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Researchers look for Bigfoot; zoologist skeptical
The Pantagraph - Bloomington-Normal, Illinois ^ | Tuesday, February 14, 2006 | By Sharon Wolfe

Posted on 02/15/2006 1:12:24 PM PST by Idisarthur

FUNKS GROVE - Researchers have been looking for Bigfoot in Funks Grove, but a local zoologist interested in the elusive creature's lore said he would be very surprised if one is found there.

A report last fall by people who said they saw a large hairy upright creature in a ditch in rural Shirley attracted a team of researchers from Searching for Bigfoot Inc. of Menlo Park, Calif.

Angelo Capparella, a professor at Illinois State University, said he also heard the report and talked to the people at the time.

He said that if there is a Bigfoot - a big if in his book - Central Illinois is not the place to find one. Even though Funks Grove is a wooded area, there just isn't much habitat locally to support or conceal a large primate, Capparella said.

"Illinois ranks 49th out of 50 in the amount of natural vegetation left," he said. Only Iowa has less.

"As a zoologist, it's hard to give a lot of credence," he said.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: bigfoot; cryptozoology
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Entire article below should the link die one day.

I now many of you will laugh but one day IF the truth is revealed we can come to FreeRepublic to see ome support of "it" prior to the breaking news.

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FUNKS GROVE - Researchers have been looking for Bigfoot in Funks Grove, but a local zoologist interested in the elusive creature's lore said he would be very surprised if one is found there.

A report last fall by people who said they saw a large hairy upright creature in a ditch in rural Shirley attracted a team of researchers from Searching for Bigfoot Inc. of Menlo Park, Calif.

Angelo Capparella, a professor at Illinois State University, said he also heard the report and talked to the people at the time.

He said that if there is a Bigfoot - a big if in his book - Central Illinois is not the place to find one. Even though Funks Grove is a wooded area, there just isn't much habitat locally to support or conceal a large primate, Capparella said.

"Illinois ranks 49th out of 50 in the amount of natural vegetation left," he said. Only Iowa has less.

"As a zoologist, it's hard to give a lot of credence," he said.

The Pacific Northwest, the traditional center for Bigfoot sightings, has a lot of remote, rugged areas, he said.

"I'm a zoologist who's taken a curiosity in the Pacific Northwest," he said.

The research group from northern California has been stopping at various locations in the United States to track reports of the creature also known as sasquatch.

Team leader Tom Biscardi told a local television station he has been searching for three decades, and he estimates there are more than 3,500 Bigfoot-like animals in the United States.

Biscardi's team has focused on Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio, California, Oregon, Montana and Washington, said the group's Web site.

The professor said he talked to the people from Bloomington who claimed they saw Bigfoot last fall. The creature allegedly scratched their car.

Capparella told them to try to record noises, get hair samples and look for footprints. He said he could make nothing out of the pictures they took.

"They gave me a call," Capparella said. "They seemed sincere about seeing something."

He has not heard from them since last fall. "They apparently contacted Tom Biscardi," he said.

They told Capparella they also heard strange noises and they were able to get the creature to interact with them in some way. Capparella noted Bigfoot is supposed to be very shy so this behavior would be highly unusual.

1 posted on 02/15/2006 1:12:26 PM PST by Idisarthur
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To: All

By the way, this isn't an exciting story but none the less it's recent.


2 posted on 02/15/2006 1:13:41 PM PST by Idisarthur
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To: Idisarthur

Please send pics., it could be my MIL!


3 posted on 02/15/2006 1:19:17 PM PST by wolfcreek
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To: Idisarthur; All

BTW, people:

I have been thinking about starting a Bigfoot ping list for a while now. There currently is none on FR. If anyone would be interested in such a thing, let me know and if enough people respond I'll start it up.


4 posted on 02/15/2006 1:19:58 PM PST by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
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To: pcottraux

There used to be a ctyptozoology ping list. I was on it. I don't think it's active any more. If I was you, I'd make it cryptozoology, as just "bigfoot" would be too low volume to bother with.


5 posted on 02/15/2006 1:35:33 PM PST by presidio9 ("Bird Flu" is the new Y2K Virus -Only without the inconvenient deadline.)
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To: presidio9

Not a bad idea. Since you were on that list, do you know anyone who might be interested?


6 posted on 02/15/2006 1:37:02 PM PST by pcottraux (It's pronounced "P. Coe-troe.")
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To: All
I just post and read occasionally .... but if you need that 1 extra person to make the list then ping me.

Cheers to Big

7 posted on 02/15/2006 1:42:46 PM PST by Idisarthur
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To: pcottraux

8 posted on 02/15/2006 1:45:05 PM PST by Idisarthur
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To: pcottraux

No offhand. My suggestion to you would be to just start the list on this thread. Generally the way these things work is people see that it exists and ask to be included. I am not on any pinglists, because my inbox is full enough as it is. However, I will make an exception for cryptozoology, which I believe is the most important field of science. BTW, pinglists need a catchy banner or mascot. Yours should have bigfoot or our aquatic ally Nessie.


9 posted on 02/15/2006 1:45:24 PM PST by presidio9 ("Bird Flu" is the new Y2K Virus -Only without the inconvenient deadline.)
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To: wolfcreek

What is a MIL?

10 posted on 02/15/2006 1:45:54 PM PST by Idisarthur
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To: presidio9
Track animation, I think it's cool. Look at the depth of the track compared to the depth of the cowboy boot.


11 posted on 02/15/2006 1:47:19 PM PST by Idisarthur
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To: Idisarthur; pcottraux

Actually, I think I'd use this animation.


12 posted on 02/15/2006 1:49:41 PM PST by presidio9 ("Bird Flu" is the new Y2K Virus -Only without the inconvenient deadline.)
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To: presidio9
Use this animation? For the Ping List... Sure thing.

Just Left Click the pic and go to properties. Then steal the URL or web address.

13 posted on 02/15/2006 1:51:13 PM PST by Idisarthur
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To: Idisarthur
*** RIGHT CLICK... RIGHT

Sorry

14 posted on 02/15/2006 1:52:12 PM PST by Idisarthur
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To: Idisarthur

I'm not your guy. I suck at managing ping lists.


15 posted on 02/15/2006 1:52:22 PM PST by presidio9 ("Bird Flu" is the new Y2K Virus -Only without the inconvenient deadline.)
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To: presidio9; pcottraux
Sorry.. this guy...

pcottraux

By the way I like pcottraux's Cartoons.

16 posted on 02/15/2006 1:53:45 PM PST by Idisarthur
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To: Idisarthur

bump


17 posted on 02/15/2006 2:02:05 PM PST by Hegemony Cricket (Wowsers! Go, go gadget gadget play!)
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To: Idisarthur

Mother in Law


18 posted on 02/15/2006 2:04:20 PM PST by wolfcreek
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To: Hegemony Cricket

Which post?


19 posted on 02/15/2006 2:07:02 PM PST by Idisarthur
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To: presidio9
cryptozoology, which I believe is the most important field of science.

If I might ask, why do you believe this? And as opposed to strict empiricism?

UFO fall under Crypto or extraterrestial communications?

20 posted on 02/15/2006 2:08:57 PM PST by Idisarthur
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