MAIN Society Urban Legends Bigfoot

Most recently in the news amidst yet another Bigfoot discovery hoax in August 2008, the popular Bigfoot legend can be traced back to early Pacific Northwest Indian trbies.

Since then, eyewitness reports of Bigfoot — a.k.a. Sasquatch, Yeti, or The Abominable Snowman — first began appearing in 19th century pioneer days and have persisted almost without stop to the present day.

Most often described as over 6-foot tall and walking on two legs, Bigfoot is said to live in the dense and remote forests of the Pacific Northwest in the U.S. as well as the Canadian province of British Columbia.

Bigfoot is often associated with man's early evolution from the apes, and continues to fascinate with strange tales of its nocturnal behavior, glowing red eyes, and sometimes aggressive tactics toward encroachers on its remote territory.

Bigfoot Evidence?

Various sightings in the 20th century have included photos and homemade movies — the most famous of which is the Patterson-Gimlin film taken by two Bigfoot hunters in 1967. Another recent photo made nationwide headlines in 2007 when hunter Rick Jacobs claimed to have taken a photo in northwest Pennsylvania. In 2008, a media firestorm arose over claims by two Georgia Bigfoot hunters that they had found the elusive creature, but promised DNA evidence failed to substantiate their claims.

Although scientific existence has yet to be found, that doesn't stop Sasquatch hunters from continuing their search, nor does it stem the huge fascination it holds for millions around the world.

Big Foot in Pop Culture

As popular books on the topic fill store shelves, pop culture remains rich with references including a currently popular Messin' with Sasquatch U.S. television commercial campaign for Jack's Links beef jerky, as well as its adoption by the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver as an Olympic mascot, "Quatchi."

Along with homemade movies, Hollywood has also taken to churning out dozens of films devoted to the subject over the years including Sasquatch: The Legend of Bigfoot (1977), Revenge of Bigfoot (1979), Harry and the Hendersons (1987) Little Bigfoot (1997) The Untold/Sasquatch (2002), Suburban Sasquatch (2004) The Unknown/Clawed: The Legend of Sasquatch (2005), Bigfoot (2005), Sasquatch Hunters (2005) and Yeti: A Love Story (2006).

Big Foot around the Web:

While Bigfoot sceptics abound, more Bigfoot fans of the big half-human/half-beast claim a wholehearted belief in the creature. As the hunt continues, check out related news & rumors, pictures, videos, and more information surrounding Bigfoot around the Web ...

Bigfoot - Wikipedia - The complete history of the two-footed beast with photos, notable alleged sightings, famous hoaxes, arguments for and against, plus an extensive list of related references and resources.

Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization - recent sightings, media story articles, an examination of Pre-Columbian and early American Indian legends, plus how to report a sighting with photos, video and sounds, online discussion forum.

Bigfoot Encounters - Another major clearinghouse for the latest Bigfoot sightings with video, pictures, first-person stories, book reviews, movie list, related resources.

Oregon Bigfoot.com - Local and national databases of sightings along with pics, videos, audio sound recordings, plus pop culture references, Big Foot humor, art gallery.

On the Trail of the Sasquatch - "Exposing the truth about Big Foot" with evidence of famous hoaxes including news clippings, sketches and photos of purported footprints.

Bigfoot: fact or fantasy? - Clear-eyed examination of the evidence with an historical overview, sightings by U.S. state, a discussion on the Patterson-Gimlin film, examination of footprint photos, related videos.

also see -> Conspiracy Theories | Aliens & UFOs | Loch Ness Monster