Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, is a large, hairy, legendary creature believed to live in forests in North America, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Bigfoot appears in stories from both the United States and Canada. Since the middle of the 20th century, Bigfoot has become a well-known symbol in popular culture and has inspired its own unique group of followers.
People who believe in Bigfoot, such as those who study unproven creatures in the field of cryptozoology, have shared different types of questionable evidence to support its existence. This includes stories of seeing Bigfoot, pictures, videos, sounds, hair samples, and molds of large footprints. However, experts say this evidence is a mix of old stories, mistakes in identifying things, and fake proof. Bigfoot is not a real animal that lives today.
Experts in folklore believe the Bigfoot legend comes from a mix of influences, such as European stories about wild humans, old tales, and traditions from indigenous cultures. Similar stories about large, hairy human-like creatures exist in many parts of the world, such as the skunk ape in the southeastern United States, the Almas, Yeren, and Yeti in Asia, the Australian Yowie, and creatures in the myths of other indigenous groups. Other reasons for the Bigfoot legend include people hoping for something to be true, growing interest in protecting nature, and more people talking about the topic.
Description
Bigfoot is often described as a large, muscular creature that walks on two legs and resembles a human or an ape. It has dark hair, which can be black, dark brown, or dark reddish in color. Some people say Bigfoot is between 6–9 feet (1.8–2.7 meters) tall, while others claim it may be as tall as 10–15 feet (3.0–4.6 meters). Some descriptions mention that Bigfoot looks more like a human than an ape, especially in the face. In 1971, several people in The Dalles, Oregon, reported seeing a creature to the police, calling it an "overgrown ape." One man said he saw the creature through his rifle scope but did not shoot it because it looked more human than animal.
Common features of Bigfoot include broad shoulders, no visible neck, and long arms. Some people think these traits might be mistaken for a bear standing upright. Some nighttime sightings describe the creature’s eyes as glowing yellow or red. However, humans and great apes do not have glowing eyes. Scientists suggest that glowing eyes in the forest might be caused by animals like owls, raccoons, or opossums in trees, or bears standing on their hind legs.
Michael Rugg, who owns the Bigfoot Discovery Museum, says he smelled Bigfoot. He described the smell as similar to a skunk that had rolled in dead animals and stayed near garbage piles.
Bigfoot is named for its large footprints, which are said to be as long as 24 inches (610 mm) and as wide as 8 inches (200 mm). Some footprints have claw marks, which may mean they were made by animals like bears, which have five toes and claws.
Etymology and other names
In 1929, J.W. Burns, an Indian agent and teacher who worked with the Sts'ailes Nation (then called the Chehalis First Nation), published a collection of stories in Maclean's magazine titled Introducing B.C.'s Hairy Giants: A collection of strange tales about British Columbia's wild men as told by those who say they have seen them. The stories included reports of wild people, such as an encounter where a tribal member saw a hairy woman who could speak the language of the Douglas First Nation. Burns created the term "Sasquatch," which is believed to be the English version of sasq'ets (sas-kets), meaning "hairy man" in the Halq'emeylem language. He described Sasquatch as "a tribe of hairy people whom they claim have always lived in the mountains—in tunnels and caves."
In 1958, Jerry Crew, a bulldozer operator for a logging company in Humboldt County, California, found large, 16-inch (410 mm) human-like footprints in the mud of the Six Rivers National Forest. When he told his coworkers, many said they had seen similar tracks before and shared stories about strange events, such as a 450-pound (200 kg) oil drum being moved without explanation. The workers began calling the mystery "Bigfoot." At first, they thought someone was playing a joke. After seeing more footprints, Crew contacted reporter Andrew Genzoli of the Humboldt Times. Genzoli interviewed workers and wrote articles about the footprints, using the name "Bigfoot" to describe the creature. A plaster cast of the footprints was made, and Crew appeared with one of the casts on the front page of the newspaper on October 6, 1958. The story spread quickly, and Genzoli received letters from major newspapers like the New York Times and Los Angeles Times. As a result, the name "Bigfoot" became widely used to describe a large, unknown creature leaving massive footprints in Northern California.
In 2002, the family of Jerry Crew’s deceased coworker, Ray Wallace, revealed that Wallace had stored a collection of large, carved wooden feet in his basement. They said Wallace had secretly made the footprints and was responsible for the tracks found by Crew. Wallace was inspired by another hoaxer, Rant Mullens, who shared details about his hoaxes in 1982. In the 1930s, Mullens and other foresters in Toledo, Washington, carved wooden feet and used them to create footprints in the mud to scare huckleberry pickers in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. They also claimed to be behind the hoax of the "Ape Canyon incident" in 1924. Mullens and his group called themselves the "St. Helens Apes" and later had a cave dedicated to them. Wallace, also from Toledo, knew Mullens and said he used the wooden feet to make footprints on the 1958 construction site to scare away thieves.
In the 1830s, a Wyandot chief was nicknamed "Big Foot" because of his large size, strength, and big feet. Potawatomi Chief Maumksuck, known as "Big Foot," is now closely associated with Walworth County, Wisconsin, and has a state park and school named after him. William A. A. Wallace, a famous 19th-century Texas Ranger, was called "Bigfoot" because of his large feet, and a town in Texas is named after him: Bigfoot, Texas. Lakota leader Spotted Elk was also called "Chief Big Foot." In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, two large grizzly bears were nicknamed "Bigfoot" by the press. The first was reportedly killed near Fresno, California, in 1895 after killing sheep for 15 years; it weighed about 2,000 pounds (900 kg). The second was active in Idaho near the Snake and Salmon rivers in the 1890s and 1900s, and people believed it had supernatural powers.
Many areas in North America have different names for Bigfoot. In Canada, the name "Sasquatch" is widely used, along with "Bigfoot." According to Merriam-Webster, "Sasquatch" is a synonym for "Bigfoot" and was used in English about 50 years earlier. In the United States, both names are used, but many regions have their own names for the creature based on local sightings. These include the "Skunk ape" in Florida and other southern states, the "Hillbilly Beast" in Kentucky, the "Grassman" in Ohio, the "Fouke Monster" in Arkansas, the "Wood Booger" in Virginia, the "Monster of Whitehall" in Whitehall, New York, the "Momo" in Missouri, the "Honey Island Swamp Monster" in Louisiana, the "Dewey Lake Monster" in Michigan, the "Mogollon Monster" in Arizona, the "Big Muddy Monster" in southern Illinois, and the "Old Men of the Mountain" in West Virginia. Some people use the term "Wood Ape" to avoid the mythical tone of "Bigfoot." Other names include "Bushman," "Treeman," and "Wildman."
History
Ecologist Robert Pyle says that many cultures have stories about human-like giants in their old stories, showing a need for a larger-than-life creature. Each language had a name for the creature in its local legends. Many names mean "wild man" or "hairy man," while others describe actions the creature was said to do, like eating clams or shaking trees. In European stories, the "wild man of the woods" or "wild people" were often described as naked, hairy creatures with only their face, feet, and hands (and sometimes knees, elbows, or breasts) uncovered. These creatures ranged from human hermits to monster-like beings. When Europeans moved to North America, stories of "wild people" continued. Reports of "wild people" were recorded in what is now New York and Pennsylvania. A 2007 paper titled "Images of the Wildman Inside and Outside Europe" explained:
"The modern sasquatch is mostly the result of European culture, as is the Australian yahoo. European wildman traits can be seen in both. However, the sasquatch also has roots in Native American stories of hairy human-like creatures, even though these creatures are often described as small, unlike the large sasquatch in popular stories."
Many Native American cultures across North America have stories about mysterious, hairy creatures in forests. Anthropologist David Daegling says these stories existed long before modern reports of Bigfoot. These legends varied by region and family, and were especially common in the Pacific Northwest.
Dr. John A. McClelland, a retired anthropology professor, said, "Stories of wild human-like creatures are as old as human history and found worldwide. Names and details change, but these creatures are often described as walking on two legs, very large, covered in hair, and possibly dangerous. A Native American story in the Pacific Northwest tells of a giant, hairy ogre named Tsonoqua who steals children and food. This story may be the origin of the Sasquatch or Bigfoot legend."
On the Tule River Indian Reservation, petroglyphs (carvings on rocks) made by the Yokuts tribe at Painted Rock are said to show a group of Bigfoots called "the Family." The largest carving is called "Hairy Man" and is estimated to be 1,000 years old.
In 1975, the Tulare County Board of Education said, "Big Foot, the Hairy Man, was a giant with long, shaggy hair. His hair made him look like a big animal. He was good because he ate animals that might harm people." Yokuts parents warned children not to go near the river at night, where they might see the creature.
In the 1600s, Spanish explorers and Mexican settlers told stories of "Dark Watchers," large creatures that stalked their camps at night. In what is now Mississippi, a Jesuit priest with the Natchez people in 1721 reported stories of hairy creatures in the forest that screamed and stole livestock. Cherokee stories describe "Tsul 'Kalu," slant-eyed giants in the Appalachian Mountains, sometimes linked to Bigfoot.
The Lummi people tell stories about "Ts'emekwes," creatures with similar descriptions but differing details about their habits. Some versions describe dangerous creatures, like the stiyaha or kwi-kwiyai, nocturnal beings that children were warned not to name. The Iroquois tell of "Ot ne yar heh" or "Stone Giant," a hair-covered giant with rock-hard skin called "Genoskwa." In 1847, Paul Kane wrote about "skoocooms," cannibalistic wild men on Mount St. Helens. In 1893, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt wrote about a story told by a mountain man named Bauman about a foul-smelling, two-legged creature that attacked his camp.
The Alutiiq people of Alaska tell stories of "Nantinaq," a Bigfoot-like creature. This story was featured in a Discovery+ show that claimed Nantinaq caused the population decline of Portlock in the 1940s.
Some stories describe less dangerous creatures. In 1840, Reverend Elkanah Walker, a missionary, recorded stories of giants near Spokane, Washington, who lived on mountain peaks and stole salmon from fishermen.
On July 16, 1924, an article in The Oregonian reported a conflict between gold prospectors and "ape-men" near Mount St. Helens. The men said they saw "gorilla men" and that one was shot with a rifle. Later, the creatures attacked their cabin by throwing rocks. The U.S. Forest Service investigated but found no proof, concluding the story was likely made up. Stories of "mountain devils" had existed in the area for centuries. The site is now called "Ape Canyon."
On October 20, 1967, Bigfoot enthusiast Roger Patterson and his partner Robert "Bob" Gimlin filmed what they claimed was a Bigfoot encounter in Bluff Creek, California. The 59.5-second video, called the Patterson-Gimlin film, is famous in Bigfoot lore. However, academic experts say the film does not provide scientific evidence and is likely a hoax.
Proposed explanations
Scientists often explain Bigfoot sightings as either hoaxes or mistakes in identifying known animals, such as black bears and their tracks. Many experts believe that people may confuse black bears with Bigfoot, especially when viewing them from a distance, in thick forests, or in poor lighting. Black bears can sometimes walk upright, especially when injured. Adult black bears stand about 5–7 feet (1.5–2.1 m) tall when upright, while grizzly bears can reach 8–9 feet (2.4–2.7 m).
Data scientist Floe Foxon notes that more Bigfoot sightings occur in areas with known black bear populations. She suggests, "If Bigfoot exists, it may be many bears." In regions without black bears, she says sightings might be misidentifications of other animals, including humans.
Some people think sightings could involve escaped great apes, like chimpanzees, gorillas, or orangutans, from zoos, circuses, or private homes. This idea is sometimes linked to the Skunk ape, as the warm climate of the southeastern U.S. might support such animals.
Humans have also been mistaken for Bigfoot. In 2013, a man in Oklahoma was arrested after accidentally shooting his friend while hunting for Bigfoot. In 2017, a shaman wearing animal fur clothing in North Carolina led to reports of Bigfoot sightings, prompting police to warn against shooting "Bigfoot" to avoid harming someone in a costume. In 2018, a hunter in Montana shot a person multiple times, thinking they were Bigfoot.
Some suggest that people living in the wilderness, such as hermits or feral humans, might explain sightings. One story, the "Wild Man of the Navidad," describes a creature in Texas in the 1800s, later linked to an escaped enslaved person. In the 1980s, some Vietnam veterans were reported to live in remote areas of Washington state.
Another explanation is "pareidolia," which is when people see human-like faces or figures in nature. Poor-quality photos and videos of Bigfoot are sometimes called "Blobsquatch" and are attributed to this phenomenon.
Most scientists say sounds linked to Bigfoot are likely hoaxes, misidentifications, or from known animals like owls, wolves, coyotes, or foxes. Both believers and skeptics agree that many sightings are hoaxes.
Some scientists, like Grover Krantz and Geoffrey H. Bourne, thought Bigfoot might be a surviving population of the extinct Asian ape Gigantopithecus blacki. However, no fossils of this species have been found in the Americas. Scientists believe Gigantopithecus walked on four legs, not two, as its large size would have made bipedal movement difficult.
Anthropologist Matt Cartmill argues that Gigantopithecus was not a human ancestor, so it is unlikely to match Bigfoot’s traits, such as a human-like posture or a large, permanently bent big toe.
Other scientists, like John R. Napier and Gordon Strasenburg, suggested Paranthropus robustus, a species with a gorilla-like skull and bipedal movement, as a possible match.
Some people think Bigfoot could be a Neanderthal, Homo erectus, or Homo heidelbergensis, but no remains of these species have been found in the Americas.
Scientific view
Most experts agree that claims about Bigfoot existing are not believable. People who believe Bigfoot is real often do so because of hoaxes, misunderstandings, or mistaken beliefs, not because they have seen a real creature. In a 1996 article in USA Today, John Crane, a zoologist from Washington State, said, "There is no such thing as Bigfoot. No real evidence, other than clearly made-up items, has ever been shown." One scientist wrote that if Bigfoot is still considered seriously, cryptozoology cannot be a science.
Bigfoot is said to live in areas that are not typical for large, nonhuman primates. All known nonhuman apes live in tropical regions of Africa and Asia, not in the temperate areas of the northern hemisphere where Bigfoot is reported. No fossils of nonhuman apes have been found in the Americas, and no Bigfoot remains have ever been discovered. Phillips Stevens, a cultural anthropologist, explained that for a species to survive, it needs a large group of individuals spread over a wide area with enough food and shelter to stay hidden.
In the 1970s, when Bigfoot "experts" often appeared in the media, scientists avoided discussing these ideas because they lacked real evidence. Primatologist Jane Goodall was asked about Bigfoot in 2002 and said, "I'm sure they exist." She later added, "I'm a romantic, so I always wanted them to exist," but admitted, "There is no body, and maybe they don't exist." In 2012, she said, "I'm fascinated and would love them to exist," but noted that no real Bigfoot remains have ever been found.
Paleontologist Darren Naish wrote in 2016 that if Bigfoot existed, there would be much more evidence, making its existence unlikely. He listed the evidence that would exist if Bigfoot were real, such as physical remains or clear signs of the creature.
Ivan T. Sanderson and Bernard Heuvelmans, who started the study of cryptozoology, searched for Bigfoot. Later scientists, like Jason Jarvis and George Allen Agogino, studied the topic but stopped because of a lack of proof. John Napier said the scientific community doubts Bigfoot exists because of weak evidence. Some scientists, like Grover Krantz and Jeffrey Meldrum, studied Bigfoot but found little proof.
In 1973, John Napier wrote a book about Bigfoot. He said that based on limited evidence, science must conclude Bigfoot does not exist. However, he found it hard to ignore thousands of reported footprints and eyewitness accounts. He believed something in northwest America needs explaining, even if it is not the Bigfoot people claim.
In 1974, the National Wildlife Federation funded a study to find Bigfoot evidence, but no discoveries were made. A trap built in 1974 in Oregon captured bears but no Bigfoot. The trap was later repaired and is now a tourist spot.
From the late 1970s to the 1980s, Grover Krantz wrote about Bigfoot but his work was criticized for errors and falling for hoaxes. In 2009, a study in the Journal of Biogeography compared Bigfoot sightings to black bear habitats. It found that black bears often live in the same areas and look similar to Bigfoot, suggesting many sightings may be mistaken black bear sightings.
In 2014, a study tested 30 hair samples claimed to be from Bigfoot. Only one was human, and most were from common animals like bears, cows, and deer. Two samples matched a rare type of brown bear. In 2019, the FBI released a 1976 analysis of Bigfoot hairs. The FBI said the hairs were from the deer family.
Claims
Claims about Bigfoot's origins and traits differ widely. Thomas Sewid, a Bigfoot researcher and member of the Kwakwakaʼwakw tribe, says, "They are just another tribe. They are large, hairy humans with night vision who avoid using weapons, fire, or permanent shelters."
Bigfoot is often linked to other paranormal topics, such as claims that it is connected to extraterrestrials, UFOs, or that it has psychic abilities, can change shape, move between dimensions, or is supernatural. Some theories suggest a government cover-up is involved.
Bigfoot has also been tied to missing persons cases, like the 1969 disappearance of Dennis Martin in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The 2025 TV series Bigfoot Took Her explores the 1987 disappearance of teenager Theresa Bier in Sierra National Forest and its alleged connection to Bigfoot.
Other claims state Bigfoot causes car accidents, damages property, delays construction, and kills people. In 2022, a man from Oklahoma said he killed his friend, believing the friend had summoned Bigfoot and would be sacrificed.
Most reported Bigfoot encounters end with the creature hiding or fleeing. The 2021 Hulu series Sasquatch describes stories from marijuana farmers in the Emerald Triangle region, claiming Bigfoot harassed and killed people, including three migrant workers in 1993. Investigator David Holthouse suggests these stories may be linked to illegal drug operations using Bigfoot myths to scare competitors.
According to Live Science, over 10,000 Bigfoot sightings have been reported in the continental U.S. About one-third of these sightings occur in the Pacific Northwest, with others spread across North America. Most are dismissed as mistakes or hoaxes, even by researchers who believe Bigfoot exists.
Sightings are most common in Washington state, Oregon, Northern California, and British Columbia. Data from the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) in 2019 showed Washington had over 2,000 reports, California over 1,600, Pennsylvania over 1,300, and Texas over 800. The debate over Bigfoot's legitimacy peaked in the 1970s, with Bigfoot becoming a well-known example of pseudoscience in American culture.
Bigfoot sightings often appear in news stories. In early 2026, several sightings in Northeast Ohio drew attention, including one reported to the Stark County sheriff’s office, which found only a "musky ammonia" smell. Jeremiah Byron, host of the Bigfoot Society podcast, notes similar sightings in the 1970s led to the "Minerva Monster" folklore.
Some researchers claim Bigfoot throws rocks, knocks on trees, or arranges foliage as territorial markers. Others suggest it builds teepee-like structures from trees and leaves. In Washington, the Olympic Project claimed to find nests studied by primatologists, who concluded they may have been made by a primate.
Jeremiah Byron says Bigfoot eats both plants and meat, including berries, nuts, and animals like salmon and deer. In 2001, a documentary filmed a dark bipedal figure near caribou, sparking debate over whether it was Bigfoot. A 2016 video by researcher ThinkerThunker, featuring a director from the documentary, suggested the figure might have been a bear.
Some reports say Bigfoot moves or takes items left by humans, like food or jewelry, and leaves rocks or twigs in return. Many sightings occur at night, leading some to think Bigfoot is nocturnal. However, experts argue this is unlikely for a creature resembling apes or humans, as all known apes are active during the day. Most sightings describe Bigfoot as solitary, though some groups have been reported.
Alleged Bigfoot sounds, such as howls, screams, and grunts, have been recorded. In 1994, audio from Ohio was claimed to show a "moaning howl" by Bigfoot. Retired Navy analyst Scott Nelson studied 1970s recordings from the Sierra Nevada, calling the sounds "a language not of human origin." Les Stroud, a survival expert, heard a primate-like vocalization while filming Survivorman. Some say Bigfoot can mimic other animals’ sounds.
Some witnesses report feeling disoriented or anxious after Bigfoot encounters. Paranormal author Nick Redfern suggests Bigfoot may produce infrasound, which can affect human behavior.
In 1971, a family in Fouke, Arkansas, claimed a hairy creature reached through a window, causing panic and inspiring the 1972 horror film The Legend of Boggy Creek. This report was later called a hoax.
In 1974, the New York Times reported the story of Albert Ostman, a Canadian prospector who claimed to be kidnapped by a Bigfoot family. This story is widely considered unreliable.
In popular culture
Bigfoot has a clear influence in popular culture and is often compared to Michael Jordan as a cultural icon. In 2018, Smithsonian magazine said, "Interest in the creature’s existence is at an all-time high." A 2020 poll found that about 1 in 10 American adults believe Bigfoot is a real, living creature. A 2023 study showed that the terms "Bigfoot" and "Sasquatch" are searched online more than 200,000 times each year in the United States and over 660,000 times worldwide. In 2025, the Unicode Consortium created a Bigfoot emoji called "hairy creature."
Bigfoot appeared on the personal patch of Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen’s space suit during the 2026 Artemis II mission. This reflected the value of honesty from the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers.
The creature has inspired names for a medical company, music festival, amusement park ride, monster truck, and a Marvel Comics superhero. Some people criticize Bigfoot’s popularity, saying that its presence in cartoons, reality shows, and ads may reduce the seriousness of scientific research about its existence. Others believe society’s interest in Bigfoot comes from curiosity about mystery, the paranormal, and loneliness. In a 2022 article, journalist John Keilman of the Chicago Tribune wrote, "As UFOs gain more respect, becoming the subject of a Pentagon investigation, Bigfoot sightings remind us that other paranormal mysteries still capture people’s imaginations."
Bigfoot is closely linked to the Pacific Northwest and its culture, including the Cascadia movement. Two National Basketball Association teams in the Pacific Northwest have used Bigfoot as a mascot: Squatch of the Seattle SuperSonics (1993–2008) and Douglas Fur of the Portland Trail Blazers. Bigfoot was chosen as the official mascot for the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. In 2024, the United Soccer League announced the Bigfoot Football Club in Maple Valley, Washington, which will start playing in 2025.
Washington state has laws to protect Bigfoot. In 1969, a law was passed making it illegal to kill a Bigfoot, a felony punishable by a $10,000 fine or up to five years in prison. In 1984, the law was changed to a misdemeanor, and the entire county became a "Sasquatch refuge." Whatcom County did the same in 1991. In 2022, Grays Harbor County passed a similar law after a local school project asked for a "Sasquatch Protection and Refuge Area."
Bigfoot appears in many films. It is often shown as the villain in low-budget monster movies but has also been portrayed as intelligent and friendly, such as in Harry and the Hendersons (1987). Sasquatch Sunset (2024) shows a Bigfoot family engaging in behaviors reported by enthusiasts. Bigfoot is also a subject of reality and paranormal TV shows, including Finding Bigfoot (2011), Mountain Monsters (2013), 10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty (2014), Expedition Bigfoot (2019), and Alaskan Killer Bigfoot (2021).
Dean Mitchell is a saxophonist who performs in a Bigfoot costume, using the stage name "Saxsquatch."
In September 2025, a Broadway musical comedy called Bigfoot! was announced for an eight-week run in 2026. The show follows a Bigfoot who becomes the target of fear in a small town.
Bigfoot has been used in environmental campaigns. In 2018, journalist Laura Krantz argued that Bigfoot can inspire interest in nature, saying, "If Bigfoot is a creature that has not been proven to exist, it shows people care about the environment, much like naturalists have done for centuries." The U.S. Forest Service used Bigfoot in a 2015 campaign, and Bigfoot is a mascot for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s "Leave No Trace Principles." The 360-mile "Bigfoot Trail" in Oregon is named after the creature. Oregon Wild uses Bigfoot to promote forest protection, stating that remote wilderness areas are important habitats for Sasquatch.
In 2024, Bigfoot was a mascot for a recycling campaign in Whitfield County, Georgia. In 2026, Oregon’s state fire marshal launched a wildfire prevention campaign called "Wildfire Prepared: One Foot at a Time," using Bigfoot as its mascot.
During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Bigfoot became part of social distancing campaigns, with the creature being called the "Social Distancing Champion" and featured in pandemic-related internet memes.
There is a subculture centered around Bigfoot. Searching for Bigfoot is called "Squatching," "Squatchin’," or "Squatch’n," a term popularized by the TV show Finding Bigfoot. People who search for Bigfoot are called "Bigfooters" or "Squatchers." Four 20th-century researchers—Peter C. Byrne, René Dahinden, John Green, and Grover Krantz—were called the "Four Horsemen of Sasquatchery" by author Loren Coleman. A 2024 book by journalist John O’Connor, The Secret History of Bigfoot, explores this subculture and the variety of beliefs held by Bigfoot enthusiasts.
In 2004, The Washington Post reported a disagreement between Bigfoot researchers in the eastern and western United States. The article stated, "East Coast Bigfooters say they face discrimination from Western researchers who believe Bigfoot does not live east of the Rocky Mountains. They also deal with reports from urban areas where people may mistake black bears for Bigfoot."
According to sociologists Dr. Jamie Lewis of Cardiff University and Dr. Andrew Bartlett of the University of Sheffield, most Bigfoot enthusiasts are middle-aged white males who often worked in the military or blue-collar jobs. They divide Bigfooters into two groups: "Apers," who believe Bigfoot is an unknown primate, and "Woo-Woos," who think Bigfoot is a supernatural being.
Some people have been hurt or killed while searching for Bigfoot in the wilderness. On December 28, …