
Whether or not Bigfoot lives, his legend is immortal. Here’s why.
Since the beginning of recorded human history, people who spend a lot of time in the outdoors (and, not so long ago, that was almost all of us) have reported seeing supersized and hairy humanoids. From the giants of the Bible, to the Himalayan yeti, to the Native American Sasquatch legends, Bigfoot’s enormous footprints track right alongside the smaller, softer, but infinitely more numerous ones of Homo sapiens sapiens. Skeptics can roll their eyes all they like, but regardless of whether there’s any real scientific evidence of Bigfoot, his legend is immortal. Here’s why.
1) We’ve all seen weird stuff in the woods, and some of it defies explanation.
There are several universal truths among dedicated outdoorsmen, and one of them is that if you spend enough time away from civilization, sooner or later you will see something strange, alarming, or creepy. (If you click on either of the links in that previous sentence, you’ll get to see some spine-tingling examples from your fellow readers.) Of course, none of it is “supernatural.” After all, if you saw it out in Nature, it’s natural–it just may be something humanity doesn’t understand yet.
The crux of all of the above is that although most of the weird stuff we see in the woods has a simple scientific explanation, not all of it does. And any time you have a real phenomenon without an explanation, legends grow.
2) We’re used to having Fish & Game services deny the existence of animals we know are there.
Another terrific way to ensure that a legend will never die is to have an unreliable source declare that there’s absolutely no truth to that legend (and then insult the people who believe it). And here’s another fact: When it comes to cryptids, our nation’s fish & game services are absolutely an unreliable source.
Here’s an example. For about 15 years now, sportsmen have been reporting seeing mountain lions and their spoor in the Adirondack mountains. Also, for about 15 years now, the fish and game services of those states have vehemently denied that the lions are there. When presented with something undeniable–say, for example, the corpse of a lion that was hit by a car–they simply announce that the cat must have been someone’s escaped pet.
Why do they do this? Why is it so anathema to them that an animal that used to be widespread in that area but was extirpated by hunting could come back? Obviously, the Adirondacks offer enough space and game to support a population of mountain lions. That’s not what their problem is. Their problem is that admitting the animals are there would mean bureaucratic headaches for them.
3: Because mystery and legend are built in to the human condition, and that’s how we like it.
The biggest reason that the Bigfoot legend will never die, of course, is that we as a species need it (and things like it). Mystery and legend are part of the human condition, and that will never change. We outdoorsmen are also very aware of the fact that Nature is so vast and complicated that we will never understand every corner of it. And what fun would a campfire be if you couldn’t whisper tales around it about the mysteries that caper just beyond its light?
Do you believe that it’s possible that Sasquatch is real? Tell us in the comments!
Brian Mullennex says
I also had an unexplainable experience while stationed at Ft. Carson in the early 90s. I was fishing at Rosemont Reservoir one evening when large rocks were hurled from a pine covered hillside down the shoreline that I had to travel to get back to my car. These rocks were being thrown from the hillside, across the shore, and quite a distance out into the lake. I left and got back to my vehicle where there were no other cars or any sign of anyone. I later learned that apes throw rocks in this manner to chase others out of their territory. I am now a believer that sasquatch must surely exist, especially when the Native Americans have totems and many stories of their existence.
William Shumate says
Of course, all legends start with a degree of truth and reality. They just get exaggerated with the passage of time and how good the story teller is.
Pete says
I want to believe but ponder this. Archeologists can find bones from dinosaurs thousands of years old, yet we can’t find any skeletons of bigfoot.
JLA says
It’s rare to find fossils of chimps & gorillas too. The places these things like to hang out are very good at quickly disposing of a corpse, any corpse.
William Rockwell says
While stationed at Ft Carson, CO. Another Officer and I saw a very tall animal standing over 13 feet tall in the back forest in Colorado in 1979. While we were sitting at the fire we saw this large stinking humanoid came up to the river and watched for us for about 5 minutes. Latter that night it tore up our camp site while we hid in the truck camper. This animal stood upright and had hand hands and yanked on the bumper and wheel wells.
Norm Satterly says
I have never seen Santa Clause nor have I seen Bigfoot it doesn’t mean both are not real. I have seen white deer, white turkey’s. And I have seem bubbling wells in the middle of the woods with no run off.
Dave from San Antonio says
His ‘name’ is Darrel…
Aaron Lemoine says
Big- a Louisiana
I saw big foot on a hunting lease in 1975, in the Atachafalaya Basin. This animal crossed a 100 yard power line right of way walking at a pace that no human could in about 10 to 12 seconds. This animal stood about about seven feet tall and was covered in dark brown hair. I happened to catch it in my rifle scope at the time. Another hunter from our hunting camp saw the same thing at the same time. I really believe that there is a Big Foot out threr.
Rusty Baillie says
Fair speculation……….
The wild outdoors, especially those parts with active, human consuming, predators CAN be a fairly dangerous place……..especially if you screw up. This was much worse back in the days of Sabre-Toothed Tigers, Cave Bears and flint-tipped spears (close action only)………and, evolution-wise, we havn’t come THAT far genetically from our ancestors.
It probably helped a bit when we learned to control fire and domesticate wolves, which were our first (and far superior) Early Warning System. With them we could get some sleep at last……didn’t have to be forever peering into the night, listening carefully for hungry grunting sounds (we had moved into the predators caves too).
All that peering has left it’s mark on our deep (genetic?) memories. It’s still pretty scary, all that dim darkness……..or any time we can’t see clearly.
We have also always been a family/tribe animal. We do better in fairly large groups. Put us on our own and we have to work hard to keep calm and act competently.
So………all the above mean that the heebie jeebies are never that far away and Bigfoot is probably the cutest dude we’ll ever “see” out there in the primeval mists…………………
Stone Jones says
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I am Bigfoot, though I go by Sasquatch. Been laid off for over a year and have been reduced to sitting out by the four lane singing for ammo. What ever it takes.
Dr. F J McCoy says
Okay let me explain science there has and never will be a bigfoot found WHY because he does not exist. Second the giant in the bible was from the camp of the Philistines and he was not hairy like a monkey or ape. In modern day technology we can see a liscense plate from about 20 miles away and from outer space. And we cant even get a good 1080P picture of this so called creature. I am from Kentucky where the tails of Mothman and other creatures. People wake up what is wrong with you. This has been studied for many many yrs and not one time have we found any evidence to support suck nonsense. So you can say what you want BUT QUIT DRINKING THE COOL-AID.
Mal Cap says
Is this really Dr. Fauci?
Macattack says
Better go to lumber yard and order a couple ton of sand . Going to need stay covered up thru next frogstrangler. Unless Bigfoot/Mothman ate all the frogs. Point is denial is why we stay controlled in slavery. Truth stands up above the sand!
John says
Scientists discover new animals every year. They discovered a new chimpanzee like ape in africa that the locals talked about in the 90’s, the bili ape. Take a flight over the US, there are great expanses of forest that have had very little if any human traffic.
Harry Henderson says
You ever go to a shoe store looking for size twenty-one extra wide? They too say big foot doesn’t exist and so they don’t carry anything bigger than size fourteen. It turns out we do exist and deniers make it impossible to find decent footwear. Do you think we enjoy going into the woods barefoot? Our tender soles don’t enjoy stepping in deer dung or sharp sticks any more than you do. Please stop denying, we larger than average foot possessors want to wear shoes too.
Ltbjr says
Ummm, ok Dr F J McCoy, first you totally should lose the “DR”, before who you are, besides your embarrassing attempt to discredit the idea of a “legend”, you obviously cannot spell or even speak that well to start. You like many people stated your opinion including full on a condescending beat down of someone else’s. Just simply say i don’t believe it and maybe a few ideas, but don’t don’t include your debasing others under the guise of “DR” credentials when you clearly cannot spell, even with the latest technology in spellcheck, you still submitted without editing to show how inept you must be. You must have drank lots of “cool-aid” (*sp..KOOL-AID) at some point in your history. Be kind, maybe you wouldn’t be corrected publicly…
Alan says
Thanks LTBJR, you beat me to a response to the “good Dr.” HAHAH.
Obviously English was not required in his doctorate thesis.
Darkwolf says
This guy works for the Ky Fish and Wildlife
Jamie L Sorensen says
I do hope they exist. There are a few undiscovered places on the planet for them. Maybe we could feed pelosi to them. They probably couldn’t digest her either. Would love to see one in the distance.
Warren Boyd says
I have 37 acres in southeast Ohio and I have 4 Bigfoot warning signs posted on the property. Bigfoot does exist.
Bigjohn says
What did bigfoot do to you? Feeding pelosi to them would by cruelty to animals!
TEXIZZ says
Real or not, Bigfoot sparks the interest of those of us who have nothing better to do!
Herman says
The only large animal with huge feet and reddish hair that I have ever seen is my wife.
Stone Jones says
Herman, Cough up one of your guns or I will send her a link to this page. The depths one will sink to get another gun.
Bud says
Stone, I think Herman meant to type “ex-wife.” Or she will be soon.
Night shift: Marcellus says
I have been inspecting well sites on the Marcellus shale for 5 years now and I have had some experiences through that five years that I cannot explain and I know for a fact that it’s not humans that are causing these experiences. In my opinion just leave them alone and let them let live.
Paul Laman says
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Who’s to say?
We’ve dedicated our camper to Bigfoot
Pa John says
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An honest politician. I once had a conversation with one while sitting between Elvis and Bigfoot on their UFO. I tried to sell the story to the National Enquirer, but their high journalistic standards disallowed it. They were okay with me hanging out with Bigfoot and Elvis on their UFO and such, and one of the editors actually asked about the little grey alien beings who usually pilot such spacecraft, but the concept of an _honest politician_ had them laughing hysterically as I finally just gave up and walked out of their offices. I know what I saw and I really do believe that the politician in question was truly both honest and sincere, but I’ve since learned not to go public with such strange things, because the harsh blowback and potential harm to reputation and livelihood is just too great.
Carl Fisher says
Not necessarily so…
Ronald Watson says
Fish and Wildlife routinely denies the existence of animals they don’t want to answer for like wolves. Why not Sasquatch? Besides, having some mystery makes being in the woods that much more interesting. I have never seen a mountain lion in the wild. But sure have seen lots of tracks, scat, and heard them. Just because you don’t see something doesn’t mean it is not there. Kind of like an honest politician.
Mike says
If only one person, among the thousands of people reporting sightings,is telling the truth…then Bigfoot/Sasquatch are real.
Scott Johnston says
Sasquatch has been practicing social distancing for hundreds of years.
Oleschool says
Is that Darryl ?
eagle10 says
No, it’s his brother Darryl.
Jim says
No…it’s his other brother Darryl!
Ronnie D. Stidham says
While I haven’t seen a Bigfoot, I have seen a 10 lb. Red squirrel, 30 lb. Opossum, Red fox the size of a large German Sheppard, a fly the size of a Pidgeon in the Philippine’s. That may not be on the WOW factor of Bigfoot, but I saw these animals. I’ve been in the woods and heard things that made me stop in my tracks, So whos to say that he doesn’t exist, not me.
Stone Jones says
I saw a worm in the bottom of a Mescal bottle once (’bout the time I swallowed it). I’m pretty sure I have seen a Bigfoot after finishing a bottle of Bourbon. He hangs out in the woods behind my house.
Gary Hull says
On my first trip to Alaska last year I was on National Park tour us visiting Denali National Park. I was sitting in front seat and could talk to the driver. I informed him I was excited to be there and could finally find out the latest news on Bigfoot from local folks. “An attempt of humor on my part” The way he glared at me and response that I won’t state worried me he would kick me off the bus. Definitely not the response I expected. Maybe the park department has been told to cover up all knowledge of big foot. What do you think?
Stan says
Bigfoot is really Nancy Pelosi only seen to cause panic
Roger Harp says
There won’t be any Bigfoot sightings know, they are all quarintined.
paul says
yea bigfoot is real so are a lot of other wild animals that are not seen very often
David in MA says
Yes, the jackalope comes to mind.