Bigfoot, Yeti, and Other Ape-Men
Bigfoot, Yeti & Other Ape-men
By Preston Dennett
Introduction………
Chapter One: The First Yeti
Chapter Two: The Arrival of Bigfoot
Chapter Three: The Classic Cases
Chapter Four: Extensive Encounters
Chapter Five: Wild Ape-Men Across the World
Chapter Six: Sasquatch Science
Chapter Seven: The Unbelievable Cases
Chapter Eight: Famous Hoaxes
Taller than a human, smellier than a skunk and stronger than a
bear, the hairy creature known as Bigfoot (also known as
Sasquatch) has been reported for centuries and continues to be
reported today. Bigfoot has been encountered mostly in North
America. They are reported to be about 7-8 feet tall, with a small
pointed head, no neck, broad chest and long powerful arms. Their
hair is usually brown, but there are reports of black-haired, redhaired
and even white-haired Sasquatch.
Bigfoot, however, is not the only legendary, unknown
primate to inhabit Earth’s wilderness areas. On the other side of
the world in Asia, India and Tibet, there are reports of a similar
though shorter version of the Bigfoot known as the Yeti. The
description of the Yeti is similar, although it is often much shorter.
Other reports of wild ape-men come from Russia, South America
and many other areas. In fact, there appears to be different types
of unknown ape-men coming from a wide variety of locations
across the planet, each with their own unique name.
Cryptozoology (literally “hidden creatures”) is the study of
animals that are unknown or unaccepted by mainstream science.
New species are discovered each year. Throughout the 1800s,
scientists didn’t believe in Panda Bears, Platypuses or the Giant
Gorilla. Today of course, we accept that these animals exist.
However, it wasn’t until explorers actually obtained living
specimens that the existence of these animals was finally accepted.
Whether one believes in Bigfoot and the Yeti, or not, the fact is
hundreds of people report encounters each year, and there are now
literally thousands of cases on record from across the world.
There are many different ways to encounter Bigfoot or Yeti,
including finding footprints (the most common type of encounter),
hearing their screams, smelling their odor, finding footprints or
other traces, or – rarest of all – a face-to-face encounter.
The existence of these unknown creatures has apparently
been known and accepted by local native populations for centuries.
The Native American tribes not only knew about the creatures,
they had a long oral tradition about the creature. They believed
that it was friendly unless provoked, and advised that the creatures
should be left alone.
At the same time, local populations in Tibet, China and Asia
had oral traditions of similar creatures. As with the Native
Americans, these stories were not written down, and were passed
from generation to generation through anecdotal stories.
The modern world was first introduced to the idea of apemen,
specifically the yeti, in the early 1900s when Himalayan
explorers began to report their encounters with footprints or the
creature itself. However, it wasn’t until 1920 when a climbing
expedition encountered several human-like creatures that the story
really exploded. This brought numerous other expeditions who
also encountered the creature. Then in 1951, an expedition in the
Himalayas photographed a long set of mysterious footprints made
by the alleged creature. And so the myth of the Yeti or
Abominable Snowman became firmly established.
Meanwhile, back in the United States, Bigfoot was about to
make his first appearance. In 1958, a construction crew had been
ordered to build a road through the forests in Bluff Creek, in
northern California. Halfway through the project, the crew
discovered hundreds of enormous footprints around their site. At
the same time, they their equipment was vandalized by what
appeared to be a hugely powerful creature. The event received
enormous publicity and for the first time, Bigfoot was introduced
to the mainstream public.
Eight years later, in 1966, filmmaker and Bigfoot hunter
Roger Patterson claimed to have encountered, and filmed a female
Bigfoot walking across a field and into the forest. The incredibly
clear footage stunned the world. Bigfoot, it appeared, was real.
Suddenly, the floodgates opened, and people who had been afraid
to reveal their own encounters now stepped forth.
Bigfoot was front-page news and the reports spread like
wildfire, often coming from very credible witnesses, including
police officers and park rangers. Other reports came from
campers, hikers, hunters and late-night drivers. From this point on,
new cases would number in the hundreds each year. This
avalanche of reports also sparked a new breed of Bigfoot-hunters
eager to capture one of the elusive creatures, either on film or in a
cage – dead or alive.
Any mystery raises many questions. Who are these strange
creatures? Are they dangerous? Are they friendly or hostile? Are
they intelligent? If they are real, how have they remained hidden
for so long? Where’s the evidence, the proof?
In this book, we shall examine the evidence for Bigfoot, Yeti
and other mysterious ape-men. We will travel across the world,
and visit each culture to see what kind of ape-man is lurking there.
Starting with the early historical sightings and continuing to the
present day, we will explore some of the most famous and
controversial cases. We will see why Bluff Creek, California
remains the Bigfoot capital of the world. We will visit the skunkape
in the Florida everglades, the yeti in the frozen Himalayas and
the Sasquatch of northwest Canada. No corner of the world will be
left unexplored in our search for unknown primates.
The scientific evidence for ape-men is surprisingly extensive
and includes multiple eyewitness testimonies, footprints, body
prints, hair-samples, dung-samples, photographs, moving films,
audio recordings and more. We will join some of the world’s
Bigfoot scientists and hunters as they conduct actual Bigfoot
stakeouts. We will examine the skeptical viewpoint, weeding out
any hoaxes, and looking for alternative explanations. For example,
perhaps Bigfoot is really just a Gigantopithecus, a type of giant
primate believed to be extinct. Finally we will also examine some
of the most extensive and controversial cases, including Bigfoot
shoot-outs, kidnappings and other hostile behavior, friendly
Bigfoot rescues and even cases involving a psychic and/or UFO
connection.
Are Bigfoot, Yeti and other ape-men real? According to
zoologist and leading Bigfoot researcher Ivan T. Sanderson, there
are at least four different species of these creatures. Many experts
believe there could be more than that. Certainly there is evidence
that something is out there, but as of today the mystery remains
unsolved.
The Many Names of Bigfoot & Other Bigfoot Stories
(from Bigfoot, Yeti & Other Ape-Men)
What is Bigfoot’s real name? The four most common names for
these unknown hairy ape-men are Bigfoot, Sasquatch, the Yeti, and
the Abominable Snowman. However, the truth is that there are
literally hundreds of different names for these creatures. Because
Bigfoot sightings are so widespread, each culture has given the
creature its own unique name. For example, Native Americans
have more than 100 names for the creature, the majority of which
translate into some variation of “wild man of the woods.” What
follows is only a partial list of some of the many names of Bigfoot
and the Yeti based on their location on planet Earth and the type of
creature.
AFRICA: Kikomba, Tano Giant, Muhalu, Ufiti
ASIA: Almas, Adam-Ja-Paiysy, Albast, Alboosty, Golbo, Golubyavan,
Guli-biavan, Kul-bii-aban, Uli-bieban, Yavan-adam, Hun-
Guressu, Kun-goroos, Kumchin-gorgosu, Jelmoguz-Jez-Tyrmak,
Kaptar, Ksy-Giik
AUSTRALIA: the Yahoo, Yowie
BORNEO: Batutut
CHINA: Hun-Guresu, Yuran
FINLAND: Tree-Eater
JAPAN: Higapon
NORTH AMERICA: Oh-Mah, Toki-Mussi, Hoquiam, Sayatkah,
Sosskwatl, Sasquatch, Bigfoot, Arulataq, Skanicum, Stick Indian,
Crazy Bear, Choanito, Night People, Scwe-ney-tum, S’cwene’y’ti,
Seeahtik, Seeahtkch, Sehlatiks, Salatiks, Seatco, See’atco,
Saskehavas, Skunk-Ape, Kauget, Xi’lgo, Yi’dyi’tay, At’at’ahila,
Qah-line-me, Fouke Monster, Momo, Skookum, Te smai’etl
Soqwaia’m, Hoquiam, S’oq’wiam, See-ah-tik, See-oh-mah, Tokimussi,
Chiye-tanka, Rugaru, Sokqueatl
PHILIPPINES: Orang-Gugu
SCOTLAND: Big Gray Man
SOUTH AMERICA: Didi, Deedee, Dru-di-di, Didi-aguiri,
Duendi
TIBET: Metoh-Kangmi, Dzu-Teh, the Yeti, the Abominable
Snowman, Chutey, Mi-Ge, Mi-Go, Mi-Gu, Mi-Teh, Nyalmo,
Rackshi-Bompo, Ri-Mi, Sogpa, Teh-lma, Zerleg-Khoon
What Does Bigfoot Smell Like?
Primates are known to be very smelly creatures, however, in the
case of the Bigfoot, this odor seems to be particularly powerful.
Researchers aren’t exactly sure what is responsible for the smell of
Bigfoot, but they do have theories. Writes Grover Krantz, “Some
possible explanations for the rank smell are scent glands, carrion
eating, and unclean personal habits.”
Interestingly, there are many reports of Bigfoot who do not
smell bad. In fact, less than 25 percent of the cases involve any
noticeable odor. Some researchers feel that, like the skunk, the
Bigfoot may use scent glands as a defense against other creatures,
including humans. Writes Krantz, “If this is a generated scent, at
least in part, it would help to explain why the smell is noted by
only some observers. The scent may be exuded at will, or
automatically in response to particular circumstances.”
Whatever this smell is, witnesses are often at a loss to
describe it. What follows are some of the more vivid descriptions
of the smell of a Sasquatch.
“Then the smell came. It was foul garbage, garlic, skunk and
human body odor all rolled into one.”
--from a 1997 encounter in Connecticut
“Suddenly, I became aware of a strong offensive odor – very
powerful, a combination of rotten eggs, rotten meat and sulfur, but
really impossible to explain. Once smelled, though, it is never
forgotten.”
--from a 1972 encounter in Washington
“We noticed an odor that smelled like old roadkill mixed with
cabbage.”
--from a 1976 encounter in Michigan
“[The smell was] a mixture of rotten eggs, spoiled potatoes and
urine.”
--from a 1982 encounter in Pennsylvania
“My sighting began with a bad smell. It smelled worse than a dog
that had been playing in the sewer.”
--from a 1982 encounter in Kentucky
“I smelled a very strange odor, almost nauseating, as if something
had died.”
--from a 1968 encounter in Tennessee
“The thing had an awful, sour smell, something like dead meat that
had set out for three or four days.”
--from a 1981 encounter in Wisconsin
“The first thing I noticed was the smell. It was terrible. If you
ever had your dog roll in something dead, that’s exactly the smell –
the type that sticks in your nostrils.”
--from a 1970 encounter in Oregon
“He smells like dirty feet and stinky tennis shoes and rotting dead
animal. He smells like a dumpster at high noon. It’s really an odd
smell. It smells like feces and manure and rotting flesh.”
--from a 1998 encounter in California
A Word or Two About Sasquatch Poo
There are many ways to study wild animals. Zoologists are often
unable to study species directly, so instead they study the evidence
the animals leave behind. This includes not only footprints and
hair-samples, but dung-samples. Although it is very rare, there are
now several cases on record in which Bigfoot has allegedly left
feces. In a few cases, these samples have been subjected to various
degrees of scientific study. The study reveals so much about a
creature, that it actually has a name, scatology. Writes Bigfoot
researcher Jeff Meldrum, “It is a significant form of sign that
conveys revealing information about the identity of the animal, the
location of its activities, its size and diet.”
In October 1955, William Roe was hiking through the
wilderness 80 miles west of Jasper in Alberta, Canada, he came
upon a hairy figure, six feet tall, that was eating leaves from a
group of bushes. The figure looked, he said, “partly human and
partly animal.” It shouted a strange call which Roe said was “a
kind of whinny, half-laugh and half language” and then bounded
away. Roe examined the area and found piles of scat in five
different areas. Says Roe, “Although I examined it thoroughly, I
could find no hair or shells or bugs or insects, so I believe it was
strictly a vegetarian.”
In 1958, during the Willow Creek wave of sightings,
researcher discovered more than one pile of suspicious looking
poo. A photographer who took pictures of the sample said that the
feces was of “absolutely monumental proportions,” adding that “I
can only describe it as a two-ton bear with chronic constipation.”
Ray Wallace also came upon a sample which he said looked
like human droppings except they were closer to the size of a 1200
pound horse.
One of the earliest scientific studies occurred in 1970, during
an expedition sponsored by Robert Morgan of Miami, Florida.
When tracks, hair samples and some “strange fecal matter” were
found, the fecal matter was submitted for study to the Smithsonian
Institution in Washington DC. According to their preliminary
report, the fecal matter closely resembled that of bears.
Interestingly, however, they were not able to positively identify as
bear, and so it remained a mystery.
In 1973, during a rash of Florida skunk-ape sightings, the St.
Petersburg, Florida Yeti Research Society (now disbanded)
investigated dozens of cases, including one that they found
particularly puzzling. There had been a number of sightings of the
creature in a particular swampy area along the northwest Florida
coastline. Upon researching the location, members were amazed
to find a crude shelter made from interwoven tree branches. At
first the structure seemed to be human-made, except there were no
signs of human use. They did, however, find several eighteen inch-
long footprints and also, some suspicious-looking fecal matter
which was allegedly “neither that of a human or any animal.”
In yet another case, scientist Vaughn Bryant was given
samples to study. He was unable to positively eliminate humans,
bears or even a cow as the source, but he was able to determine
what types of foods had been eaten.
Researcher Bob Titmus has also studied several samples and
says the Sasquatch scat almost always contains pine needles.
Writes Grover Krantz, “There are many reports of fecal
deposits that resemble those of humans, but which are said to have
the volume of as much as an ordinary bucket – ten quarts. In some
cases samples have been brought back for analysis, though only a
few scientists are willing to look at such material when they are
told its suspected source.”
Dr. Vaughn Bryant, an Anthropologist at Texas A&M
University studied two alleged samples. After examining them
microscopically, Bryant was able to rule out humans, moose, elk,
deer and bear. While he was unable to identify the scat, he
admitted that he still could not positively identify it as coming
from a Sasquatch.
One of the most revealing studies was done by Dr. W. C.
Osman Hill of the London Zoological Society. The results were
astonishing. Writes researcher Ivan Sanderson, “This specimen
shook up the scientists…this fecal mass did not in anyway
resemble that of a known North American animal. On the other
hand, it did look humanoid, but it had some peculiar features, as if
the lower bowel had a spiral twist. But above all, it was composed
exclusively of vegetable matter, and this, as far as could be
identified, of local fresh-water plants.”
The most exciting revelation, however, was that it contained
a certain rare type of larval parasite which is not normally found in
the feces of humans or the animals in the area.
A final case: One evening September, 1970, Jim Fielder, (a
biology teacher) drove along State Route 12 when he saw reddishbrown
hairy figure crouching in the middle of the road. As he
approached the figure jumped up on two legs and ran off into the
woods. He knew instantly that he was seeing an actual Sasquatch.
Fielder stopped his car and examined the area of the road where
the creature had been crouching. He was shocked to see a
“steaming wet spot in the road, three to four feet wide” where the
animal had apparently urinated. Says Fielder, “I was eager to get a
sample, but I was dressed lightly and had no equipment with me.”
Unfortunately, the sample was lost, and so the search for proof of
Bigfoot continues.
Please Don’t Feed the Bigfoot!
If Bigfoot is real, then the question remains, how can such a large
creature nourish itself? What exactly does it eat? Luckily, there
are many reports of people who have caught Bigfoot in the act of
eating. By all reports, it seems to be omnivorous. In other words,
it will eat just about anything that’s edible and that it can get its
hands on.
Grace Hamby has interviewed dozens of people who have
encountered Bigfoot across the northwestern United States. Writes
Hamby, “The creatures like cattail roots, leaves and fruit of
huckleberry and wild raspberry, and the inner bark of cottonwood.
They also feed on insects, gophers, marmots, rabbits, frogs and
fish.”
Anthropologist and pioneering Bigfoot researcher John
Napier says that in many ways, the Sasquatch has the same diet as
a bear. Writes Napier, “Observers have seen and reported the
Sasquatch eating berries, fruit, leaves, spruce tips, water-plants,
tubers, fish, rodents, deer, as well as sheep, cows [and] horses.”
Leading researcher Grover Krantz writes, “In general I would
describe the Sasquatch as omnivorous. It is probably mainly a
vegetarian and what might be called an ‘opportunistic carnivore.’
Meat may be its preferred dietary item, but it has no obvious
specializations toward any particular game, so it grabs what it can,
whenever and however it can….Any species is fair game.”
Jeff Muldrum agrees and says, “Based on the numerous
accounts that mention feeding or carrying food, the Sasquatch diet
seems to span the wide spectrum of a generalized omnivore.
Eyewitnesses have reported everything from roots and berries to
deer and elk…Numerous credible eyewitnesses recount seeing
Sasquatch dispatch and carry off adult deer as well as fawns.”
Bigfoot expert Dr. Bindernagel writes, “Many Sasquatch
sightings come from clam beaches. West coast clam beaches are
incredibly rich in terms of shellfish, marine worms and other forms
of animal protein. I think one day we will come to accept that the
west coast beaches are one of the best Sasquatch habitats in North
America.”
The many cases of rock-throwing Bigfoot would seem to
indicate that Bigfoot are also efficient hunters, and in fact, several
cases exist in which people have seen Bigfoot throwing rocks at
animals. Also, there are many cases on record in which Bigfoot
has raided chicken coops, stripped fruit trees, or even stolen food
from campers and picnickers. In a few other cases, people have
actually fed a Bigfoot. In 1966, a couple living in a rural area of
Burlington County, New Jersey woke up one morning and found
several 17-inch-long footprints outside their home. A few days
later, they observed the hairy face of a Sasquatch staring at them
through the window that was more than seven feet above the
ground.
The couple realized that the creature was a Bigfoot.
Intrigued, they decided to leave it scraps of vegetables, which they
did on a regular basis. Incredibly, the vegetables always
disappeared. Then, one evening they didn’t leave out any food.
Later that night, the Bigfoot came and was apparently angry, as it
took one of their garbage cans and threw it against the house.
Hearing the noise, the husband grabbed his gun and ran outside.
The Bigfoot stood only a few feet away. Frightened, the man shot
his gun over the Bigfoot’s head. The Bigfoot stared back unafraid.
This time the husband fired a direct shot at the creature. Only then
did it turn and run away. The Bigfoot never returned, and the
couple learned the hard way that it’s not always a good idea to feed
wild animals, especially Bigfoot.
Old Cripple Foot
In October 1969, Joe Rhodes (a butcher), was shocked to find
a clear set of giant footprints in the wilderness outside of Bossburg
in Washington State. Also, a few local residents reported seeing a
Bigfoot feeding out of roadside garbage cans. He alerted local
researcher Ivan Marx who made plaster casts of the prints. Marx
then called in Bigfoot expert Rene Dahindin. Together they
explored the local area and were amazed to come upon further
tracks. They followed the set of tracks, which actually stretched
for more than a half mile. Dahinden counted more than 1089
actual footprints! The tracks lead out of and back into a reservoir,
crossing over a barbed-wire fence. Each of the prints was 17
inches long.
As researchers studied the prints, they were impressed by
their apparent authenticity. Most interesting was that the tracks
made by the right foot of the creature were all distorted in exactly
the same way, showing that the Bigfoot suffered from some sort of
disease or injury to the right foot. Researchers quickly dubbed the
Sasquatch “Old Cripple Foot.”
The right foot prints all curved inward, were missing the
smallest toe and had two large bulges on the outer edge. For
researcher Grover Krantz, the footprints provided “the first
convincing evidence that the animals were real.”
Krantz personally investigated the footprints and found
further evidence that left him totally convinced. Writes Krantz, “I
was able to locate a well-built fence that had been crossed by the
line of footprints with scarcely a break in stride….The tracks went
over snow-covered ground with very uneven inclinations in some
places. The trail also began and ended on a steep slope coming out
and going back into Lake Roosevelt behind the Grand Coulie
Dam.”
Anthropologist John Napier also found the tracks of Old
Cripple Foot to be particularly convincing. Writes Napier, “It is
very difficult to conceive of a hoaxer so subtle, so knowledgeable
– and so sick – who would deliberately fake a footprint of this
nature. I suppose it is possible, but it is so unlikely that I am
prepared to discount it.”
Meanwhile, Ivan Marx claimed that he was able to actually
track the movements of Old Cripplefoot. Its footprints were very
easy to recognize, and he found further tracks behind Lake
Roosevelt. He followed them and actually located several
Sasquatch nests.
In July of 1970, more tracks showed on on the beach at North
Gorge campground. The tracks showed that Old Cripple Foot had
moved in and out of the water, apparently trying to catch the carp
which were plentiful in that area.
Ivan continued to track the creatures. He claimed to have
found bushes that it had eaten from, places where it had slept, and
even droppings, which it partially buried. On one occasion, he
followed the tracks and actually saw the creature which he said
was ten feet tall and extremely thin. He believed that it was
extremely old. Ivan also claimed to have filmed the creature.
However when he refused to release the film, he was accused of
hoaxing. Despite this, more evidence continued to surface from
other areas.
Because of the distinctive nature of the tracks, Old Cripple
Foot was easy to identify. As news of the tracks spread, a farmer
in northeastern Washington came forward and declared that he had
seen the same exact tracks twenty years earlier. And finally, six
years after the flap, in 1976, Old Cripple Foot turned up again.
Forty miles south of the original tracks, a college student came
upon another line of the unique tracks and immediately contacted
investigators. Before long, more reports in the same area came in.
It seemed that Old Cripple Foot, despite his deformity, was still
alive and well.
