COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Most people might never be willing to say they believe in the existence Bigfoot — but many will still happily entertain the idea that this massive bipedal creature could be out there, thoroughly able to enjoy speculating about a scene in which an ambiguous hairy figure lumbers over rugged terrain. Why?
In a world that’s grown to be so civilized and routine, the hunt for Bigfoot seems to represent a lost aspect of life that many long for: a return to the wild.
As a recent Bigfoot sighting in Colorado has highlighted — it’s inherently captivating to ponder the idea that a creature that’s so notorious could still somehow be lurking in secrecy, out there waiting to be discovered by a hopeful soul or perhaps an especially unlucky person.
In America, rumors related to the creature most call Bigfoot stem from 1958 reporting in Northern California’s Humboldt Times, when journalist Andrew Genzoli highlighted reports from loggers who claimed to find mysteriously large footprints — or in other words, prints left by something with big feet. But even then, Genzoli knew this wasn’t the first time evidence of a massive hairy bipedal being was reported, drawing a connection between the California Bigfoot and the long-feared Abominable Snowman said to be living in the Himalayas.
While the myth of the Abominable Snowman, also called the Yeti, dates back to ancient folklore, the first “official” sighting in the modern era is said to have taken place in 1832, when a British trekker spotted the creature after first mistaking it for an orangutan. With the report of this sighting tapping into the innate interest in unexplained phenomenon that’s shared by many, it spread like wildfire around the globe, inspiring countless theories and investigations into the claim for decades to come.
Granted, in the age of the internet, skepticism seems to have become more mainstream. That’s likely, at least in part, thanks to how information has become more accessible than ever. Fact-checking, research and debate can take place from the palm of the hand, with more knowledge available to be summoned with a few thumb taps than could ever be contained in a room filled with stacks of books.
And with all of this knowledge available, it must be asked — what hard evidence is there that could indicate that a Bigfoot-style creature actually exists?
The answer to that question depends on who gets asked and what is considered legitimate evidence. More than 100 reports of Bigfoot sightings have come out of Colorado, alone — yet those accounts vary greatly when it comes to “believability.” Some are reports of odd noises, whereas others are reports of full-blown sightings. But they all seem to lack key pieces of evidence that could definitively solve the mystery built around this cryptic creature — truly telling photos or video, DNA samples, etc.
Believe it or not, the topic of Bigfoot’s existence has been approached in the field of science before, with a genetic study published in 2013 claiming DNA evidence showed that the “Sasquatch” was the result of humans mating with an unidentified primate species some 13,000 years ago. In this study, a team of forensic scientists looked at 111 samples of hair, blood and tissue said to have come from Bigfoot, gathered in North America. According to the researchers involved, some of the samples couldn’t be identified as a known animal or human, but did carry traits of humans and primates. Other studies have also taken place, with one out of Oxford University determining that Bigfoot may never have existed — key word being “may.” Either way, the hunt for Bigfoot is still alive.
So, was a Bigfoot actually spotted in Colorado? Or was it a person in an elaborate costume as part of a scheme?
While the public may never get an answer to those questions, the moment of hype surrounding the sighting can still be appreciated, serving as a reminder of the sheer enjoyment that can come with letting the imagination run a bit wild for a day in a world where drabber distractions tend to reign king.
