Deseret News | Bigfoot: a search in Utah

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Bigfoot: a search in Utah

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Anonymous | 7:06 a.m. June 24, 2009

Up next, a gorilla suit in a freezer, and fifteen minutes of fame.

Steve | 7:29 a.m. June 24, 2009

Of course, all the Bigfoot stuff doesn't hurt Mr. Burns' bed and breakfast business in Duchesne.

It's amazing how the purveyors of one of the most often cited Bigfoot "films" have admitted how it was faked, and yet people still fall for this.

andrewute1 | 7:57 a.m. June 24, 2009

I hope these "Bigfoot" explorers arent paid off commission with finding one of these.

Comments continue below

Mink | 8:00 a.m. June 24, 2009

Could it be just Janet Reno in a gorilla suit? After all she said she wanted to hit the road and see America?

Hmmm | 8:04 a.m. June 24, 2009

Bigfoot or Cain?

knocks and whistle sounds throws rocks in the darkness

All alleged behaviors of Cain found in the Bible.

dbf | 8:07 a.m. June 24, 2009

Thousands of hunter out in the woods every year and yet no one ever sees a Big Foot. I wonder if this guy would be interested in buying some property in Florida that I have.

Why Not | 8:15 a.m. June 24, 2009

Why can't it be true? Just because YOU haven't seen one before for yourself? They find never before discovered species of various living things all the time all over the world. Washed up creatures on beaches they have no ideas of what they are, dead animals in woods where there is no record of anything looking like they do ever existing before. The world is full of unexplained, and undiscovered things still. Granted, they are far and few between, and very rare, but there are new finds every year. As to the part of the story where the naysayers ask 'why there hasn't ever been any fossil discoveries for a bigfoot type species located in the past', what I have to say to that is: In my OWN PERSONAL opinion, there are NEW & PREVIOUSLY undiscovered dinasour species fossils found and discovered all the time. And we find out only then, that there were OTHER dinasour breeds/species we never previously knew had existed on our planet. So, why is it then impossible for a 'Bigfoot' to either currently, or previously existed just because we have not found any fossil 'evidence' as of YET? Just sayin'.

PaulFan | 8:26 a.m. June 24, 2009

...Everybody knows that the Bigfoot species was hunted to extinction by Paul Bunyan and his trusty cohort Babe, the blue ox.

Bailout | 8:28 a.m. June 24, 2009

Don't worry about how they're getting their funding: I'm sure Obama included $75 million or so in the stimulus bill for Bigfoot research.

Re: Why Not | 8:32 a.m. June 24, 2009

I'll tell you why it can't be true....because any organism of that size would require massive amounts of food to stay alive, plus its shelter would need to be quite large. And don't tell me that it's easy for "one or two" of them to hide undetected for centuries - the total bigfoot population would need to be in the hundreds to have sufficient genetic diversity to continue the species.

You said "they find never before discovered species of various living things all the time all over the world." True, but those newly-discovered species have one thing in common - they're all very small! Their impact on the ecosystem has gone unnoticed because it's so minor. That wouldn't be the case with bigfoot.

Obviously you know nothing about biology, ecology, or the food chain, so why don't you leave the discussion to the adults?

AZ | 8:52 a.m. June 24, 2009

Who Cares...If the guy wants to waste time looking for bigfoot...great! After all how many hours do the rest of us spend hanging out,watching tv or maybe just playing x-box. Whatever guy... do what you want. Good luck.

Re: Re: Why Not | 8:32 a.m. June | 9:13 a.m. June 24, 2009

Name calling and fault finding does not make you look good.

Take some advice: Learn to disagree without being disagreeable. I found your comment to be offensive and childish.

You may know a great deal about biology. It is my hope that you people skills will improve to the point that they match your other skills.

observing | 9:14 a.m. June 24, 2009

At the insistence of a relative, I've sat through a couple of the John Salmond tv episodes. What a hoot! He and his cronies waddle off into the woods and are alarmed by every noise and smell they encounter. They estimate the size of a supposed Bigfoot by where they find bullets in trees where some other moron took a shot at something that scared him. Let's see, if he fell down and took a shot and the bullet's trajectory sends it 12 feet into a tree branch, then, by gum, the monster he was shooting at HAD to be at least 15 feet tall! Oh, my! Lions, and tigers, and bears - and Bigfoot. Here's another thought, Why Not, because no remains have ever been found to support the existence of anything like it. No bones, no fur, no nothin'. Hopefully, Salmond and his crew are funding their own research.

RE: Mormon History@8:33 | 9:19 a.m. June 24, 2009

Nice. Thanks for your curious attempt to draw a connection between the American legend of Bigfoot and an anecdotal quasi-religious experience.

But since you insist: I have read the Patten account before and looked it up, thanks. 101, you rather conveniently forgot to mention it's also a SECOND-HAND account--one of those "I remember David Patten once told me that..." stories. They're easily fabricated.

I'm not saying that Bigfoot doesn't exist or that Patten never had this experience. But the first issue, since it's a scientific question, needs scientific confirmation--tangible evidence to go along with all the anecdotal material--before being accepted as fact. (The gorilla-suit-in-freezer episode and other hoaxes don't exactly help bolster the case.)

The second is largely a historical issue, since it's not truly concerned with the central tenets of my religion. Let the historians likewise debate its veracity. It doesn't need to be true for me to know the Church is true, too.

Anonymous | 9:20 a.m. June 24, 2009

My daughter had a friend that saw a bigfoot in the mountians of northeastern Arizona several years ago, and he told her others had seen it also. Just because not everyone goes public doesn't mean others have not seen something.

Rich | 9:22 a.m. June 24, 2009

That "weird feeling" is the ultimate proof we've always been waiting for. Now, finally, we know that Bigfoot exists, and he is a wise creature indeed, far more intelligent than humans or any other beast, for he has so far eluded a fate common to many humans, being hit as a pedestrian by a speeding car coming around a curve.

Charles Vaughn | 9:24 a.m. June 24, 2009

Some people believe in God. I've never seen him. Does that mean he doesn't exist? Let's hear what your hobbies are. I dare you.

SLC gal | 9:29 a.m. June 24, 2009

Maybe it's a human mutation. Like the people who change into werewolves when the moon is full?

Seriously though, I hope if there is a Bigfoot out there, they NEVER catch him, just becuase of the horrible poking, prodding, and the ultimate circus such a creature would be subjected to.

Awesome!! | 9:30 a.m. June 24, 2009

Stories like this just make life a bit more fun. Plus, you see far less antipathy among commenters because everyone can agree that this is just a bit crazy, but we like it.

I agree with AZ, this is no less productive of a hobby than my internet surfing, and at least this guy gets some exercise and a thrill.

The Rock | 9:30 a.m. June 24, 2009

I live in Washington State.
I have never met bigfoot or seen any evidence to support the existence of this elusive critter.
I find it unusual that there is not more physical evidence for the existence of bigfoot if in fact it does exist.

Nevertheless...

I cannot just dismiss the reports from credible people who have seen, heard or smelled things they cannot otherwise explain. There are many things in this world that cannot be explained. Science requires that we keep an open mind. Much of science consists of doing that which once was thought to be impossible.

People laugh at the Liahona in the Book of Mormon (a ball or director with arrows pointing the way they should go in the wilderness and courious writting would appear from time to time). While traveling recently with my laptop, Microsoft Streets and Trips and a GPS antena, I had such a device. It pointed the way we should go and writting did appear and a voice was heard giving us instructions to boot.

If I made that claim in the 1960's I would have had my head examined against my will.

Healthy hobby | 9:30 a.m. June 24, 2009

At least these guys are spending their time outdoors with friends, rather than indoors in some virtual-pretend-universe online.

Is "Second Life" any more real than bigfoot? Is building a pretend race car in the garage any better for the world than than building a myth in nature?

And in regards to David W. Patten, I wouldn't put it past a frontiersman on a long solo journey to tell a tall tale or two. Those days were full of myths and mystery.

Napoleon Dynamite | 9:32 a.m. June 24, 2009

All the flippin sasquatches got defeated by the horses! Didn't any of you learn anything from my Utah State Fair commercials? GOSH!!!

To "Re:Why Not" | 9:39 a.m. June 24, 2009

"Re:Why Not", you had written the following in your post where you were obviously responding directly to me:
"True, but those newly-discovered species have one thing in common - they're all very small! Their impact on the ecosystem has gone unnoticed because it's so minor. That wouldn't be the case with bigfoot.
Obviously you know nothing about biology, ecology, or the food chain, so why don't you leave the discussion to the adults?"

So, my response is this: First, NOT ALL newly found species are 'very small' as you stated. One newly found dinasour species (JUST THIS YEAR)is larger than a T-Rex. Myself, I wouldn't consider that to be 'very small'.

However, although I may not 'know anything about biology, etc.', as you had informed me, I guess YOU 'Obviously don't know much about comparative/relative sizes either then' if you consider a dinasour of that size to be "VERY SMALL", am I right?

Just because something hasn't been found YET doesn't mean that it definitivly doesn't exist. One just hasn't been found as of yet.

Maybe it's YOU who should leave the discussion to adults?

Cats | 9:43 a.m. June 24, 2009

TO: Re: RE: Why Not 8:32....That was a great blog. Thank you for dressing down people who are immature and nasty. We can have reasonable debate and mature discussion without getting insulting.

Does Bigfoot exist? I have no idea. But I think anyone should be allowed to express his/her opinion without being insulted.

Phantom Panther | 9:47 a.m. June 24, 2009

I have not seen a Bigfoot. However, I have read Dr. Meldrum's book "Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science." It is well-researched and well-written. Your local library may have a copy. Also, I have a brother-in-law who claims to have seen one of these creatures. He is a religious man (currently a Stake President) and is not prone to lying or making up things for attention. So, I believe people are defintely seeing something unusual in the woods.

Ernest T. Bass | 9:55 a.m. June 24, 2009

Probably the same people who think byu will one day play in a BCS bowl.

in the middle | 10:07 a.m. June 24, 2009

People who claim to see bigfoot are seeing something they don't understand. There have been thousands and thousands of sightings by people who are hunters, forest rangers, doctors, lawyers, law officials etc. Why would these people risk their reputations by saying they say a bigfoot. Could it be possible that 1 sighting was real and that bigfoot exists. It's very possible. I hope bigfoot does exist and would love to look for it, but I have a wife and a daughter and one on the way. In the future I hope I will be able to search for it. I live in Western Pa. and wonder if anyone knows any stories from there. I also find it hard to believe that with all the technology today that the only good video is the Patterson-Gimlin from 40 years ago. All the people today that search have video cameras, cameras. there are also tons of motion cameras tied to trees and no good pictures. I hope they do exist and would have fun trying to prove that they do, but I just don't see that the existence being real. Thanks for Listening.

Let them come | 10:09 a.m. June 24, 2009

As long as they want to come to Utah and spend money here, I say lets make them welcome. We don't have to believe, to be good hosts, and pocket their spendings.

Mocking Mockers | 10:10 a.m. June 24, 2009

I like mocking folks who mock folks who believe in bigfoot. They're so certain they're right about the most trivial things . . .

Mark | 10:12 a.m. June 24, 2009

I spent many years in Search and Rescue in British Columbia and Washington State, and at one of our annual training conferences, a researcher from BFRO was invited to give a presentation. Every one of his seminars were standing room only. It was absolutely fascinating. He presented a lot of compelling information and evidence that would make anyone stop and think. I have no idea if Bigfoot exists or not. I am, however, willing to keep an open mind and would probably enjoy one of those outings to look for the creature. Let those who want to believe do so. If you don't believe, that's cool too.

JanSan | 10:14 a.m. June 24, 2009

I do not know if Big Foot exist. It is a neat thought to think about. I have not read Dr. Meldrum book but he was a member of my ward for a short while. He was kind of on the quite side but he did not seem at all wack-O in any way. I did learn that he goes overseas a lot to do research there also so this is not just an "American" creature.. I guess that there has been quite a lot of sighting in the China area and they seem to tell about the same size and discription as the sightings here. As, I said I do not say yea or nay... but one thing to think about is the saying "Where there is smoke, there is usually fire" or something like that. Therefore I try to keep an open mind about this and read and learn as I go.

re: Ernest T. Bass | 10:17 a.m. June 24, 2009

You sir are rude! You and Re:Why Not @8:32 ought to do us all a favor and take a class on being polite.

Joshthebadbear | 10:18 a.m. June 24, 2009

Re: Why not, re re not and re re re not :

I'm not sure if there's a big foot (but I hope so . . . just so big mouth will have to extract his probably even bigger foot from his mouth when he apologizes to the nice person who expressed an honest opinion here.

I do know that contemporary thinking at one time declared the world to be flat till someone took a wrong turn in a ship. Maybe when that happened it inflated ?

be nice kids.

The Patterson Film | 10:33 a.m. June 24, 2009

I watched again the original Patterson / Grimlin film of Bigfoot @ Bluff Creek on U-TUBE. I have to say - all joking aside - this is a pretty convincing piece of evidence. Not a believer myself I have to admit this film footage is hard to refute. Slow motion shows muscles flexing in the creatures legs as it walks. Breasts are clearly evident as well. The size of the beast would have taken about a 450 lb man who was very very agile - hard to find even in the NFL. All this footage shot by ole Roger Patterson back in 1967. Holy cow even the best of Hollywood today can't put a man in a monkey suit and make it look realistic and we're talking 1967. If this film was a hoax, it was the best hoax ever created.

when the sun goes down | 10:37 a.m. June 24, 2009

Everybody is a bigfoot comedian ...that is until they are setting by the camp fire somewhere in the High Unitas with the full moon shining overhead. Suddenly bigfoot seems plausible.

Chadders | 10:43 a.m. June 24, 2009

I agree with AZ. I don't know if Bigfoot exists or not. I don't really care enough to call this guy a crazy lunatic or a genius. It seems interesting that there is evidence for both sides. Seems kinda like religion, right? I guess those that have seen him know and there are others that only believe. There are some that are so certain that he doesn't exists and others still that are indiferent.

Anonymous | 10:51 a.m. June 24, 2009

These people mirror thoughts of the religious out there. Believing means its fact. The degree, which you believe is directly related to whether what you believe is fact. If you can't disprove the existence of Big Feet, UFO's or alligators in the sewers, this proves it must be true.

Believer | 11:04 a.m. June 24, 2009

I have been waiting for someone to go to on a quest to find Bigfoot. I have been a believer since i was a young child, and after this article i believe even MORE!! thank you!

Believer's mother | 11:09 a.m. June 24, 2009

I am Believer's mother. I want you all to know that her "contribution," as it's called, was made tongue in cheek, in case it isn't obvious. Though in truth, she is 14 and is going camping in the Uintahs in a couple of weeks, and half of her does believe.

As I am 50, and have been hearing of Bigfoot sightings since I was 14, and yet no Bigfoot mama and baby has ever been found in all that time--only giant footprints--my conclusion is that they are either from space, are soon to be extinct, or as previously suggested, are a figment of the moonlight and the campfire and the rarefied air of the High Uintahs.

Thanks for listening.

just | 11:11 a.m. June 24, 2009

check missouri 1835 then laugh your head off at your own people.

Dog | 11:21 a.m. June 24, 2009

People are born with great imaginations and seem to love to use them. They love to dream up stuff for others to believe and add to the imagination of others who cannot dream up the BIG stuff. It also makes people feel like their life is much more worth while in telling great tales, and that they have made a great mark on humankind and the world, or in this case a Bigfoot footprint.

Roaming Hippie | 11:25 a.m. June 24, 2009

re: Hmmm | 8:04 a.m. June 24, 2009

Lol, yeah if I was thousands of years old I would probably stop cutting my hair or bathing too.

dd | 11:55 a.m. June 24, 2009

The first rule of science is skepticism. Dr. Meldrum has made the case for Big Foot and it is the other scientists' job to make him prove it. He needs to provide something like hair, feces, etc. DNA analysis could provide proof.

People have seen something but that doesn't make it BigFoot.

Science | 12:25 p.m. June 24, 2009

FTI, no-one had ever actually seen a "real" Giant Squid until 5 years ago.

"In 2004, a giant squid, later named "Archie", was caught off the coast of the Falkland Islands by a trawler. It was 8.62 metres (28.3 ft) long and was sent to the Natural History Museum in London to be studied and preserved."

The first photographs of a live giant squid in its natural habitat were taken on September 30, 2004, by Tsunemi Kubodera (National Science Museum of Japan) and Kyoichi Mori (Ogasawara Whale Watching Association).

CM | 12:33 p.m. June 24, 2009

There is a person in Wellington, TX that claims to have shot and buried 2 BigFeet, a male and a female. Then the Gubbinmint done came and dug them up! There were multiple black SUV's and a backhoe that showed up at his house in the middle of the night.

Do a search for Ed Hale and BigFoot, Wellington TX. Also, search for Art Bell and his interview with Ed Hale, AKA "Bugs" that is available for listening.

Kinda reminds me of | 12:50 p.m. June 24, 2009

Grimm's and fairytales.

Thinkin' Man | 1:08 p.m. June 24, 2009

I'd enjoy the hunt for Bigfoot if this were all done in fun. But the fact that some take it seriously makes me sad that in 21st century America an adult citizen would have such a lack of scientific understanding.

Same could be said for listeners of Art Bell and George Noory.

Bigfoot | 1:16 p.m. June 24, 2009

Hello all you humans,

I am the real bigfoot. We do exist. We are very smart as is evedent in the fact we have not been discoverd by you. I just thought the timing was right to let you humans know that we are real and we do exist. We can do a lot of things, including tie into your emails systems and internet to post this message! We always cremate our dead so that is why you will not find a fossil record of us.

Anyway, good luck finding us!
Take er easy!
Bigfoot

Lots of evidence/witnesses... | 1:48 p.m. June 24, 2009

Like many of the dozens of the accounts in this story, I also have had two friends/neighbors that had very similar encounters with a large, hairy man- one was at Fremont Lake and the other in the Wasatch mountain range. One was seeing the creature at the edge of the lake drinking while out boating, and the other sighting was similar- unearthly screams and a very foul stench. I trust both of these people- and I'll bet you'd find a hundred other folks in this area that haven't shared their stories.

CougarKeith | 2:01 p.m. June 24, 2009

My only regret in the "Search For BigFoot" is that Human Nature is to KILL! It's not a common creature, so if you see it, KILL IT! Stuff it, put it on display and MAKE MILLIONS! That is the scary part of the "Search For BigFoot", proving it is real is not enough, man wants to have an actual specimin to gawk at, to relish and say, I GOT THE FIRST ONE, dead or alive, and that is what I hate about the natural man.

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