Science and Bigfoot

Searching for bigfoot has always been considered a pseudo science. It has been relegated to the level of UFO, Locke Ness Monster, ghost and so forth. All of that is changing now. With the advent of digital technology and the new media, bigfoot research is entering the mainstream. That was not without a long series of decades which steadily yielded trace evidence to keep the interest alive. Today, real scientist are getting involved.

A generation ago grew up watching the Leonard Nimoy narrated tv show In Search Of that created interest in all things unknown, but ingrained cryptozoology into the realm of speculation and mystery for the general masses. It was viewed as entertainment but not much more.

Bigfoot research had never had the following of mainstream science. That is not surprising; science deals in what can be measured, studied, observed and tested - none of that can be done with bigfoot evidence. At least until recently. That is because of who is involved. 1968 was the pivital year.

Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin are known for the 16 mm footage the obtained of a female sasquatch in northern California (a film that to this day has never been debunked), but they also acquired evidence that is just as strong. They were able to cast numerous footprint found in areas were there was a rash of sightings. With a continuation of prints being found over the decades, these things cannot continue to be ignored.

In the decades since the Patterson Film there is now a growing body of 'evidence' that has made many in the scientific and academic community begin to take notice. When you consider the number of footprint cast and audio of strange behavior such as tree knocking and howls that cannot be attributed to any known animal, no wonder bigfootery is now becoming more recognized.

Fortunately (perhaps because of the fame possible in the new media) some scientist have entered the fray in the search for the North American Sasquatch. Dr. Jeff Meldrum and Estaban Sarmiento added their expertise in zoology and primatology. They do this at great risk. Without following the proper procedures of scientific methodology, they may be considered scientific heretics. That judgment is for future scientist to consider.

Digital technology has allowed the 'hobbyist' to get into the game. I mean now that trackers and woodsman with no formal academic training in biology, zoology and so forth, can be at the front line and often get way ahead of those that do not go into the field. It is in the field were the real discover will be made. Yes, studying dermal ridges has its place but is in the outdoors were this thing will finally be found. Sasquatch will not just walk into a University lab and introduce himself.

Christmas Bigfoot hunt

We went to the pine forest and swamp for Christmas holiday. There could be no better Xmas present than finding evidence of Bigfoot. George and I found an awesome campsite close to trails leading off into some cool areas. But first, George and I got caught up and started a fire. We only roamed for a little bit but mostly just hung out and enjoyed the holiday.

Baby Skunk Ape found in Florida

Greg and his new friend

I received a message from a man named Greg May who said while he was hunting with his cousin troy, they found a baby 'skunk ape.'  They were in the palmetto scrub and hammocks near his camp at Bull Creek. They had been out there all night and had found nothing.  The next day in the hot Florida sun, a child ape ran out of the bushes and jumped into Greg May's arms.  He took him home and adopted him. 


I would really like to believe him.  He seems like a nice guy. It is possible that this is the offspring of a released exotic.  I have no idea. The animal should be examined by a vet to make sure it is not an unknown species. 


The account of the monkey find is at The Adopted Legend.  It sure does look like a chimp.  It could be something someone let go. But since nobody has ever captured the Florida Skunk ape, we really don't know what this animal is.  It is also possible that Greg is playing a practical joke with me. That is ok.  I can go along with it for now.  I do thank him for sharing this with me. Its not like much else is going on.

Florida Skunk Ape is real

There are all kinds of strange things in florida. It is full of lush tropical vegetation and swamp waters. Animals are here that don't belong here. Its not just Honey Island that may have a Bigfoot type creature walking around.
The photo shown here was taken by Dave Shealy of south Florida. He was in the Everglades one day with a video camera he borrowed from a friend.
He had been observing this area for weeks from a tree stand. This happened to be the same area he had a sighting when he was a kid. Well,  this upright hairy thing walked right in front of him and he shot this video.
Many believe this video was hoaxed. No matter what. Shealy will be the star of an upcoming reality show about Bigfoot on the travel channel. Way to go David.

Fifth annual Halloween Bigfoot expedition

Details to come as Kevin Thomas Kehl works on the details of the Green Swamp expedition. This event has grown every year and I hope this will be the biggest yet. Its a lot of fun folks.

posted from Bloggeroid

The beauty and mystery of Bigfoot research

When I began my journey into Bigfoot research, I did not know were it would lead me. Into the woods, perhaps. That goes without saying. I really believe I was searching for something. Yes, I was looking for the Florida skunk ape, but I found so much more.

The Beauty And Mystery Of Bigfoot Research
Uploaded by skunkapehunter. - More professional, college and classic sports videos.

I have been a city dweller all my life and after thirty years in Florida, I had yet to see little of what it had to offer. Most of my vista views were confined to the interstate highway. I was not prepared for all that I would soon discover.

There is an abundance of nature that I had only seen photographs of before I went into the woods. There were trees and plants and swamps and 'gators and birds and smells and things I was only beginning to find out about.

There was a sense of solace and peace that I needed desperately. The last few years have been tough economically, but when you go out to the remote areas, all of that is left behind. My friends wondered why I wanted to go on my camping trip last March. If you have to ask, you cannot understand.

Blackwater Creek Bigfoot investigation

Tim Fasano and Rob Robinson

I have always wanted to work with Florida's Rob Robinson. Rob is a Bigfoot researcher who has written a book on the subject, and has recently been featured on the History Channel on Monsters and Mysteries. I finally got my chance Saturday as Kevin, Rob, and I met at the trail head to BlackWater creek. It was a warm morning, being the day after the Forth of July. I had taken the day off from work and I was ready for a great day 'squatching.

Kevin photo bombing our selfie

Rob pulled up and we introduced each other. Kevin showed up on time and we went over the objective of the mission. The main goal was to make the four mile hike out the to creek without much shade. We knew it was going to be hot, so we set out just after the sun rose on a beautiful day.

Rob and Kevin headed out with the Florida sun rising

&Florida sunThere was some obstacles to cross. There has been a lot of rain and some of the trails were underwater. There was no choice but to cross or go back.

When we made it to the creek, we found someone else's trail cam out there. That is why I decided to not put the trail cam there. I felt there was too much risk of it being found. We found their's; they may find ours.

Group photo after we made it to the creek.

The creek was beautiful and had a rapid current. In fact, it travels to the Hillsborough River Rapids. Kevin believes canoeing is the best way to get to a remote area to camp and deploy the trail cams. That would be a fun trip. Not to many people go back there.



Kevin and Rob discuss what's next, and enjoy the river.



Rob imagines the possibility.posted from Bloggeroid

The hike had no elevation but it was hot from the direct Florida sun on a July day. Kevin and Rob are experienced hikers and I needed them to gin me up for the trip. I could not have been with better guys. Bigfoot research requires a lot of work. You can see how far off the horizon is. Getting back was going to be tougher.


We were trying to get to the next tree line to deploy the trail cam but I was getting tired. I could not wait for the next tree line. I was overheated and needed to rest. In route Kevin found a rain measurement device put there by the forestry department. It showed there had been 2 inches of rain recently.



I am cramping because I did not bring enough water. Rob lent me some and that helped. At this point, I forget about the trail cam and just wanted to get back to the trailhead. The rest felt good. I could have camped there.



Back at the trailhead with some great guys.



OUTTAKE - Kevin with the hawk feather in his head dress. He may have found a new look. This was absolutely a great day, one of the best I've had in Bigfoot.

A poacher caught on trail cam

This hunter walked right by the trail cam. It was at night and I guess he did not see it
I am glad because I think he was a poacher.
This was a SWIFMUD area clearly marked NO HUNTING.  When they do allow controlled hunts, it is also clearly marked.
If he was a poacher, he could have easily destroyed the camera.

Bigfoot capture parody of Rick Dyer from last year

We have the body in the back of the truck

Our team has captured a Bigfoot body in Florida. The arial drone sending back HD video located an off trail anomaly. Enhanced images showed a primate form. It was on a forest road in the Green swamp not used for months because much of it is under water. George and I used the 4x4 to reach it. It was a non human primate dead of natural causes. Kevin hiked out and it took the three of us to load it in the truck. We only had two ice bags and went into town to get more. While George and I were shooting video - it moved its arm from under the tarp into the air (all photographed,) I saw evidence it was breathing again and seemed annoyed. Because of this development, we are going to release the video TODAY at 5:00pm. This is what you have been waiting for. Enjoy. No money will change hands. Sasquatch is not for sale. If you have any questions please contact me. My partners have families and lives and do not seek the spotlight.

Seven and a half feet long and several hundred pounds

Pretty cool image from the drone

We are getting more ice

At five today we will put up the video that will shock the world. You do not have to buy the DVD. You can see it  here when I put up the unlisted YouTube video before it goes live.

I ran into a YouTube fan

I was in Tallahassee (state capitol) for the Senate hearing on Uber. They are operating illegally in Florida, and must be stopped. A reporter from WFSU came up to me in the courtyard, and said

"You won't find Skunk Ape here."

I started laughing. It seems he is a subscriber to my channel and believes in Bigfoot. How cool.

What is not cool is the power of the Uber lobbyist. I really think the game is now rigged against us. Uber will put us all out of business if they continue to operate outside the law. They don't abide by any regulations or have any medallions. Never thought I'd see this in my country.

posted from Bloggeroid

Dave and Tim's Green Swamp Bigfoot advenrure

While looking for a secure place to deploy the trial cam, Dave and I find a gator, a snake, and a possible habitat for the Florida Skunkape in the Green Swamp. We deployed the trail cam for three days as a test (this was our first time doing this). When I returned, I found that the area had been compromised. Because of that, I decided to move local out of an increasingly more active recreational area, and put it deep remote.

The West track of the Green Swamp is now being used often by hikers and campers, who have easy access to it. Years ago, you would see herds of deer, but no more. A lack of wildlife is never a good sign when you are doing this type of research. Don't worry, I know many areas where nobody goes. I feel very confident with the areas we going into. Weekend Bigfoot Researchers will never find our trail cams.

First trail cam image from the Seminole project

Note how the image is time/datte stamped and temperature noted

The deep field Bigfoot trail cam project has already yielded some images. They are not of any animals, however. The ones I got are of Dave and I putting up the cams...and Me taking down the cam three days later. This was only a test but a good lesson in just how long they must be left in field to find anything at all.

The goal of the project is to leave all cameras in field on a permanent basis and removing the media card and batteries every six months. Only twice a year will we visit the cams. Now how cool is that! is vital that no human scent is in the area or no animal will come by - much less the Skunkape.

Trail cams have been stolen

Kevin Thomas Kehl is going back to check on the new trail cam. Rob Robinson had two stolen recently and its strange that they were found. Paranoia can be a good thing.

The Olympic Project

The Olympic Project lead by Derek Randles of Washington State is begining to yield some interesting results. Their stealth campaign of deep field trail cam deployment in one of the most ambitious projects in the history of bigfoot research.

The idea for the Olympic Project was first thought of by Richard Germeau and long time Bigfoot researcher Derek Randles. Richard, a Washington native, has an extensive background in law enforcement and investigation. Derek, a landscape contractor and wilderness guide in Washington State, is currently a field investigator and tracker with the Bigfoot Field Research Organization (BFRO). Wally Hersom, the main benefactor for the BFRO, provides all the equipment to make this effort possible. Expert woodsmen and big game trackers, Brian Rasmussen and Robert Johnson, round out the Olympic Project team. This five year study will hopefully provide the first clear pictures of Bigfoot along with photographic documentation of many apex predators and ungulates living and moving throughout their natural habitat.

They have deployed 30 deep field digital trail cams that are set at a height of over 4 feet to eliminate triggers by low level four leggeg beast. This project has already began to yield results such as the image above that may indeed show the right front side of a sasquatch that is raising its arm.

The Skunk Ape howl

This was recorded late night on my 'lights out' operation in a central Florida swamp. I have never heard this before and it is possible I have recored the primates yell.

Bigfoot in Florida?

There are many reasons why Florida is a great spot for Sasquatch, bigfoot and Skunk ape searching. Image from the Florida Bigfoot Website. The video belows shows why Florida is a prime area for bigfoot activity, especially in the Ocala National Forest where there have been many bigfoot or Sasquatch sighitngs. These creatures may be larger than the Skunk Ape.

A view from the Florida Trail

I was backpacking on the Florida Trail headed for the backcountry campsite. It was a beautiful day as you can see. The terrain would begin to change when I encountered elevation. That is not common in Florida and I found it at the hottest part of the day. No problem. I was looking forward to getting to camp, finding firewood, and setting up camp. It would take longer as I had to wait on my team who got a late start.


The signpost for the Florida trail.

posted from Bloggeroid

What the trail cam last spring yielded

This was six months ago before this area became a lake. The pig would have been under water. The last deployment taught us that wildlife loves the swamp area when its dry and that pigs don't swim. Without critters, the big guy stays out as well. :
We went back to trail cam "C" after three weeks in field. We loaded new batteries and switched out the media card. This game cam will sit out until November. That will the only time it will be possible to get back in there. The storm season is upon us in Florida and the water in the bugs will prevent any real access to this area. That is exactly what we want.

If this animal is a swamp beast, this will be the perfect environment for him. You can see by these pictures that the area is teaming with wildlife and other predatory animals. Food sources abound. Combine water, cover, vegetation and meat and you got a skunk ape paradise.

A Wiley Coyote

He sees the camera..damn that Wiley boy

A mother in her child on a misty morning

A black hog

A wild turkey (bottom left)

Kevin and I exchanged the old batteries for the new Copper Tops that should provide enough life until November. The purpose of this trial cam project is long term and months left in field is the ultimate goal. Short outings, even up to a month, is not reccomended by people with lots of experience doing this. The criptid can smell man like deer can. Your scent is left behind up to five days after you have left the area. You really want the area to be clear of your presence and let the trail cam "settle in" and become part of the environment.
For example, Derick Randles of the Olympic Project says they leave their cams in field for six months in very remote locations. It often takes overnight backpacking trips to reach them. They have to be marked with GPS coordinates so they don't lose any units.
That would be our ultimate goal with this project. Areas north of the Green Swamp such as Ocala National Forest would afford overnight backpacking to reach areas in the wilderness areas, far away from any campers with RV's.

David Shealy and the Florida Skunkape

This is a post I left on Abovetopsecret.com

David Shealy has either taken the most important video since the Patterson film, or he is a complete hoaxer. I live in Florida and search for the skunk ape myself. I have never had a direct encounter, but I have had auditory and video analysis that has shown something other than a "Blobsquatch" There is simply no way to tell if his videos are real or not. The rez is very poor. In such case, you have to say negative.


I really hope one day we have a body to autopsy. Unfortunately, that is going to be the only proof science will accept. Photoshop and video editing software preclude just a good image. We need a body..alive or dead...sorry..

This is the BFRO.com report on David Sheely..read it.

Strange night at a trail cam

 
In the above image you see its clear in front of the camera. Suddenly, something moves in front of the camera mounted 5 feet off the ground (look below).

Something now blocks the screen. It was gone in the next frame.

This is trail cam number one and it has been up for one month.  I visited the site Sunday and I am glad I did because some strange things have been going on, as you can see above.

First, the cheap batteries are down to 61%. There is no way that will keep the camera charge through storm season.  Second, there were 301 images on the Reconyx conferming my belief that this was a nature rich area.

After downloading the media card, there were images of hogs, deer, turkeys, racoons and something Kevin and I cannot explain.

In a one second interval, something moved in front of the viewfinder completely obstructing the lense on a dark, cold night (the same night we were camping in another area).

These images above are from a two interval set when the camera fired for 24 seconds.

The image does appear white, but keep in mind that animals close to the Reconyx RC60 will cause the camera to flare giving it a bleached out look. I don't know what kind of animal could obscure the lense at over five feet. Kevin does not know either.

We do not represent this as anything Skunkape related. It is what it is.

Check out my new blog at http://www.timfasano.net/

Hair sample found six feet high in tree

Maybe we should submit this to the Ketchum DNA Bigfoot study. Kevin is six foot three and found hair on a tree at his eye level. This was found a few weeks ago in the Green Swamp. He does not know what it is and everyone he shows it to says it is hair. These are the things we look for when deciding to deploy a game cam.
We are keeping evidence and perhaps one day we will release our findings.

Bigfoot along the river rapids

River rapids are rare in Florida. This rapid at Hillsborough River State Park is a grade 2 rapid, on a 1-5 scale. They are beautiful and can only be seen if you get out of your car.
The water is coming out of a watershed area that provides drinking water to a third of Florida's population. That area is loaded with wildlife, vegetation, cover and water. Gee, I wonder were kevin and Tim have placed the trail cams? Just wondering.
It takes a lot of work to get back into these areas, as well as, a major time commitment. It is worth it because I am certain that the Reconyx RC60 game cameras will capture an image of the southern Bigfoot commonly called the Skunkape. I am a believer in technology.
Technology is objective. Human observation is subjective. Together, they can provide perspective on a mystery. It is up to the human to interpret the data. He may get it wrong but he did not make it up.
Technology gives the Bigfoot researchers something tangible to make assumptions from. By doing this, you will not be chasing blobsquatches and asking "did you see that?"
I like the current form of our research. More devices will be introduced to permanent locations, and then, its just a matter of time.

Results of first trail cam deployment

We are starting to put out the results of the Bigfoot trail cameras. This is all part of a long term project called the Seminole Project. The purpose of this is to deploy Reconyx RC60 trial cams in deep locations so they will remain stealth and take photos for months at a time. The cameras are capable of taking 14,000 images of a 4 gig card. They also use thermal imaging technology to shoot great night images of anything that walks in front of them. I really believe this the key to this work.
People can go out of day trips for a few hours at a time or a weekend camping trip looking for Bigfoot. This stealth technology allows extended work time that a human could not possible do. I know there are some downsides to the cameras. Some animals can hear the high frequency sound the cameras put out. But that is only when they are in front of it saying cheese. I passionately believe this trade off is worth it for it may be the best shot we get to see what the illusive Skunkape really looks like.

Kevin is the production

Kevin Kehl is the production head of the Florida Bigfoot Seminole project. He already works in that capacity for a major cable channel. Kevin is also an experienced outdoors explorer. All of this makes him a natural for this important task. Equipment malfunctions can happen but we want to minimize that in the field. We had a great exploit Saturday in a Seminole area were legend says the Skunkape roams. We did find a series of prints and positioned trail cam #1 in that spot. I hope for many more successful outings with Kevin and the gang in the future. There is much work to be done.

Brandon at the Skunk Ape hunt

I met Brandon on Facebook and got a chance to meet him over the weekend in Sarasota.

posted from Bloggeroid

Bobcat or Florida Panther?

Last week in Myakka we came across scratch marks on a boardwalk going over a swamp, toward an observations tower. The tracks were such that the cat jumped five feet up to get on the walk. Then, chased his prey and jumped off the walk further down the walk. It could have been a bobcat but the scratching was large, indicating a panther...perhaps.

The reason we were in the area at night was because a Guy that was with us had a Bigfoot sighting there a few weeks earlier. We did record some wicked howls that night. One of them may have been the animal that left those scratch marks. There are critters in the woods.

posted from Bloggeroid

The Myakka footprint

This is the print that is getting all the buzz. It has toes and is 15" long. Stacey Brown casted it. I want to see how that turned out.

posted from Bloggeroid

Florida BFRO failed to debunk Lettuce Lake video

Photo of Matt and Justin taken 2012

The Florida BFRO was unable to debunk a recent Skunk Ape sighting based on the facts of the evidence alone. So, they had no choice but to go after the witness personally to protect their power base. R. Monteith put together a Red Meat rhetoric response that would satisfy the taste of any famished troll. However, the post was full of inaccuracies and wild speculation and assumptions.

This was unethical, for it only involved the reporting of a mythical beast and the privacy of the witness should have been protected regardless of personal feeling. This is a tactic they have often used on enemies and people who may undermine their power base. They believe they are the governing body of all things Bigfoot. They are not.

It is becoming clear that these guys may have pulled something. But why roast them in public? That is only to feed the trolls. I know this first hand. Someone went so far as to run a criminal background investigation on me and post it on the web. I would not have been surprised if someone in your group did that. These kids did not want to be on the Finding Bigfoot TV show. They did not seek money or fame. The only reason people found out about them was because they were hounded. I really thought the BFRO protected the privacy of all witnesses.

R. Monteith has "confirmation bias" except with Kevin and I

R. Montieth, investigator for the BFRO, tried to place Justin Alan in the canoe with Matt without any knowledge of that. A three year old blog post confirmed that they were band members and friends. There is no knowledge that their status has remained so. This was a wild speculation on their part.

THIS VIDEO SHOW R. MONTEITH HAS "EVERYTHING'S A BIGFOOT DISEASE"

There are certain characteristics of hoax videos. Veteran researchers have noted these things for years. Bad acting, bad monkey suit, clumsy movements by the person wearing the suit, and so forth. None of these things were present in this case. That is why many people on the boards and blogs were saying this was "interesting," "intriguing,"

There is nothing in any ones lifestyle that would preclude them from getting the money shot. To dismiss them by slander and accusation without ever addressing the issue of the presented video is wrong. I thought your org was the only scientific org researching Bigfoot. Why this turn to tabloid sensationalism? 

A week before the video was shot photos of large Sasquatch prints were sent to me and ABC Action News in Tampa. They were taken by a women named Marie. They were impressive and the news channel did a story on them.

The BFRO never mentioned that they were found in Lettuce Lake park and by someone not related to these people. I had contact with the lady. It was clear that something had moved downstream from the watershed and had found cover and food in the park area.

The "Bigfoot Blues" campfire jam fest

This is Stevie Strings and Jeff Cook getting down at the Bigfoot expedition this weekend. For you folks that are armchair Bigfoot researchers, you don't know what you are missing. It was fun for all.

Headed for the swamp

I had a chance to work with Dave Lauer and Stacey Brown Jr, and others on a special edition Bigfoot investigation. There were eight guys going. Some I have worked with before. The area was an enchanted old Indian tribal area. So I knew it was going to be a great weekend.


This is the lady that oversees the site. She is pointing out to Stacey where we are to go. The sun was setting and I was stoked. More later.

posted from Bloggeroid