BIGFOOT

One of the ongoing mysteries is the concept of the Bigfoot (or similar names) that might exist in remote regions, use waterways to migrate, and plays a mean game of hide-and-seek.

I am intrigued by the way perceptions of this creature have changed and continue to change. Peaceful beast of the forests and hills, ill-tempered monster, and peeping tom with a bad attitude. His descriptions fluctuate as well. If one went by the illustrations and AI images the creature is part werewolf, part lion and part giant monster.

This array of details also paints a picture of an animal ranging from a hairy man to an upright gorilla like creature.   Depictions come seldom from a study of eye witness accounts but more from an active imagination. 

A random survey of eyewitnesses who were willing to share details with me resulted in some characteristics of note.

First, let's look at the skull of a gorilla and see its markers. The gorilla has a "crest" created by the bone formation of the upper skull. It has broad, defined brow ridge, high check bones, a wide nasal cavity and two outer downward protruding "fangs" and two small upward fangs and central broad teeth. All of these features will determine how the muscles, fat and flesh will look once added. 

Now look at a human skull. The more rounded skull cap, the smaller nasal cavity, the smaller check bones and the smaller and more numerous teeth. Again, all of these factors will influence the end result once muscle, fat, flesh are added. 

So, what have been seen most in eyewitness encounters? Most of the people who responded to my questions agreed that the 

• EYES - were more almond shaped, large, and deep set.
• NOSE- bridge was narrow, with wide, squatty type nostrils, and a scooped inward appearance.  
• CHEEK- bones were defined. 
• SKULL- was rounded with less of a crest. The brow line and forehead were covered in hair - not fur. No hair under eyes, around nose but forehead was hairy. MOUTH - There was NO simian look to the mouth (protruding teeth and jaw such as in a chimpanzee). The mouth was wide, with thin lips.

IIn humans there is diversity and adaptation of form - this probably exists in this mammalian cousin (if it exists).  Since environment often influence adaptations, the diversity would be most likely be in hair color for camouflage, nasal size due to altitude or other factors, the teeth and size. Experience has shown that the emptier an environment the larger wildlife can grow, and cramped environments can see a reduction in the size of the members of a population.

A sketch of an eyewitness sighting based on witness descriptions of facial features. Art done in 2023 by MAH from witness 23-15.