Basic Information[]
Bigfoot, or Sasquatch, is an ape-like cryptid that roams in the forests. It is found in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The term "Sasquatch" is an anglicized derivative of the Halkomelem word sásq’ets.
Bigfoot is described as:
- Large hairy ape-like creature
- Height of about 6–10 feet (2–3 m) tall
- Weighing in excess of 500 pounds (230 kg)
- Covered in dark brown or dark reddish hair
Bigfoot is commonly reported to have a strong, unpleasant smell by those who claim to have encountered it. The enormous footprints for which it is named have been as large as 24 inches (60 cm) long and 8 inches (20 cm) wide. While most casts have five toes, some casts of alleged bigfoot tracks have had numbers ranging from two to six, some have also contained claw marks. This makes it likely that a portion came from known animals such as bears, which have five toes and claws.
History[]
Prior to the Bigfoot that we know today, there have been stories about wildmen in the Pacific Northwest by the indigenous population living there. Each story differs from family and community, but the general description of the creature remains similar. In 1951, Eric Shipton photographed what he described as a Yeti footprint. This caught people's attention and the notoriety of ape-men grew over the decade, culminating in 1958 when large footprints were found in Del Norte County, California, by bulldozer operator Gerald Crew. The story was published in the Humboldt Times, and soon locals started calling it "Big Foot". The name was then shorten by Humboldt Times columnist Andrew Genzoli to "Bigfoot".Bigfoot gained international attention when the story was picked up by the Associated Press and has become a phenomenon in popular culture today.
Notes[]
- People often try to find Bigfoot, some stating they've seen one, though no scientist have ever found one.
- Scientists discount the existence of Bigfoot and consider it to be a combination of folklore, misidentification and hoax rather than a living animal. This is because of the large numbers thought necessary to maintain a breeding population.
- Some proponents have also claimed that Bigfoot is omnivorous and mainly nocturnal.
- Bigfoot is very similar to the Yeti and might even be the same creature just living in a different place.