Where's the science in the search for Sasquatch?

NJ.com ^ | 07.22.12 | Brian Regal

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

The standard way to find if an animal is in a certain area is to place out a bait container. Then you put a barbed wire fence around it. Come back in a few weeks and take samples of the hairs caught in the barbed wire and analyze to see what animal species they belong to.

This method showed that wolverines were in an area where they were supposed to be extinct. They should easily catch a hairy Sasquatch.

[Joe 6-pack]

Having reviewed much of the data, I find the evidence for Sasquatch more compelling than that for man made global warming. I’m pretty confident both are hoaxes, but if I had to put my money on one of them being real, bigfoot would get the nod.

[ZX12R]

Having reviewed much of the data, I find the evidence for Sasquatch more compelling than that for man made global warming. I’m pretty confident both are hoaxes, but if I had to put my money on one of them being real, bigfoot would get the nod.

At least with global warming, there is data to examine, after which it is easy to conclude that it represents nothing more than natural variance in our climate. With bigfoot, there is no data and no evidence. No more so than for ghosts, fairies or leprechauns.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Bo Bo is science personified.

[Joe 6-pack]

Actually, with bigfoot (and by that I’m referring to the general Sasquatch/Yeti/Skunk ape proto-myth) there is a ton of testimonial evidence going back centuries. Granted, an overwhelming portion of it can be readily dismissed, but there is some from credible sources who had more to lose than gain by reporting it.

[Coleus]

I remember when leonard nimoy hosted a tv show call “in search of” where he talked about this and the bermuda triangle, lock ness monster and so on. One thing I always noticed - that there was never a clear photograph of anything they showed, same with the national enquirer.

[ZX12R]

Actually, with bigfoot (and by that I’m referring to the general Sasquatch/Yeti/Skunk ape proto-myth) there is a ton of testimonial evidence going back centuries.

Perhaps, but I think it's more likely that what goes back centuries, is man's active imagination, which kicks into high gear when he sees "something" that isn't immediately recognized as common in his mind. Due to low lighting, profile presented, rarity of animal sighting in that area, viewing angle, etc.

[JimRed]

With bigfoot, there is no data and no evidence.

Folklore going back hundreds of years from unrelated areas of the world tells of the same creature, with consistent descriptions. Footprints are frequently found; calls are occasionally heard. The Patterson film of 1967 and a couple of more contemporary dashcam videos from police units are evidence that has not yet been disproven. The attempts to get them on wildlife cameras have been unsuccessful, but an intelligent primate would tend to shy away from anything new in its environment; it's a survival instinct.

[ZX12R]

Folklore going back hundreds of years from unrelated areas of the world tells of the same creature, with consistent descriptions. Footprints are frequently found; calls are occasionally heard. The Patterson film of 1967 and a couple of more contemporary dashcam videos from police units are evidence that has not yet been disproven. The attempts to get them on wildlife cameras have been unsuccessful, but an intelligent primate would tend to shy away from anything new in its environment; it's a survival instinct.

None of that is evidence. It is conjecture.

[waredbird]

I’ve often been amazed at how well Bigfoot is able to dispose of their dead. Instead of looking for live Bigfoots these clowns should be looking for dead Bigfoots. But they never find any bones.

[IYAS9YAS]

But they never find any bones.

Scavengers.

[JimRed]

Footprints and visual recordings are conjecture?

[Joe 6-pack]

"Perhaps, but I think it's more likely that what goes back centuries, is man's active imagination...Due to low lighting, profile presented, rarity of animal sighting in that area, viewing angle, etc."

As I said, many can be dismissed out of hand or with minimal follow up. There are; however, those sightings from experienced outdoorsmen, trappers, sherpas, etc. who have spent their lifetimes in the wilds and frequently use phraseology such as, "unlike anything I've ever seen." Again, I'm not going to argue the theory that vociferously as I generally don't believe, but as long as there is one credible sighting that can not be explained, I will continue to find it more credible than anthropogenic global warming.

[JimRed]

In Africa, in gorilla territory, are gorilla bones commonly found?

[willyd]

Patterson film was disproven...the guy came forward and admitted he rented the suit.

There was less interest in the exposure of the hoax than there was in the hoax itself though.

[camle]

if folklore going back centuries is proof of anything, then why aren’t there fairies, pots of gold at the end of rainbows, leprechauns, giants, mermaids, etc... folklore doesn’t automatically mean credibility.
if there WERE bigfoots (bigfeet?) then why after all these ‘centuries of folklore’, hasn’t anybody found a carcass? or anything that can be studied or analyzed?

[ZX12R]

Footprints and visual recordings are conjecture?

If the footprints are hoaxes, and the recordings are hoaxes, then yes, they are conjecture on your part. You are supposing that they are the real deal.