyon.’

2) Abandoned Mines

There are an estimated 500,000 abandoned hardrock mines in the United States. Most of them were hastily dug amid the country’s western gold rush. 500,000 empty mines: that’s a lot of uninhabited shelter space up in the mountains. Depending on surrounding terrain, I could definitely see Sasquatch settling inside. With that many mines, there’s bound to be hundreds of them found in especially remote areas. A perfect choice for a longterm Bigfoot home, no doubt.

3) Abandoned Homes

Shelter is shelter, you know? What would happen if a roaming Bigfoot came across a forgotten farmhouse way out in the country? I would think they’d look upon that house with a heap of optimism and settle in for a short time.

These creatures aren’t dumb. They won’t just walk into your Grandma’s house and take a nap. Houses and farms indicate human presence. They likely develop a comfort level with the structure and scout out human activity for a reasonable amount of time before settling in.

And once they do… welp, there goes the neighborhood.

4) Trees

Could an entire family of 800 lb apes live in a tree? I doubt it. Maybe one or two, but I don’t think that tree dwellings make sense. Certainly, I could see one resting high up in a tree, but do they even have the capability to climb after a certain age? Bears can comfortably scale a branchless pine tree with a nifty set of claws, but what would a Sasquatch do in that situation? They’re all fingers!

Gorillas live on the ground, but maintain great balance in the trees. While I don’t think many tree varieties would be sturdy enough to support a Bigfoot for a long stay, I think resting & foraging would work just fine.

Historical Accounts of Bigfoot Settlements

Usually it seems that Sasquatch finds you, or you glimpse one for two seconds as it rushes across a trail or road. Stories are rare in which a person or group stumbles into the ‘lair of the beast’, but we do have some notable historical tales that help paint a picture of an actual Bigfoot residence. Unfortunately for these two men, they became forced house-guests.

Albert Ostman’s Abduction

Perhaps the most well-known of Bigfoot abductions is the 1924 Albert Ostman story. Ostman, a Canadian prospector, claimed that he was carried off into the night by a Sasquatch while still nestled inside his sleeping bag. The creature carried him for miles and miles across the countryside. Hours passed before the abductor placed him on the ground. When Ostman crawled from the bag he discovered three more of these beings: a young boy & girl, and an old female. The abductor was like an old man. The family stood over Ostman chattering away in their own language. Ostman noted the geography of their dwelling:

“I could see now that I was in a small valley or basin about eight or ten acres, surrounded by high mountains, on the southeast side there was a V-shaped opening about eight feet wide at the bottom and about twenty feet high at the highest point — that must be the way I came in. But how will I get out? The old man was now sitting near this opening.”

Ostman lived with the creatures for six days. Though he had a weapon, he did not want to shoot the family, since they brought him no harm. As the days passed, Ostman studied their interpersonal dynamics and what perhaps brought them to this spot:

“I don’t think this valley was their permanent home. I think they move from place to place, as food is available in different localities. They might eat meat, but I never saw them eat meat, or do any cooking.” He added, “I think this was probably a stopover place and the plants with sweet roots on the mountain side might have been in season this time of the year. They seem to be most interested in them. The roots have a very sweet and satisfying taste. They always seem to do everything for a reason, wasted no time on anything they did not need.”

Ostman eventually escaped by offering the old man a box of snuff. The creature curiously ingested the tobacco, became sick, and did not pursue Ostman as he ran away.

Read the amazing full story at Bigfootencounters.com.

The Story of Muchalat Harry

In 1975 notable Bigfoot researcher Peter Byrne wrote ‘The Story of Muchalat Harry.’ A missionary priest named Father Anthony told him the story of a Nootka indian named Muchalat Harry who he rescued from the Conuma River. Near death, Muchalat Harry explained that he was abducted by a massive creature while trapping in the forests of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Much like the Albert Ostman tale, the creature came in the middle of the night and picked him up as he slept, wrapped in blankets. He was also carried for roughly three miles to a rocky settlement. Terrified, Muchalat Harry noted around twenty Bigfoot of all shapes and sizes. The group brought no harm, but poked and analyzed him out of pure curiosity.

When the sun rose, Muchalat Harry was able to understand his surroundings. The creatures made their craggy camp high up in the rising hills, beneath a high rock shelf. As the day passed most of the beings dispersed the site for one reason or another. When he finally escaped, Muchalat Harry ran for his life three miles downhill to his camp. He ran all the way passed his camp for twelve miles to the mouth of the Conuma River. There he canoed forty-five miles down ice-cold, winter rivers. When Father Anthony found him, he was near frozen and lifeless. Three weeks passed before he regained his health, still mentally shaken by his incredible ordeal.

Read the entire story at Bigfootencounters.com

‘Detail of a Nootka Sound’ watercolour by John Webber, 1778. Muchalat Harry was a Nootka indian reportedly abducted by Sasquatch

Ok, So Considering Everything… Where Does Bigfoot Live??

I would be willing to bet we’d find a Bigfoot in a remote, abandoned mine shaft within one mile of a lake in Washington state when berries are in full bloom.

K, see you there.

— AJ

Sources:

¹ Short, Bobbie. “Sasquatch Migration – No Shortage of Opinions…” Bigfootencounters.com

The post Where Does Bigfoot Live Exactly? appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

It is tempting to just vomit every halfway-believable Bigfoot video on Youtube into this list, but I will spare you dozens of two-second jerky camera-shots that are more infuriating than intriguing. With all the blurry blobs in the pixel’d distance, evaluating Bigfoot evidence often feels like trying to understand modern art. Sometimes there’s just nothing there.

So here you go. I separated these into four tiers. I also didn’t include thermal footage, due to lack of daylight. And I will mention that these fourteen made the rank, despite ALL featuring varying amounts of possible fabrication. Proceed with caution.

JUMP TO…
Tier IV: Bigfooting from a distance
Tier III: Juuust far enough away Bigfoot videos
Tier II: The too-good-to-be-true high-resolution clips of suspicious origin
Tier I: The best Bigfoot video of all time

TIER IV: BIGFOOTING FROM A DISTANCE

14. Mission BC Clip

LOCATION: Mission, British Colombia
YEAR: 2012

A couple filmed this distant biped on a hike in British Columbia. The subject appears tall, covered in hair, and moves erratically. All very compelling details…

I would love to know the approximate distance and general location of this video. If hoaxed, I would find it to be an enormous waste of time and a pain-in-the-ass to separate from friends, hike all the way down to that hilltop, and act like a Bigfoot for 12 seconds.

As you will notice, just about every Bigfoot video exists in a world free of context. No one knows what happened before or after. Most of the time we don’t even know who actually filmed the video! This is a good example of simple visual intrigue. Maybe they really did stumble upon this creature out in the middle of nowhere. This is the kind of situation that I know every one of you have thought about on hikes through similar terrain: picking out a creature in the distance and coming out with a worthy piece of Bigfoot evidence.

13. The Alberta Family Clip

LOCATION: Alberta, Canada
YEAR: 2014

“That is definitely not a human. That is not a human AT ALL.”

Did Dad make her say that? Perhaps. But, I will say that the subject in this video appears VERY wide. This is one of the times where I desperately wish we could see the original-original video clip. A few more pixels would really help out here. We’re on the cusp of some fantastic physiological details.

What do you think?

12. Provo Canyon Clip

LOCATION: Provo Canyon, UT
YEAR: 2012

I’m not a Provo-canyon fanboy as much as some of the other Bigfooters out there, but I must include this video. The witness known only as “Beard Card” filmed this super-wide black creature on the side of a ravine while camping. He believed it to be a large black bear and watched it for some time before it stood up on the ravine hillside:

“We had actually been standing there for awhile. We had thought it was a bear up to that point but when it stood up and looked at us it was just massive animal. We don’t know what it was. I mean none of us really believe in Bigfoot but we’ve talked about it over and over again since then. It happened on Monday and all of us are positive that thing wasn’t a bear.” ¹

– Beard Card 2012

11. Russian Kids Film a Yeti

LOCATION: Russko-Ursky, Russia
YEAR: 2013

The video begins with a long line of very deep, very wide indentations in the snow, which appears roughly two feet deep. The kids follow it, because, no joke, this would be THE MOST AMAZING DISCOVERY OF ALL TIME if you were 10 years old. I can’t imagine how pumped they were for this. I also can’t imagine how freaked out they were when they found what made the tracks…

The distant subject in the trees is actually a bit creepy. It appears to stare at the children, leaning heavily to one side. After a few stare-down moments, it bursts into a wild run and the kids flee. The way it moved felt very natural and animalistic.

10. The Polish Yeti Video

LOCATION: Tatra Mountains, Southern Poland
YEAR: 2009

Filmed on the side of a mountain in Poland, this impressive video taken by mountain climber Piotr Kowalski appears to show at least two Sasquatch or Yeti. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a compelling Bigfoot video showing more than one mature creature. Piotr was understandably shook by the event:

“I saw this huge apelike form hiding behind the rocks. When I saw it, it was like being struck with a thunderbolt. Coming from Warsaw, I never really believed the local stories of a wild mountain ape-man roaming the slopes. But, now I do.” ²

I love this video. I believe that if real, there are different physiological attributes of these creatures based on their location throughout the world. These appear very lithe with raised shoulders and a nestled head. How their slimmer body type relates to mountain-dwelling, I do not know. I will say that this appearance perfectly fits decades worth of Yeti descriptions.

TIER III: JUUUST FAR ENOUGH AWAY BIGFOOT VIDEOS…

9. The Freeman Footage

LOCATION: Canada
YEAR: 1995

“Oh there he goes!”

What a classic line.

The Freeman Footage used to win the Silver Medal in Bigfoot video evidence, a great distance behind the Patterson/Gimlin Gold Medal footage. Several contemporary videos have edged it out, but it still features a ton of exciting details. Freeman gets a decent look at one (of the presumed two Bigfoot) walking straight across the frame.

I feel like there’s a noticeable smattering of shitty Freeman replica videos out there now. Many seem to show the very similar head-down, heavy, reaching step seen here. Who knows, though? Maybe that’s actually how they walk, but I like to think that Sasquatch move with more pronounced grace.

As Mike Damone from Fast Times at Ridgemont High would say, “You don’t just walk in… You mooooove across the room.”

8. The Prince Edward Island Quadrapedal Clip

LOCATION: Prince Edward Island, Canada
YEAR: 2001

The videographer, Nathan Wiley, was filming an unrelated short movie with friends. The shot they needed required the actor to run out of the woods as if being chased. Almost in a playful manner, the huge black humanoid darts across the shot opposite of the actor. Wiley, who grew up on Prince Edward Island, was shocked:

“All I know is, it looks huge, black and furry and seems to start out running on all fours and then proceed at the end to get up on it’s back legs and run. There aren’t any bears on the island either so we have no idea what is it.”³

If you ask me, the Prince Edward Island clip doesn’t actually appear to show a four-limbed run as the popular description often displays. Instead it look like the subject makes short leaps and digs it’s arms back-and-forth to propel forward while maintaining balance.

Very very compelling…

7. The Lettuce Lake Skunk Ape Footage

LOCATION: Lettuce Lake Park, Florida
YEAR: 2015

The Lettuce Lake footage is one of my favorites from the last few years. Matt McKamey and a friend canoed through a swampy region of Lettuce Lake, Florida coming upon a very lithe, tall, black shape in the distance. In the video the shadowy humanoid appears to drag its hands in the water, dismount the log, and bound through the muck out of site.

A few things stand out to me about this great slice of southern Bigfoot evidence.

– The subject looks extremely tall
– It moves with finesse through the water
– It features a unique nestled, cone-head (see Tatra Mountain clip)

Not to mention that I’m sure those swampy waters, as McKamey put it, are “infested” with cottonmouth snakes and gators. A hoaxer willing to battle the beasts of Florida on their own turf deserves a serious A+ for effort.

6. The “I Think I Saw a Skunk Ape, Please Help” Video

LOCATION: Tunica, Mississippi
YEAR: 2013

We love to see more than your typical ‘walk across the field’ shots. Anytime a unique trait shows up on video, we all kind of lose our minds. For this clip, the chorus sounds, “OH MY GOD! FORAGING!!!” It always reminds me of Dr. Grant observing flesh-and-blood dinosaurs for the first time in Jurassic Park, “They’re moving in herds…. They DO move in herds.”

So this is a great Bigfoot video though. I love it. I might even say it’s beautiful in a weird little way: Skunk Ape digging for grubs at the base of a cyprus tree in a Mississippi swamp at twilight. Ahh, I love the south.

One more thing. I’m glad I now have a forum to sound off on these annoying nuances I continuously see in Bigfoot videos. I hate the “now it’s about to get real” stand-up/run away sequence at the end of many of these. It feels so cliche, right? In this case, if real, I guess that would freak me out. Why would you think the thing even knew you were there? It’s not going to ‘dramatic chipmunk’ you and take chase. At least film a couple more seconds. And your terrified sprint definitely DIDN’T give you away.

So either legitimate Gorilla-like Skunk Ape or dude-in-black-hoodie-wearing-backpack, this Bigfoot video firmly sits in the top 5.

TIER II: THE TOO-GOOD-TO-BE-TRUE HIGH-RESOLUTION CLIPS OF SUSPICIOUS ORIGIN

5. The ‘Big Red’ Footage

LOCATION: Ontario, Canada
YEAR: 2013

In this clip the video-man, known only as ‘TimberGiantBigfoot’, alludes to discovering a Bigfoot shelter site somewhere in Ontario. He returns later with camera to perform wood knocks, hoping to contact the potential Sasquatch. As he shuffles through the forest distant rock smacking rings out subtly. He zooms his camera through a tangle of trees eventually landing on a large, red-haired conical head.

There is a small club of very controversial “Bigfoot videographers” on Youtube. This TimberGiantBigfoot mingles in that little party. He appears to get a lot of heat in video comment sections, but what can you honestly expect in this weird corner of Youtube.

This video receives a lot of criticism, and I agree there are issues. I can’t say what any given person would say to themselves as they film a Bigfoot for ten minutes in the Canadian Wilderness, but I admit his dialogue feels insistent. He continuously chimes in with “you won’t believe it” details that presumably try to lull the watcher into believing that much harder, like “It sure stinks back here. Like urine.” and “The stone is even warm. This is what it was smashing with.” There is also a loose rendition of a now very popular Sasquatch ‘tree structure’ conveniently at the spot.

But hey, if legitimate, this is amazing, right? I’ve picked it apart enough. I do think this is a fine Bigfoot video with many intriguing details. Afterall, I like it to post it this high in the list. High resolution scores mega points, regardless of the character behind the camera. If TimberGiantBigfoot does encounter these creatures regularly, just keep on shootin’ buddy.

4. Sasquatch Looking Through Window

LOCATION: Unknown
YEAR: 2015

From the original uploader:

“Every year the fruit just seemed to disappear overnight off my apple pear trees. Also the birdseed used to vanish without a trace. I thought it was raccoon or something and so I set up a camera. This is what was caught on camera. You can make up your own mind as to what it is.”

Perhaps the creepiest entry to this list, the window-peeking video deserves a lot of attention. While still relatively new, this clip really excited the Bigfoot world when it was published sometime in 2015.

Haven’t we all kind of imagined this situation sitting in a bright room at night with the window wide open? That black square is always unnerving. Everything out there in the oblivion can see in, but you can’t see a damn thing out. But then you slightly make out what could be prowling through that darkness. Piece by piece, a massive, hairy figure, with beaming, intelligent eyes materializes into view. Just when you comprehend the scope of this shape, it is gone.

Poof.

Terrifying.

3. The Harley Hoffman Footage

LOCATION: British Columbia, Canada
YEAR: 2001

I am hesitant to put this at #3, just because of the guy behind the video. This might be the most mysterious clip of the lot. Who is Harley Hoffman? And who the hell is Hutch Hoffman, his ‘twin brother’? Hutch created a full blown documentary about his hunt for evidence of SANTA CLAUS. In fact, in one of his YouTube videos, Hutch notes that Harley is famous for filming this Bigfoot clip. Seems like an odd thing to say considering very few people have even seen this video…

Why does the clip cut off so fast? And what does the interview with ‘Harley’ have to do with it at the beginning?

But you know what? I’m throwing my hat out the window on this one. I really like the clip.

If this is hoaxed as some weird promo for his/their Santa Claus documentary (if you haven’t picked up yet, I am very skeptical of the fact that he actually has a brother), then I admit… you got me. You win. This video is fantastic and offers an amazing amount of detail as the ‘subject’ appears to walk up a hillside at VERY close range. The peanut gallery consensus (Youtube/Crypto Message board forums) is that the detail level rivals Patterson/Gimlin and the footage is authentic.

Is this legit Bigfoot evidence, or just a promotional video? What do you think?

2. Independence Day Footage

LOCATION: Unknown
YEAR: 2010

The ‘Independence Day’ footage is truly compelling. We have our first clear-ish look at, presumably, a baby Bigfoot. The clarity shown in this short 2 minutes is simply refreshing. It begins with a cone-headed, black creature emerging from behind a large boulder. The figure appears skiddish and even paranoid- constantly looking over it’s shoulder until it returns to frame holding what appears to be a child in its arms. It shuffles away into the boulder field.

Another clip-of-unknown-origin. All we know about this video is that it was apparently filmed on Independence Day (which is such bullshit because I see NO fireworks anywhere in the video) and for some reason this guy Leroy Blevins, who at one time was known to be working on a Patterson/Gimlin replica, might be involved. This is what I mean when I say I’d rather not get into the weeds on the people involved in these videos. The background and aftermath of the Patterson/Gimlin encounter is convoluted to death, and modern encounters are becoming even worse. Unfortunately this is the nature of a Bigfoot video on the internet. I could write here and now that JJ Abrams did the CGI on this clip and that would become total fact to hundreds of people by next week.

But anyways, this is a fantastic piece of Bigfoot evidence if authentic. We get our clearest face shot since Patterson/Gimlin and a little nino thrown in. The babe even appears to push away from the parent at the end. THIS is a good video!

TIER I: THE PATTERSON/GIMLIN FOOTAGE

1. Patterson/Gimlin Film

LOCATION: Bluff Creek CA
YEAR: 1967

“Is there no one else!?” – Brad Pitt from Troy

That line kept shooting through my head as I ranked these. Really, there is nothing else that comes close to the Patterson/Gimlin footage. Can you believe that we are STILL talking about it? Can you believe that NO ONE has proved it fake? FIFTY years later, folks. Nowadays, we have high-powered, crystal clear cameras in our pockets at all times. Obviously, handheld cameras only became more popular beyond 1967 and, still, year-after-year the Patterson/Gimlin film still sits firmly atop Mount Evidence.

In October of 1967 Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin, two former rodeo riders, entered the Six Rivers National Forest in California . The men traveled 25 miles southwest of Orleans, CA on horseback following Bluff Creek, a tributary of the Klamath River. They rounded a turn in the creek bed past a large upturned tree. Just past the tree’s significant root structure, the men discovered the 6’5″ – 7’5″ reddish, brownish, silver-streaked beast.

The horses reared. Patterson dismounted and retrieved his camera. Shakily approaching the creature, he filmed 59 seconds as it walked across the creek bed towards the tree line with a look of ‘contempt’ and ‘disgust’ on its face.

Several books are completely dedicated to the events surrounding this footage. Controversy envelopes it like none other. Beyond Patterson and Gimlin, there are many more colorful characters to consider in this tangled tale. I am surprised a feature full length film has not been created. With the eccentric lineup of competing Bigfooters, a Wes Anderson production feels appropriate.

And also, wouldn’t it be absolutely fantastic to see the Hollywood FX masters attempt to recreate ‘Patty?’ Who knows, we could actually strengthen the validity of the footage if the digital effects crew struggles to replicate the creature.

So there you have it! Most of this Bigfoot evidence is fairly recent, so that’s a great sign. The rising frequency of compelling footage really excites me. Don’t forget, though. It doesn’t matter how amazing your video turns out. If you really observe a Sasquatch, only physical, scientific evidence will get us somewhere. Go cast that track. Look for hair. These clips rock and keep our chin’s up through this fantastic yet elusive paranormal safari of life, but just remember it’s going to take much more. You will need to satisfy scientific scrutiny and prove to the world that you didn’t just film hairy uncle Rick looking for a place to piss in the woods.

— AJ

Sources:

¹ fox13now.com/facebook/. “VIDEO: A Bigfoot Sighting in Provo Canyon?” Fox13now.com. Fox 13, 05 Nov. 2012. Web.

² Redfern, Nicholas. “Polish Bigfoot Film Footage.” The Bigfoot Book: The Encyclopedia of Sasquatch, Yeti, and Cryptid Primates. N.p.: Visible Ink, 2016. 235. Print.

³ “Prince Edward Island Video.” Bigfootencounters.com/stories/pei.htm, n.d. Web.

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Tim Hall delivers his Great Smoky Mountains Bigfoot story in his living room

I absolutely love Tim Hall’s Bigfoot story. Essentially a five minute tale buffered with ten to twelve minutes of weird background details and granular, pointless notes; he performs the retelling with such a magnetic conviction. Originally published on a Youtube page that doesn’t exist anymore, the encounter reached broader audiences via Sasquatch Chronicles, or, at-the-time, Bigfoot Hotspot Radio. That’s where I heard it for the first time, and this is interestingly the story that reignited my passion for the topic.

Here’s the tale, courtesy of Bigfoot Hotspot Radio. You can find the reuploaded version on their current site here, Sasquatch Chronicles.

The story is ridiculous. It’s hilarious. It’s swamped in irrelevant explanations and is just completely oversalted, but god damnit I love it. The man’s a great talker and I truly believe his story about that night up on Mt. LeConte. I listen to it all the time. And right there in the middle really is a terrifying encounter of six men completely frozen in fear by something outside their small cabin. What did Tim and his five young friends hear on that remote, snowy mountain in Smoky Mountains National Park? And what the hell tried to ferociously break down their cabin door? This is one of the few Bigfoot stories that I return to.

In the midst of my born again Bigfootery, I played Tim’s story for my parents and girlfriend on the way to Yosemite National Park a few summers ago. I was pumped. THIS was going to sell them. I sorted through all the compelling Bigfoot stories I found on Youtube and Bigfoot Hotspot Radio, and decided this was going to be the one; THE story that would freak my family into believing. So I pressed play. What happened? I was met with impatient disdain after the twelfth mention of a “looong, haaaard hike” and laughed out of the car on the wave of Tim’s “OH DEAR GOD!!!”

So it goes for the lonesome Bigfooter. But I guarantee you they at least enjoyed the story.

— AJ

The post “Oh Dear God!!” Tim Hall’s Fantastic Bigfoot Ramble appeared first on Bigfoot Base.