BIGFOOT: FACT OR FICTION

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            Suppose you explored the wilderness in North America. In that case, chances are you have been warned or told the tale of the legendary Bigfoot, a creature known for his large appearance and capability to stay hidden (Geller). There are many theories surrounding Bigfoot and its origins. Becky Little has collected research that states, “Since the 1950s, the U.S. version has been “Bigfoot” a tall, hairy humanlike creature believed by some people to dwell in forests of the American Northwest” (Little). Still, dating back to before civilization when Native Americans inhabited the United States, there have been tales of a fierce creature who lives in the woods and is known for his legendary and unique appearance (Geller). Another theory surrounding Bigfoot, is a common belief is that he is a giant bipedal bear who may have wildly inhabited the United States for years (Thomson). Let’s look and explore the facts and fiction surrounding this creature and get to the bottom of the truth about the infamous Bigfoot. 

 Character Traits of Bigfoot

Bigfoot is a mysterious creature known for his large ape-like appearance and ability to stay hidden from the public. Many are drawn to the Sasquatch species and the hunt to find them due to their unique appearance. The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization is dedicated to exploring Bigfoot and his traits and is the only scientific Bigfoot organization known within the United States (About the Bigfoot Field Research Organization). By exploring information about Sasquatches it’s proven that they are known for traits such as: their large stature, how their curiousness is helpful in survival, and the diet in which they sustain their population.     

Firstly, Bigfoot, also known as a Sasquatch, is a strange being known for its large height and human ape-like form. Now, imagine being alone in the woods with a six to eight-foot-tall creature towering above you in the deep dark woods! Leah Sotille, a reporter who has researched Bigfoot appearances, broke down the video Patterson-Grimlin released which shows their first-hand experience with Bigfoot (Sotille). They witnessed a “hulking gorilla-like figure covered in dark hair hurried on two legs along the creek bed” (Sotille). Matt Moneymaker, a member of BRFO has also encountered Bigfoot up close; he stated "Suddenly, there he was, an eight-foot-tall creature, standing 15 feet away, growling at me. He wanted to let me know I was in the wrong place" (Moneymaker). By understanding the facts, one can see Bigfoot is a remarkable being who towers above us and has unique features, which explains why the creature draws so many to look for it and hope they catch a glimpse of the legend itself.

 Secondly, Sasquatches are curious creatures. Scott Tompkins, the founder of the Bigfoot Mapping Project, said, when interviewed by Live Science, “When people describe the behavior [of such creatures], they seem to be very curious, but non-confrontational," (Pester). By using their nonconfrontational curious nature to their abilities, they can explore the wilderness as they please with little to no human interference. Fourteen years ago, Andy Hitch had an encounter with a creature he believes may have been Bigfoot.  When Hitch was interviewed in 2010, he described the event and said, “Something ran in front of me,” he said. “It was tall and had dark-colored hair” (Hernandez). By understanding these creatures’ curious minds we can see they have used their skills and inquisitive nature to limit themselves from the human population to protect their species and avoid extinction and extortion.      

 Lastly, Sasquatches are omnivores and tend to be non-confrontational. Linda Suchy wrote a book called, Who’s Watching You An Exploration of Bigfoot in the Pacific Northwest. In this book, she tells of a story about her grandmother, who encountered a beast in her garden. The grandmother said, “She saw “a dark brown hairy beast, at least eight feet tall” and watched as it ate her “raspberries, tomatoes, squash and green beans” (Suchy, p.17-18). By reading about confrontations with Bigfoot creatures, one can see how they have adapted to eating what the ecosystem consists of to survive (Suchy).  Jeff Meldrum, who wrote Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science, and speaks of Bigfoot encounters and shared that “the menu of food items reported by eyewitnesses ranges from berries to elk” (Meldrum, 168). These creatures can sustain their population by being able to consume a variety of food from plants to large mammals. By reading the facts one can see that Sasquatches rely on a variety of food and this helps explain why they live in the forest and can feed themselves and the entire Sasquatch population while remaining hidden from the human population. Having food that is easily available can make the difference between life or extinction of an entire species, by adapting and being able to consume both meats and plants is a strength for the species and will help with continual survival.

            In conclusion, one can understand the most notable traits of Bigfoot which include: his large dominating stature, the curious way these creatures think and use those skills to live, and their omnivorous diet which helps them be able to consume and variety of food within their habitat.  By combining the traits listed in the past paragraphs, the Sasquatch species can use these skills to avoid detection from most humans and be self-reliant to remain in the forest where they feel they are the safest. The Bigfoot Legend uses its skills to its advantage, which is important and can make a difference in the survival of the species and the overall well-being of the creature itself.

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   Conspiracies Surrounding Bigfoot

Bigfoot, is this creature’s existence fact or fiction? There are many beliefs and conspiracies about Bigfoot all over the world.  The first theory claims that the Sasquatch population has inhabited the forests of North America since at least the 1950s when it was first spotted (Little). The second theory claims that the American Indians, who were here long before modern civilization, told of a creature with a large ape-like appearance towering above the land inhabitants (Geller). Lastly, some believe the creature is just a bipedal bear who has been inhabiting the area for decades (Thomson).

The first theory for the mystery of Bigfoot, is that the creature has been spotted in the forests of the United States since the 1950s. Julia Joy, a reporter for Columbia Magazine, has researched the Bigfoot conspiracy and claims modern Bigfoot’s origin came from a report long ago which claims…” in the late 1950s, after a logging crew claimed to find large hominid tracks in an area called Bluff Creek” (Joy). The legend of Bigfoot expanded from there. Some believe the Bigfoot imprints made in the 1950s were a hoax and even the loggers who witnessed the footprints didn’t truly believe in the creature's existence (Little). The FBI was also intrigued by the existence of Bigfoot and after their research, they found their evidence to be nonconclusive of the creature's existence (1). The fact of the Modern Bigfoot has been mentioned for at least 74 years, making it hard to believe that the beast may not exist at all.

 The second theory claims that Sasquatch creatures have inhabited the land since before modern civilization when Native Americans solely populated the United States (Geller). Travis Smola, author of the article, “The Origins of Bigfoot: What Native American Legend Says About the Creature”, stated, “Native American legend often states the sesqua could also move into the spiritual realm. Cue conspiracies that this is the reason bigfoot is so hard to find!” (Smola). Native Americans believe in several folklore that many people do not believe exist. How can we prove this is fact rather than just another tale told before bed or around a campfire? By understanding that these creatures have been talked about for thousands of years by multiple ethnicities, one can begin to assume that they exist among us.

            The third theory is that Bigfoot is just a bipedal bear who lives in the wilderness in North America (Thomson). Matt Knapp, who is a researcher for the Bigfoot Evidence website, said this when interviewed by the Washington Post, “Skeptics will often try to explain away Bigfoot sightings as misidentification of bears, which certainly in some cases they may be, but in general, bears and bigfoot look nothing like one another” (Brulliard). This theory does not work because the characteristics of bears and Bigfoot differ. By researching Bigfoot and bears' characteristics and comparing them it is obvious that Sasquatches are an entirely different species and should not be compared to their furry colleague. Understanding Bigfoot and its origin can help one conclude that this species has inhabited North America for thousands of years. As the world becomes more modern our information on Bigfoot continues to expand, and discoveries are made within our world daily.  This creature’s existence will become more evident as years pass and more scientific data is collected.

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 Conclusion Surrounding the Evidence

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There are three main theories surrounding the existence of Bigfoot, such as:

1. Bigfoot has been spotted since the 1950s.

2. Native Americans have talked about Bigfoot for thousands of years.

3. Bigfoot is just a bipedal bear.

 By examining the information presented, one can see that evidence supports two out of the three theories. National Geographic Magazine wrote an article about Bigfoot, saying,” Sasquatch stories go back centuries. Tales of mythical giant apes lurk in the oral traditions of most Native American tribes” (Forensic Expert Says Bigfoot Is Real).  By understanding the facts, one can conclude that Bigfoot is a creature that has been living among us for thousands of years. Research into him continues to grow as the human population becomes more aware of the creatures on this Earth, and no, he is not a bear.