Study Introduces New Scientific Debate Regarding Bigfoot's Existence

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Bigfoot Chicks, Melissa Adair. As serious researchers, the Bigfoot Chicks are commited to seeking the truth regarding the Bigfoot mystery. Assuming that Bigfoots exist, they want to help ensure their surival and hope for an opportunity to observe them in their natural habitat. You can visit their blog at bigfootchicks.blogspot.com.

Well, someone did it, and it’s awesome!! They did an amazing job of using a scientific approach to present Bigfoot research to the scientific community through an intense and thorough study of annual rainfall amounts, human population densities, waterways and black bear habitat as they relate to alleged Bigfoot sightings. In other words, based on the scientific data gathered in these areas, the probability of Bigfoot sighting reports being hoaxes or misidentifications are greatly reduced. Applying the findings of this study to our efforts as field researchers could potentially improve our chances of success.

This study, by Daryl Colyer and Alton Higgins, addresses common arguments by skeptics and presents empirical data in such a way as to suggest that a large, ape-like creature could actually exist in the forests of North America. “It should soon become evident to anyone who seriously and objectively delves into and studies the numerous credible sightings that many of the reports themselves are quite compelling. It is difficult to totally dismiss as fabrications all the reports that have accumulated from so many credible witnesses over so many decades.”

“...the essence of the research presented here does not focus on the validity of any individual report, but on the body of reports as a whole in order to ascertain any correlations and patterns that may exist. When one impartially studies the sum total of all the reports it becomes evident that there do indeed seem to be correlations and patterns that could be representative of a living species.”

The study goes on to show how areas with greater rainfall amounts produced more credible sighting reports. The outlying areas that received less rainfall had fewer sighting reports, but reports coming from those areas were often in close proximity to waterways.

Human population density also played a role in the number of sighting reports in a given area.

“...it seems that where human populations increase, reported wood ape sightings decrease. Where human populations decrease, reported ape sightings may increase.”

An in depth look at the habitat and its ability to support large, omnivorous mammals such as the black bear was also a part of the study. The focus was on food availability year round, protection and concealment. “ The study is relevant because there may be a correlation between purported wood ape and suitable black bear habitat. If an area is suitable for a large omnivore such as the black bear, it seems reasonable to posit that it is just as likely to be suitable for a small population of omnivorous wood apes.”

The point is made in the end that these sightings of alleged “Bigfoots” or “Wood Apes” as they refer to them continue to accumulate and show no signs of stopping. “If one chooses to take the reports seriously and the apparent associated ecological patterns, as has been done in this paper, debates regarding the existence of this species are replaced by new issues such as those pertaining to ecology, distribution, behavior, and population densities.”

Bravo, Mr. Colyer and Mr. Higgins!!

To read this study in full, check out the link below.

texasbigfoot.com/index.php/about-bigfoot/articles/67-ecological-patterns