Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, is a mysterious and elusive creature that has captivated audiences around the world for decades.
Many people believe in its existence, and there have been countless reports of sightings, encounters, and other evidence that have been attributed to Bigfoot.
The FBI files: Bigfoot
I recently came across an article at History.com that sparked my interest.
Come to find out, in 1976, the FBI even opened a file on Bigfoot, thanks to Director Peter Byrne of the Bigfoot Information Center and Exhibition in The Dalles, Oregon.
Byrne sent the FBI “about 15 hairs attached to a tiny piece of skin,” along with a letter requesting that the FBI analyze the sample to see if they could identify it and to ask if the FBI had analyzed suspected Bigfoot hair before.
At the time, Byrne was a well-known Bigfoot researcher, and the topic of Bigfoot was popular in popular culture.
Despite the controversy surrounding the famous 1967 video footage supposedly showing Bigfoot in Northern California, Byrne has always believed the footage is real.
FBI lab research
In response to Byrne’s request, the FBI’s Jay Cochran Jr., the assistant director of the scientific and technical services division, wrote back to say that the FBI could not find any evidence of them analyzing suspected Bigfoot hair before, and that they usually only examined physical evidence related to criminal investigations.
However, Cochran also stated that the FBI sometimes made exceptions “in the interest of research and scientific inquiry,” and offered to make such an exception for Byrne.
While this may seem like a big win for Bigfoot believers, it’s important to note that the FBI’s analysis of the hair samples does not necessarily mean that the agency endorses the existence of Bigfoot.
All it means is that the FBI agreed to do a favor for a Bigfoot researcher.
However, this has not stopped Bigfoot believers from spinning the story and claiming that the FBI’s analysis of the hair is evidence of the reality of Bigfoot.
The results
Adding to the strange nature of this case, Byrne, who is now 93 years old, does not seem to remember receiving the FBI’s response that the “Bigfoot hair” was actually deer hair.
Because Byrne had been out of the country for several months, Cochran sent the letter to the executive vice president of the Academy of Applied Science, which was associated with Byrne’s Bigfoot organization.
The executive promised to give Byrne copies of the correspondence when he returned.
Yet when the FBI released its Bigfoot file, which was exclusively about Byrne’s inquiry, on June 5, 2019, Byrne reacted as though he were hearing that it was deer hair for the first time.
Many have speculated about the reasons for Byrne’s apparent memory loss or confusion.
It’s possible that he simply forgot about the correspondence or that he never received the letter in the first place.
It’s also possible that he chose to downplay the fact that the hair samples were identified as deer hair, as it would be a disappointment for those who believe in the existence of Bigfoot.
Regardless of the reason, the fact remains that the FBI’s analysis of the “Bigfoot hair” samples did not provide any concrete evidence of the existence of Bigfoot.
While it’s interesting to consider the enduring fascination with this mysterious creature and the lengths that some people will go to in search of the truth, it’s important to approach such claims with a critical eye and to demand concrete evidence before jumping to any conclusions.
The discrepancy
This discrepancy has led some to question what happened to the original letter from the FBI.
Did the executive vice president of the Academy of Applied Science never pass it on to Byrne?
Did Byrne simply forget about it over the years?
Or is there something else at play here?
It’s impossible to say for sure, but it does add another layer of mystery to this already strange story.
It’s worth noting that the search for Bigfoot is not limited to the United States.
In fact, similar creatures have been reported in many different cultures and regions around the world, with names such as the Yeti in the Himalayas, the Yowie in Australia, and the Yeren in China.
These creatures are often described as being large, ape-like, and covered in fur, and are said to inhabit remote, wilderness areas.
Despite the widespread belief in these creatures, scientific evidence for their existence is still believed to be lacking by some.
Many Bigfoot sightings and encounters have been shown to be hoaxes or misidentifications of other animals, and efforts to collect physical evidence, such as hair or DNA samples, have so far been inconclusive.
However, this has not stopped researchers and enthusiasts from continuing to search for Bigfoot.
In recent years, there have been several high-profile efforts to find concrete evidence of Bigfoot, including the Oxford-Lausanne Homonid Project, which was launched in 2012 by researchers from Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
This multi-faceted study aims to investigate the possible existence of Bigfoot through DNA analysis and field research, and has generated some controversial findings so far.
Other organizations and individuals have also taken up the search for Bigfoot, using a variety of methods, including thermal imaging cameras, audio recording equipment, and even drones.
These searches often involve expeditions into remote areas, where researchers hope to capture footage or other evidence of Bigfoot.
Final Thoughts
While the search for Bigfoot may seem like a quixotic quest to some, for many people, it represents a chance to explore the unknown and to potentially discover a new species of animal.
And even if Bigfoot is never found, the search itself has helped to foster a sense of wonder and curiosity about the natural world and the mysteries it holds.