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.
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.
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.
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.
I just got some quality walking sticks. They are adjustable and the perfect device to help navigate the swamps we will be in this weekend. It will be cold with a freeze warning for the Green Swamp but we will be ready. So some real cool stuff coming up.
You need only find the giant snails or small black fresh water mussels. These rivers always have breeding populations of this easy to gather shellfish meat along the banks. Find the meat and you find the apes!
The natural cycles will dictate when and where along the rivers these shellfish will thrive. At Silver lake, where the Little Withlachoochee meets the Big Withlachoochee is also a place where you find the same type of environment. A big river crosses under Highway 75 at that point just like at Lettuce Lake. At Silver Lake the giant snails are thriving on the undisturbed North bank just beside 75. Why not a similar ecosystem at Lettuce Lake?
We have much evidence of Native Americans eating salt water shellfish for thousands of years. Along the rivers there is less evidence but I'm still learning. I know I've seen snails as big as a baseball at Silver Lake. Just one snail might feed a baby. The black mussels are about 2 inches long and are a small mouthful each. Highly nutritious.
Look for shells.
I have made the request for eight days off in the Ides of March.
Must be a slow news day, but Shaun did a little write up about our Lettuce Lake canoe trip. Still more videos to load and they should be up today.
What was cool was when Tom and I got back to the launch area, there were some people there, and one said "Are you the Bigfoot guys?" How cool. He said he watches my videos and was here to investigate the Skunk Ape.
Tom and I left Lettuce Lake and went up the Hillsborough River. We were looking for the Skunk Ape sighting area and I think we found it. I liked having a nonbelievers with me. He is going to want to see it with his own eyes.
It was a beautiful winter day in Florida. When I think of all the snow up north, I realized how good we got it here.I've got some good video coming up.
This is close to where the Skunk Ape video was shot. I got out here by foot but paid a price. It is very beautiful out here and something could live here undetected for years. NOBODY comes out here even though it's close to lettuce Lake Park.
The red dot is in the middle of the babies body as its mother places it down.
The Lettuce Lake Skunk Ape seems to be a mother with child. Watch a zoomed in copy of the video and after the Skunk Ape (Lena) is splashing in the water, it seems to place something down (Lil' Bit) on the ground. The thing on the ground runs off with a tail!! It runs ahead of the mother by about seven feet and makes a splash which is away from the mother and could not have been made by her.
I totally such at making video stills. I did the best I can. Watch the video below by Mike. Near the end of the video, you will see a great sequence of the mother placing the baby down and "Lil Bit" running off ahead of its mother until she can get it to go behind the trees.
In lue of this, the Florida BFRO was premature in its rush to justice on the guys that shot this historic footage.
A tail emerges as the baby runs off ahead of its mother
Watch the video and you will see two different things splashing about
This video near the end shows a sequence that without a doubt is a mother placing a little one on the ground. This shows caring and society among this animals. This video is of historical significance.
All of these images where taken in the swamps around Lettuce Lake Park. The only thing you need to ask yourself is would you go out here in a monkey suit? That is the only question. I think I know the answer. The Skunk Ape has adapted to this environment. You have not.
They blend into the environment
Would you see him in time?
A fast striker
He could kill you..and eat you
Dead in the water
This little guy is fast and deadly
This beauty covers up much danger...STAY ON THE BOARDWALK
I went to investigate Bigfoot at lettuce Lake Park Tampa. Its a recreational park where families go to picnic. Its a favorite among nature photographers. Its in an urban setting and not known for Bigfoot.
I did find the area near the canoe launch where the video and footprint photo were taken. Its swamp in there and I found what looked Luke a print.
What I really think is someone is hoaxing media outlets.
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.
On March 5, 2012 the Reconyx RC60 shot a series of images at 3:33 - 3:34 AM. The images are clear and what you would expect with a night optics camera. However, I cannot see anything moving that would have set the camera off. Perhaps someone with a better eye will.
I believe an animal may be on the periphery of the camera, either under it, or to the left or right. The same thing happened on March 10 on a sunny Saturday morning. Again, nothing can be seen moving during the three frame shoot. Better luck next time, I guess.
The same area at daylight
On the night shot, something may have been out there. I just can't tell. The daytime shot is a mystery. It could not have been wind. We have been under a high pressure system and you can see in the images nothing is moving, like tree branches. I still believe something was on the edge of the camera.
I have left the camera up and it is on permanent assignment. With good batteries, you only need to check it every six months. That will be the goal for all my cameras.
Welcome to Green Swamp Bigfoot. It is about a major research project on the primary watershed area of three major rivers in Florida. We hike and camp in remote areas. We also deploy trail cams in what we call "The Seminole Project."
