Over the weekend, I received a request from a young lady, asking if I'd answer some bigfoot related questions for a report she was writing for school. I gladly accepted. I get a question or two every now and then, usually from elementary aged kids. This time, I thought it was way cool that an older student, a high school senior from Senatobia, Mississippi, was writing a report on the subject of sasquatch. I would have gotten a little more in depth in my answers if I'd have known beforehand that she was senior, but I didn't ask her until after the fact. Nonetheless, the questions were answered with what I considered to be easy, and as concisely as I could put them.
After our email exchange, I asked what her motivation was to write about Bigfoot, and she had this to say, "I choose to write on this topic because there is such controversy behind it as to whether it is true or not, and also very interesting!"
Here are the questions and answers:
1. What do you think Bigfoot's social life is like? Lives in groups? Lives alone? Migrates?
With all that I’ve read, heard and observed, my thought is that they live in what I call, Family groups. I believe that there is a dominant male, with females and children. The adolescent aged male squatches, I believe, are the protectors of the group. I do believe some groups do migrate to follow food sources. It would all depend on climate and geography of course. As the groups move, which most agree, would be at night, the males move out ahead of the group, like scouts, laying out safe passage for the rest of the group. This is evidenced by vocalizations heard at night. The males vocalize, and tree knock, to guide the rest of the group. I strongly believe that is why most sightings are of males, and why they usually turn and walk or run the other way to avoid prolonged contact.
2. Do you believe Bigfoot is an undiscovered species? Why or why not?
Yes. From all I’ve seen, heard and experienced, no one can tell me that they don’t exist. Every native tribe in the US and Canada, have a name for bigfoot, and stories of encounters with them, told through their tribal history. I believe them.
I have people I know that have had sightings, and since, they are obsessed with the subject of bigfoot. They devote most of their time off work, researching to learn more. Hundreds of people report seeing them every year. Are they all liars? I don’t think so.
Many credible people in US history have written about encounters with sasquatch. President Theodore Roosevelt, Daniel Boone, Lewis and Clark are a few examples. You can google their names with bigfoot and read more about them.
World renown scientists, like Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Jeff Meldrum, believe they exist, and believe more work needs to be done in the field of research. Thousands of footprint casts have been collected, from very remote areas. Some of the better specimens have dermal ridges present, and these can not be faked. I believe some hoaxes exist, but there are too many good samples out there, gathered by credible people.
Hair and DNA samples have shown they are from an unknown species of primate. I think the biggest problem is that there hasn't been a major university, that has stepped forward to do a thorough study on the subject. Oxford University is now in the middle of putting together a study on hair and DNA, so we will see how that plays out.
3. What made you become a Bigfoot researcher?
You can read the answer to this in the About Me section on the website. (Down the right column of this webpage.)
4. Is a body needed for scientists to acknowledge Bigfoot's existence?
It is the easiest way to prove it, but I feel it is ethically wrong to kill one to do so. I think clear video interaction, and DNA gathering is enough. The species have survived thousand of years with out us knowing about them, I’m not sure if proving their existence is a good thing or not.
5. Why hasn't Bigfoot become especially common since they are not hunted, are without known predators, and appear to have a sustainable source of food and shelter?
I think their numbers are growing. This is why sighting reports have been rising, and the reports of sightings of multiple squatch seems to be more common. I believe their population was critical back in the 19th and early 20th century when it was more common for humans to be carrying guns. There are several historical reports in newspapers and stories of them being shot, and sometimes even hunted down. I believe they learned that humans were dangerous, and that is why they have been so elusive and try to avoid us as much as they can. Now, it seems in some sightings, they are getting more curious about us, and in some cases, are not as quick to avoid us.
In reading over the Q&A, it occurred to me that "I" was used quite a bit. It's because she asked my opinion, but in reading it again, it made me feel like an egotistical know it all.
Haha. Where my opinions come from is a product of what I've learned from other researchers, comparing notes, reading, and experiences form the field over the past several years.
I want to thank this young lady for the questions and allowing me to share it here. Maybe, she can share her finished report with us. I know I'd love to read it.
