Frequently Asked QuestionsWe have compiled and will continue to compile questions and our answers to questions that are asked, or should be asked. Our FAQ list is different than most of the FAQ pages found on other Bigfoot sites. Instead of having the same questions copied from site to site, we have instead produced original content from questions that are particularly interesting and informative. Table of Contents
Where can I see a Bigfoot or where can I go to start research?This is probably the most frequently asked question we receive. If anyone can answer this question, do you think Bigfoot would be still be a mystery? Bigfoot is believed to be an elusive, nocturnal creature, and we have a hypothesis that the creature may roam near randomly within a 2500 square mile area. To pin point or predict where a creature may be, is the goal of any researcher who wants to show scientific proof, but this just hasn't been accomplished yet. Within our pages of OH/PA information, we mapped out sections of each state where such a creature is most likely to be found based on a number of factors. The creature(s) can be anywhere within the marked areas at any given time, no one has enough information to be able to pinpoint it any better. We compiled data from a number of reports that may point out some corridors where the creature(s) may be more often, but the data is still sketchy due to the number of scattered reports. Actually, the best areas maybe where it has not been seen often, where it is remote, and therefore where it would feel most secure. It is also very difficult to sometimes determine whether a report is actually valid. Through years of research we have identified areas we monitor more closely, and would like these areas kept clean of heavy, unorganized activity for good reasons. Therefore, we are a little unwilling to just give away hard earned information to just anyone who asks, researchers included. We do recognize a need for organized team work to better accomplish research goals. This is why we developed and are members of the Bigfoot Research Network. All members work under common rules and goals. If you want to be an independent researcher, we suggest that you look over our map areas for remote patches of land that have good cover and food content. Start searching the hardest to reach areas including private property (be sure to obtain permission). You may also try your luck at receiving your own reports. Good luck. Back to TopWhat methods of detecting a Bigfoot have been used?Wildlife researchers usually have methods of detecting the presence of animals within an area. These methods range from finding tracks and signs, bait stations, scent stations, traps, calling, remote triggers, and more. Almost all of these methods have been used by Bigfoot researchers, but mostly without success. The reason for being unsuccessful is that the success of these techniques drop off significantly if there are low populations of the animal being detected. Often more common animals interfere with the detection mechanisms enough to ruin the results. We can only continue with the these methods, hopefully in an active area, in a methodical way to receive results. Growing in popularity in recent years are remote triggered cameras, that take pictures of what walks in front of them 24 hours a day. These cameras are very exciting, but cost a hefty bundle to use enough of them to cover even a reasonably small area. Another big draw back is they will often get stolen, by people, if left out in the field for a useful period of time, adding to the expense of the method. If you use the remote cameras, you will usually only get pictures of deer and people (it is sometimes surprising how many people walk through an area). To date, remote cameras are not sufficiently reliable and economical to sustain long-term use in the field. Some other methods we use are to travel back roads and trails by foot, mountain bike, and on top of 4x4's looking for tracks and other signs. We also travel around at night, scanning the area with night vision equipment. We also believe that using predator calls can be effective, just be prepared to attract and face any other predator in the area large or small that is looking for a meal. Back to TopCan Bigfoot or animals detect the heat IR sensors used in remote cameras?Some people have been confused into thinking that there is some kind of light coming out of these sensors and something might be able to see this "light", and that this may be why Bigfoot hasn't been captured by a remote camera yet. This is not the case at all. The heat sensors used inside security light fixtures and remote cameras are known as passive sensors. The passive classification is a definition where sensors are only receptors and have no emission of any type, so they cannot be detected. Think of them like you would your eye receiving light to be able to see. Some manufacturers of remote cameras show a picture of what might look like a cone of light to describe the characteristics of the detection pattern and range. The illustrations have nothing to do with light emitting form the device. Remote cameras can be detected in a number of other ways. First, they are rather large and may easily be seen hanging on the side of a tree, especially if there is a trail cut in the brush to make a clear view for the lens. Secondly, most of these cameras flash automatically when there isn't enough light, making them extremely obvious and it has been documented that some shy animals will avoid the area after they see it flash-off on another animal or itself. The most likely reason why a Bigfoot creature hasn't been caught by one of these cameras is that there are very few of these devices in use, and the extremely small amount of square footage each can cover (30 feet X 30 feet on average) compared to the total number of square footage where Bigfoot may roam. The odds of detection can be calculated and used to provide some valuable information. Back to TopCan Bigfoot or animals see infrared lights that are used with night vision equipment?Many people use infrared lights with night vision equipment to extend the range and usefulness in very dark areas. These lights can be LED's or colored lens filters for flashlights and spotlights that have an emission wavelength of typically higher than 700nm. Night vision devices are very responsive to infrared light in the 700-1000nm range, but humans cannot see this light, which allows night vision to be covert. We are unaware of any animals that can see into the infrared light range above 700nm, therefore animals and Bigfoot cannot see lights that are above 700nm in wavelength. Colored lens filters are rated by the range of the light they pass, and the numbers that are given are based on the -3dB "knee" part of the emissive curve. This means that these filters allow some amount of light through below their rated values. If you look into a light using an IR filter, you will notice a deep red color. This is not IR light, but rather the visible red light that leaks through the filter. Depending on the ratings of the filter, the amount of light will vary. Usually, the amount of unwanted light emitted through these filters in very little and is very difficult to detect from a distance. Few animals, especially due to their limit range of red vision, will likely be able to see this small amount of light. We have never observed any animals that behaved as if they saw any of the infrared lights that we use. It should be noted that animal eyes undergo a change during the dark in a manner similar to our eyes, but usually in a more refined way. Animals will typically be much more receptive to ultraviolet light during the night because this light is much more prevalent in the dark. Therefore, it is difficult for animals to see the color red at all at night; this is why many hunters use red lights while hunting. See the below graphic to better understand the light spectrum.
Back to TopCan Bigfoot or animals sense being watched with night vision equipment?You would have to believe that Bigfoot or animals have some kind of sixth sense to be able to sense being watched, for this to be true. There are a myriad of other reasons why something can figure out if someone is around and react as if it magically sensed being watched. Odors, sounds, movement, and light reflections are the biggest reasons an animal can sense someone. We have never seen an animal that appeared to have a sense of being watched under controlled conditions where we observed the animal, no mater if observed during the day or by night with night vision. Back to TopCan Bigfoot or animals sense electromagnetic radiation or ultrasonic noise generated by electronic equipment?Much of the electronic design specifics and physics that pertain to
electronics, sound, and animal hearing are beyond the scope of a quick and
timely explanation, but here is a short primer that should provide a lot of insight. Back to TopIs Bigfoot dangerous?If you read enough books and web sites about Bigfoot, you will come across reports where the creature is reported to have: chased people, attacked and maybe even killed people, killed 50-80 sheep in a rampage, thrown large objects at people, to even reports of missing people near areas of supposed activity, and more. The one thing we have to think of is whether or not these reports are real. If people were being killed or attacked on a regular basis, you would think exhaustive searches would be launched. We must remember that cougars, grizzly bears, and wolves were extirpated from the eastern U.S. by hunters searching and killing any animal that threatened or injured man. Can a creature such a Bigfoot be dangerous? Yes, any animal can be dangerous if provoked enough. But, in reality, the majority of reports indicate a shy, docile creature that would rather stay well away from humans. Back to TopWhat would Bigfoot eat?Bigfoot would probably eat anything a man, bear or raccoon would. What it might eat is dependent on the environment in any specific area. Back to TopYeah, but aren't all those people who see Bigfoot crazy?Yes, there are many witnesses and researchers with problems. A certain percentage of witnesses and researchers really do have some problems, and they really do see things that are not there. Some people may have been led to think that something is in the area, and certain events can cause them to have imaginations so real that they really believe they saw a physical entity. A wide spectrum of delusionary behavior exists in humanity with varying thresholds required to trigger the behavior. People thought to be completely sane are also effected by such behavior. Note, the case where an experienced and sane hunter, from England, shot and killed his daughter when he vividly saw her as a deer. Psychologists also find that some people, who have a feeling of insignificance or ineptness, may predispose them to odd behavior. To overcome the problem, they may create an imaginary world, and try to convince others of their imaginary world, so they can somehow feel important, famous, or intellectual. There is also a percentage of witnesses that appear to suffer from something like post traumatic stress syndrome after an experience, that causes them to think they have reoccurring experiences, when in actuality, they do not. There are also a great number of hoaxes, of which we will go into further at a later date. People who create hoaxes have physiological issues as well. Not all witnesses and researchers appear to have psychological problems, however. Many witnesses just see or experience something that completely surprises them to the point of them placing doubt what they have experienced. This leads the witness to often want to learn more about what they have seen or want to investigate and look for evidence to confirm what they seen. All too often, the media promotes people that have real problems, since they are typically the ones to seek out media exposure and have the most dramatic stories - leading to a distorted image of the Bigfoot field. Back to TopWhy not just kill a Bigfoot, then figure it out?Hunting to kill any animal, that you do not have a valid license for, is illegal in every state that we know of. It will be unlikely, except during large game season, that you will be carrying a weapon large enough to be effective, since it is often illegal to carry weapons other than what is specified for the license you are carrying. If you think you will somehow convince law enforcement officials that you killed the creature in self defense, while in reality you were hunting it. You better be prepared to answer a lot of detailed questions on why you were carrying a large weapon and just so happened to fear for your life. Law enforcement officials are professionals, and they will see right through your stories. As you see, it is very difficult to just go out and kill a Bigfoot creature without spending time in jail for it. If you think you will become famous and the legal problems will be of little consequence, think again. Just because you killed something doesn't mean you have ownership. While you are sitting in jail, state or federal agencies will assume ownership of the body, and they do not have to inform you of their actions. So, it might be a good idea to develop different concepts of researching Bigfoot. Keep in mind that you may be shooting a person and not a Bigfoot at all. Back to TopWhat do I do if I find a body or skeletal remains of a Bigfoot?The correct scenario would be to immediately mark the area, cover the remains being careful not to disturb the area, note the area so you can return, take photos and video if possible, then immediately notify your state or local, federal wildlife officials. Please use some common sense, and don't bother wildlife officials with unimportant information. Wildlife officials are highly trained and can respond in an appropriate manner. If the remains turn out not to be from a Bigfoot, wildlife officials also collect data on dead animals and will be able to act on the information if a crime was committed. (Once upon a time an Ohio researcher, not us, found remains of a Black Bear in Coshocton County, thinking it was a Bigfoot. Dreams like winning the lottery were seen flashing before their eyes.) If your remains turn out to be human, (please note that 6-9 foot human skeletons are dug up all over the country) wildlife or law enforcement officials would be grateful for your report. The reason is that you can be charged for crimes from tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, to obstruction of justice if you didn't report the find promptly. If you called us to the scene, we would document the find through measurements, photos, video, then report it to the appropriate authorities. Get out of your head, dreams of striking it rich by selling parts to the highest bidders and being famous for the discovery. If you hide the remains and offer it for sale, it would be unlikely you would get any offers due to the great number of hoaxes over the years. If you think that running to the press will somehow protect the discovery, think again, you will most likely create a media circus and most information will be lost, not to mention that the remains will not be able to be hidden and may be stolen. The importance of the find is too critical to take chances. It should be noted that you will not likely hold any legal right to the remains. "Finders keepers" is just naive thinking. If you find it on someone else's private property, it would be their property before it would be yours. If you find it on public land, it would be public property and government officials will take ownership. Even if you find it on your own property, it is likely that government officials will take ownership of the remains due to the importance of the find, and you will have no legal right to change that. Finally, if you are into Bigfoot research to become rich and famous by discovering and selling Bigfoot remains, please get out of the field. There are too many gold diggers in this field making a mockery of the study and scientific research of serious researchers that have only a quest to uncover the truth. Back to TopGot a question you would like to see here? Email it to us.[This is the answer to the question.] Back to TopSince 2002: Exclusive content from the Ohio / Pennsylvania Bigfoot Research Group.
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