Bigfoot
"Bigfoot," or the Sasquatch, is a crypto-zoological creature, typically described as a large ape that walks upright. Most claimed sightings have taken place in the United States or Canada. Similar creatures have been reported in other parts of the world, including the Yeti of the Himalayas and Sumatra's Orang-Pendek.
Fast Facts
- Said to be 7-8 feet tall
- Foot size: 12-22 (men's shoes)
- Weight: over 500 lbs
- First reported sighting: 1870
- Patterson film: 1967
- Sasquatch is a Native American word meaning "hairy man"1
Controversy
Most mainstream scientists deny the existence of Bigfoot, and avid Sasquatch hunters have failed to gather evidence to convince them otherwise.2 Numerous hoaxes have been uncovered as well, casting doubt across the entire field of Bigfoot research.3
The Patterson Film
In the Fall of 1967, Bigfoot enthusiast Roger Patterson filmed 53 seconds of what appears to be a large, hairy, gorilla-like creature walking upright through a forest clearing. The single corroborating witness was Patterson's friend Robert Gimlin. The film continues to be a touchstone of Bigfoot research, despite intense scrutiny and claims that it was a hoax.2
Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer
In the summer of 2008, hunters Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer claimed to have found a Bigfoot carcass in northern Georgia. The pair announced that they would reveal both photographic and genetic evidence at an August 15 press conference in Palo Alto, California. Whitton and Dyer's claims drew international attention, despite reports that the pair had produced a YouTube video on the subject, falsely presenting Whitton's brother, Martin, as "Dr. Paul Van Buren."4
Whitton and Dyer Press Conference
On August 15, 2008, Matthew Whitton, Rick Dyer and Tom Biscardi, a self-stated seeker of Sasquatch, held a press conference to reveal more information about their alleged finding. Although Dyer and Whitton stated that they would reveal DNA evidence of the creature, no such evidence was brought forth. Rather, Biscardi showed more photos of Bigfoot and stated plans to gather a group of scientists to collect data on their capture.5
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