‘Night Scream’ by Scott Davis

Note, it’s difficult to determine the authenticity of a true ‘Bigfoot Scream’, since there are an infinite amount of other animals out in the wilderness screeching, cawing, wailing, howling, and braying together in a moonlit chorus. The potential for hoaxing is also very high. Even though we have very compelling Bigfoot sound evidence, we can’t forget that technology allows us to blend, enhance, deepen, and overlay intricate audio collages. Even back in the mid-20th century sound recording technology was advanced enough to allow for granular manipulation. That being said, let’s have an honest listen to the best pieces of ‘screaming’ evidence.

Bigfoot Screams on the Umatilla Indian Reservation

In 2012, several residents of the Umatilla Indian Reservation near Pendelton Oregon (Washington/Oregon border) reported loud, bizarre screams and shrieks coming from a spread of dense swampland over the course of several nights. At times, the sounds were so unsettling and intense that residents woke up suddenly and couldn’t get back to sleep. Even their dogs refused to go outside. The sounds ranged from bass-heavy roars to blood-curdling shrieks.

A tribal housing authority employee, Colleen Change, recorded this intriguing audio:

The Umatilla Reservation spans 178,000 acres. The utter strangeness of the sounds made it all the more unsettling. Most of the 1,500 people on the reservation practically grew up in the wilderness. They experienced the full spectrum of animal sounds throughout their lives, but these screams, according to many, are sounds that have simply never been heard before. Some even heard the sounds bellow from two different directions, as if a conversation took place.

A History of Odd Activity

Could these truly be Sasquatch screams? The confederated tribes of the Umatilla Reservation— the Umatilla, Cayuse, and Walla Walla- all tell stories of a form of Sasquatch, or wild man of the woods. The region is rich in supposed Bigfoot activity. In 1976 18″ tracks were discovered by a Walla Walla man just north of the reservation in the Blue Hills. Oregon, generally is a hotspot for Bigfoot activity. The state reported at least 243 encounters decade after decade. Fifteen of these reports took place in Umatilla County, including a 1992 ‘Class A’ encounter, where two brothers observed a “large hairy man” watching them 100 yards away across a gorge. And in 2002, a man reported another ‘Class A’ encounter, claiming that a Sasquatch-like creature stared at him through a window of his rural home. The creature fled into the treeline when it was acknowledged by the man. He investigated the land immediately after, discovering 16″ long, 6/7″ wide footprints.

Could the local fauna be to blame for the Umatilla screams? One local wildlife manager on the reservation explained that when cougars breed, the sounds they make are “absolutely hair-raising.” And the neighboring swampland is “a perfect place to have an echoing call sound eerie.” Additionally, wolves, coyote, and fox (listen to examples below) can produce wailing bellows and the same type of maniacal cackle the residents heard. The swamp may have enhanced the eerie nature of these already strange animal calls.¹

The Bigfoot Scream You Have Probably Heard

“The sound you hear is what some experts claim to be a Bigfoot scream. Recorded in the state of Washington by a group of campers in 1971. It is regarded as the highest quality audio of the creature ever captured.” -Leonard Nimoy, Ancient Mysteries (1992)

This is probably the most well known of all Bigfoot screams. I first heard this clip featured in Ancient Mysteries: Bigfoot (1994) back in the day. I assumed it was authentic, no doubt thanks to Leonard Nimoy’s wise timbre. Unfortunately, about a year ago I watched Sasquatch: The Legend of Bigfoot (1976) and was upset to hear that this very scream was used prominently in the film! The sense of awe and terrified wonderment I always had for the hauntingly beautiful audio was lost.

At that point when I watched the movie, I accepted that the audio was made for the project and year after year the origin became hazier and hazier into oblivion. The film is 40-odd years old and highly obscure. I assumed the producers of Ancient Mysteries and these other Sasquatch documentaries of recent years completely overlooked the source or chose to move forward with the segment believing no one would notice.

Unfortunately, It’s Probably Fake

As I continued research, I stumbled into ParaBreakdown’s corner of Youtube, and he provided evidence that this scream was utilized in an EARLIER Bigfoot movie, called Big Foot: Man or Beast (1972). In this pseudo-documentary, a couple from British Columbia were interviewed about an anguished ‘screaming cry’ heard in the swamps behind their home at dusk. The film then provides an “approximation” of the recorded sound, which of course turns out to be the Bigfoot scream in question. This form of it, though, is much clearer and even seems to have some echo and reverberation, somewhat indicating recording-studio acoustics. No!!!!

And if this is the original version… then the Ancient Mysteries: Bigfoot clip just completely made up the 1971 Washington Campers story. Why wouldn’t they have played this original audio then, you know?

I am holding out. I like this audio too much. It’s real damnit! It has to be!

So I’ve decided to subject myself to the suggestive powers of unsourced Wikipedia pages and down-the-rabbit-hole Youtube Comments. The Sasquatch: The Legend of Bigfoot Wikipedia page says the audio is authentic and recorded before the film. As I waded deeper into the shitty blackness of the Youtube comment feed I found a handful of users defending the source, claiming it was truly legitimate:

“There’s not a bit of actual proof that this is a construct. In fact, though he doesn’t take credit for it, it’s most likely a capture made by the same gentleman who’s responsible for the “Sierra sounds” recordings.” – Youtube user ‘Pattysreal’

You read that right. I’m sourcing Youtube comments and unverified Wikipedia text. I consciously elect to put my head in the sand. Roar on, lonely Sasquatch.

More Notable Sasquatch Screams

Even though the Ancient Mysteries wail is likely fabricated, there are plenty of compelling Sasquatch scream recorded throughout the years. Many possess that same kind of anguished, exasperated cry. Others, on the other hand, feel malevolent and sound just plain terrifying.

The Puyallup Screamer

In the spring of 1973 a young boy and girl were riding their bikes on an old pipeline road outside of Puyallup Washington. As they rode near a large gravel pit, a hulking, bipedal ‘thing’ walked across the road, approximately 150 yards in front of them. It paused halfway, looked at them, and continued its stride into the dense bush. The kids pedaled home frantically. No one believed their story even though something strange had been haunting the town of Pullyup for weeks: horrible screaming in the night.²

The children had experienced it, and many of the townsfolk felt the terror. The screams continued after the children’s encounter. And finally on May 12, 1973 a man named Marlin Ayers collected proof. One night he recorded this frightening audio of the chilling screamer:

The Clipper Mills Screams

In the Summer of 2012, a couple traveling with their two dogs through the Sierras near Clipper Mills CA pulled off-road to fix transmission issues in their truck. The vehicle was beyond repair that night, and they decided it was best to wait until morning to seek help. At approximately 10:00 pm, a chorus of powerful, distant howls began. The unsettling cries lasted exactly twenty minutes before fading away. Per the video uploader, “This is as it happened, it changed us, we will never forget that night as long as we live. I am so glad I caught this to prove our sanity and to remind us that this actually happened.”

¹ The Oregonian, Richard Cockle. “Bigfoot or Animals? Strange Sounds Coming from Swamp on Umatilla Indian Reservation (listen).” OregonLive.com. N.p., 20 Jan. 2013.

² Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization. “BFRO Reports by State: Pierce County, WA.” BFRO.net

The post These Are What Bigfoot Screams Sound Like appeared first on Bigfoot Base.

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.

Here’s the fantastic trailer:

Who made this movie?

The film is directed by Seth Breedlove and produced by the Small Town Monsters crew. Just last year they released Beast of Whitehall, a documentary about the 1976 series of Bigfoot sightings in Whitehall, New York. Sightings persist to this day, and Whitehall is even considered the “Bigfoot Capitol of the East Coast” by many.

Joining the Small Town Monsters squad is Fouke Monster expert, author, and musician Lyle Blackburn. Lyle is a foremost authority on all things Boggy Creek Monster. For years he researched the monster and interviewed witnesses.

So what is the Fouke Monster?

The Fouke Monster, or Boggy Creek Monster, is one of the more famous representative ‘wild men’ of southern Bigfoot lore. This seven-foot black phantom caused a serious stir in the small community of Fouke Arkansas in the 1960s. Passive encounters dating back to the late 1800s led the Fouke folk (see what I did there?) to believe the monsters were generally peaceful and just wanted to be left alone, despite the occasional livestock massacre. A 1971 pair of aggressive encounters reported by the Ford and Turner families changed the perception of these beings, and more-or-less sparked the original The Legend of Boggy Creek film by Charles B. Pierce.

The Ford family encounter

On the night of Saturday May 1st, 1971 two seven-foot tall, hairy apes attacked the Ford home, literally. Scratches were found on the house itself.

The monsters then boldly moved towards the windows.

One of the two giants stuck its hairy arm through the window (as dramatized in the The Legend of Boggy Creek) towards one of the young Ford girls inside. She awoke, terrified. As she leapt from bed, she said the creature leered into the room with red eyes. Chased off by shotgun fire, the creatures retreated to the swamp.

The sheriff was called in and investigated the area for the frightened families. Hours after he left, the monsters returned. When the men went outside to shoot away the invaders once more, young Bobby Ford was attacked in the darkness. A shadowy being allegedly grabbed Bobby on the porch and threw him to the ground. He survived the assault and was treated for scratches and mild shock later that night at the hospital. The monsters never returned to the Ford home.

A famous shot from ‘The Legend of Boggy Creek’ (1972)

Are there present day sightings of the Fouke Monster?

Absolutely. The film presents a rising amount of cross-the-road sightings and several creepy encounters through the eighties, nineties, and into the 21st century. The Boggy Creek Monster didn’t just exist in the sixties and seventies. The most compelling chapters of Boggy Creek lore may have been written long after the Ford family encounter.

And other than the consistent stream of sightings leading up to this very day, I am most intrigued by the 1971 14″ long, three-toed trackway found in a local bean field. The only three-toed mammal that looks and acts anything like an ape is the sloth. But, sloths are quadrapeds. Interestingly though, the extinct giant ground-dwelling sloth used bipedal locomotion. Hmmm…. A theory post for another day no doubt.

Where can I find this movie?

Normally I’d urge you to go buy this on Amazon since Bigfoot Base is an Amazon Associates Affiliate (meaning I get a small piece o’ the pie), but if you have ANY interest in this flick, please head to the Small Town Monsters online shop, buy the movie from there, and support your independent filmmakers.

I haven’t devoted an honest sitting to the Small Town Monsters trilogy, but I just sat down for my first viewing of Boggy Creek Monster and I was very impressed. I will put a full review on the table before long.

The post ‘Boggy Creek Monster’ Documentary Available Now 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.

Rene Dahinden holding the “cripplefoot cast”, 1970

Right beside the famed 1967 Patterson/Gimlin footage, many enthusiasts believe the other pillar of irrefutable Bigfoot evidence to be the 1969 Bossburg, Washington cripplefoot tracks. In this small community just south of the Canadian border, at least 1089 individual footprints were discovered by a enthusiastic team of Bigfoot hunters. On the surface these appetizing pieces of evidence are remarkable, but what is the real story? The Patterson/Gimlin footage ignited a fever among Bigfoot hunters in 1967, and just two years later these tracks once again hypnotized researchers. But does this unique piece of Bigfoot evidence truly hold that much weight? In this case, it’s essential to look beyond the footprints, right into the eyes of several overzealous Bigfooters.

What events lead to the cripplefoot cast?

In November of 1969 notable researcher Rene Dahinden received a phone call from colleague John Greene. Greene explained that a fellow Bigfooter named Ivan Marx was tracking a crippled Sasquatch, evidenced by a malformed foot print found in the mud by a butcher around the town dump. Rene traveled to Bossburg to investigate. Though trampled by curious locals, the muddy grounds around the dump did yield at least one complete footprint preserved beneath a cardboard box. Rene photographed it and took a plaster cast.

Rene performed due-diligence about town, holding interviews and investigating the surrounding wilderness for more evidence. Mystified by the extraordinary crippled trait, he made base in Bossburg, living in a trailer on Marx’s property. For the next several days he made rounds about the town fringes, dropping infrequent, random piles of meat scraps as Bigfoot bait.

The morning of December 13th brought Rene’s best chance to nab the Cripple. Cruising the banks of Roosevelt Lake with Ivan Marx and an interested young local man, the team pulled over near a railway crossing adjacent to the Columbia River. Marx left the car to check on one of Rene’s meat-piles. Within seconds he flew back to the car shouting “Bigfoot tracks!”

The cripplefoot trackway

1089 individual footprints covered the snowy landscape, winding along the railroad, across the railroad, across the highway, over a 3 ½ foot wire fence, and underneath a pine tree. Beneath the tree they found a large impression littered with pine needles. In the center of this marking was a large clump of snow bearing a few toe prints. Rene believed that the creature stopped to shake off accumulating snow from its foot.

Upon realizing there were hundreds more tracks beyond the pine tree pit-stop, a fiery Rene abandoned all skepticism, shouting “Now we’re going to get that hairy sonofabitch!”

The tracks went up a steep hill and back down the same hill, side-by-side. A deep, yellow-tinged snow patch indicated the possibility the creature stopped to urinate. No samples were collected. Beyond the pee-patch the footprints led down a steep grade parallel to the river, until they finally disappeared amidst the Columbia’s rocky shore.

Left to right, Rene Dahinden, Don Byington, and Ivan Marx following the trackway discovery, 1970

What did the crippled foot look like, and what supposedly happened to ‘the creature’?

The left print measured 17 ½” inches long and 6 ½” across the ball. The right, “crippled” foot measured 16 ½ long and 7” across the ball. The right print showed more compression than the left. This suggests that the body weight favored the right side.

The most notable attribute, and perhaps the sole reason this event became so delectable to the hungry group of Bigfooters, is the infamous crippled right foot. Shorter and wider than the left foot, it strangely left a deeper impression. Rene along with several academics offer their own explanations of the gnarled appendage:

Rene Dahinden, on-scene Bigfoot researcher: Believed the ‘creature’ to have a shorter right leg and endured an accident that dislocated the shinbone.

Dr. Grover Krantz, anthropologist: Believes the tracks made by the ‘crippled individual’ are authentic and simply too sophisticated to be faked. Notably penciled in anatomical structure of the bones upon the plaster cast.

Dr. Jeff Meldrum, Professor of Anatomy and Anthropology, expert on foot morphology and locomotion in primates: Believes the tracks to be authentic and the chances of a hoax to be “almost non-existent.” In an official study, he details the structure of the foot and appears to accept Grover’s skeletal outline:

“The malformed right foot has been previously misidentified as a case of talipes equinoverus (clubfoot). However, it is consistent with the general condition of pes cavus, specifically metatarsus adductus or possibly skewfoot. Its unilateral manifestation makes it more likely that the individual was suffering from a lesion on the spinal cord rather than a congenital deformity. Regardless of the epidemiology, the pathology highlights the evident distinctions of skeletal anatomy. The prominent bunnionettes on the lateral margin of the foot mark the positions of the calcaneocuboid and cuboideometatarsal joints, which are positioned more distal than in a human foot. This accords with the inferred position of the transverse tarsal joint and confirms the elongation of the heel segment. Furthermore, deformities and malalignments of the digits permit inferences about the positions of interphalangeal joints and relative toe lengths, as depicted in the reconstructed skeletal anatomy depicted below.”

Dr. David Howe, orthopedic surgeon: Believes the prints are wholly authentic. He echoes Dr. Krantz, believing that “it would be very difficult to come up with the knowledge and the ability” to fabricate the structure of the foot. He also feels that it could be a lisfranc injury: dislocation of the metatarsal bones from the tarsus, the cluster of bones that including the ankle and heel that are inbetween the toes and the shin bones. If the creature suffered a lisfranc injury, without medical treatment, the “residual deformity could heal over in [that] direction.”

Grover Krantz examines the cripplefoot cast

Treachery comes to Crippleburg

The cripplefoot tracks began a Sasquatch circus in Bossburg. Over the course of a few months Bigfooters of all types flocked to the sleepy mountain town. Among them were Roger Patterson of the Patterson/Gimlin film and the aforementioned John Greene. All of the colorful Bigfoot eggs were in one red-hot basket. Unfortunately for the gang, their salacious optimism no doubt attracted treacherous agents.

A mysterious prospector named Metlow appeared one evening in the Bigfooter’s trailer headquarters. The man, who I picture as some sort of shrouded, pale, devil incarnate, instigated a bidding war for control of an actual Sasquatch that he managed to trap in a deep mine shaft. He refused to let any of the men view the creature. This delectable offer divided the diehard group. With remote financial backing for each side, the bid grew every day. Swept up with excitement, Rene’s bid of $55,000 placed him top of the heap. Excitement faded quickly, as Metlow suddenly withdrew his proposition.

As if dangling chunks of meat for a gator congregation, Metlow returned shortly thereafter with the promise of a frozen Sasquatch foot. The group of Bigfooters once again bit hard on the proposal. And once again they divided, coming up with nothing but whiffed air on this attempt. Simply, Metlow dangled the relic, got bored or wasn’t offered enough cash, and quietly withdrew.

Peter Byrne vs. Ivan Marx

Peter Byrne (left) and Ivan Marx (right)

The cripplefoot saga cycled back to Ivan Marx for the final chapter. The original reporter of the now famed ‘Bossburg Cripple’, Marx phoned old-faithful Rene nine months after the Metlow debacle (October, 1970), proclaiming, “I’ve got a film of the cripple.” On cue, the starving gators crawled back to Crippleburg.

According to Marx, he received an anonymous phone call explaining that a “large upright creature” was struck on the highway by a train or a car. Marx had rallied his hunting dogs and armed himself with a camera. It wasn’t long before he tracked the creature and recorded several minutes of compelling footage:

“On the screen the Sasquatch is shown moving from right to left at an angle of about forty-five degrees away from the photographer. Distance from the subject according to Marx ranged from twenty-five feet to more than a hundred feet as it made its way into the heavy underbrush on the far side of the clearing. Probably the most impressive part of the film, besides its extreme clarity, is the fact that the Sasquatch is visibly injured, holding its right arm tightly to its chest and using its long muscular left arm for compensating balance. Also, both ankles of the creature seem badly skinned, the wounds showing plainly raw against the black hair of the legs and feet. In watching the frames singly, the injured or skinned area appears to extend onto the bottom of one foot, and possibly on both feet, which would account for the apparent pain-filled movements of the frightened creature. As the Sasquatch is nearing the far side of the clearing, a twisted tree limb is stepped on, bouncing up and striking it above knee level. Marx, the following day, photographed this stick, which was ten feet long. In comparison the creature photographed would have stood about nine feet tall and Marx estimated its weight as that of two large bears, or around seven to eight hundred pounds.”

Ding! Ding! A bidding war for the rights to the original footage ensued. A fresh faced British adventurer named Peter Byrne entered the sullied arena. With backing of his own from infamous millionaire (and Yeti enthusiast) Tom Slick, Byrne agreed to pay Marx a $750 monthly retainer to continue hunting the creatures. As part of the deal, the original film would be kept in a safety deposit box. Marx happily agreed.

It was not long before the astute Byrne suspected Marx’s validity. Already doubting the footage, Byrne sought trusted help. He showed a copy of the clip to a local friend and his children. Incredibly, the children recognized the exact location of the filming. Byrne investigated. According to Marx, he tracked the creature six miles north of his home into remote foothills. Amazingly, the actual location of Marx’s short movie was indeed a spot the children were very familiar with: the furthest edge of their own ranch.

Byrne investigated and found extreme inconsistencies in Marx’s description of the setting. He also noted that the shadow of the creature shifted far enough to indicate a significant amount of time passed between shots, directly contradicting Marx’s claim that the creature was filmed over the course of a few minutes. Endless sizing and logistical inaccuracies surfaced quickly. Byrne was quite thorough: a breed not so gullible as Marx’s usual audience. The weight of the inquiries finally crippled Marx. He fled town. When Byrne opened the safety deposit box containing the original video recording, they discovered nothing more than a film roll of a Mickey Mouse cartoon.

Marx surfaced years later. He narrated and produced a Bigfoot film called The Legend of Bigfoot (1976) starring his own uniquely designed, super-cone-head Sasquatch from the previously debunked footage. He even appeared on a game show called You Asked for It peddling “real” photos of a Bigfoot in a snowstorm. From the beginning to end, Marx definitely had a creative flair.

So, were the cripplefoot tracks legitimate? What the hell happened?

Quite literally, this saga begins and ends with Ivan Marx. In my opinion it is easy to see that he carefully penned a compelling narrative of a crippled Sasquatch. Marx was an intelligent and creative guy. He recognized that a simple set of large footprints in the woods would not quench the country’s Bigfoot thirst so easily. He needed some kind of ‘shtick.’ Thus, the most important feature of the entire tale: the crippled foot.

Was Marx desperate for the recognition attached to Roger Patterson only a few years earlier? Was this a long-con to sell endless amounts of footage with his homemade suit a la Peter Parker snapping Spider Man pics for The Daily Bugle? Honestly, it sounds like all of these things crossed his mind. He decided to build a Bigfoot: a memorable monster that was to be revealed little-by-little.

I note modern professional’s evaluation that the foot could not have been faked. In this case, I point to Dr. Grover Krantz, who inadvertently legitimized Marx’s stunt for decades to come. Krantz, always a bit too personally passionate about the topic, penciled in the bone structure of the crippled foot by his lonesome. When Marx began his outline for the fake crippled foot-stamp I imagine him reading through the same anatomy textbooks as Krantz likely did one year later, completing the charade. It is not impossible to fake a footprint like this. In fact, more questions should have risen after observation that it was actually the crippled foot that received more weight in the steps. Despite his story, Marx needed that feature to stand out no matter what.

The time was perfect. He manipulated the desperation of men like Rene Dahinden to enhance belief in ‘the Cripple’ and corral even more Bigfooters. The Patterson/Gimlin film fever entranced the nation. Marx, perhaps over-confidently, assumed he could achieve the same celebrity. He most likely believed that the creature in the 1967 footage was a fake and he could pull off something much more interesting.

If his story didn’t sloppily face-plant, Marx probably would have achieved his goals. He definitely had enough creative plot points to satisfy the public for years to come: the crippled foot, the train accident, the piss in the snow, the dumpster looting, and a very unique suit. Unfortunately for Mr. Marx, he simply waded too far. By the time Peter Byrne began a series of very practical inquiries, Marx was too far out: drowning in his own remarkable fantasy. — AJ

Sources:

¹ “Bigfoot Compendium” Orgoneresearch.com
² Meldrum, Jeff, Dr. “Evaluation of Alleged Sasquatch Footprints and Their Inferred Functional Morphology.”www2.isu.edu/. Idaho State University, n.d. Web.
³ Hunter, Don, and Rene Dahinden. Sasquatch. N.p.: Mass Market Paperback, 1975. Print.
⁴ Sasquatchalliance. “Ivan Marx Sasquatch Footage.” YouTube. YouTube, 20 June 2008. Web.
⁵ Critical Evidence. By Liz Pollock. Perf. Dr. Jeff Meldrum, Dr. David Howe. 2009. Monsterquest: Season 3, Episode 19. Web.
⁶ Byrne, Peter. “The Hoaxed Ivan Marx Footage, as Told by Peter Byrne…” Bigfootencounters.com. N.p., Sept. 2003. Web.

The post ‘Recasting’ the Infamous Cripplefoot Tracks of 1969 appeared first on Bigfoot Base.