Ok, so the Animal Planet show Finding Bigfoot has basically proven to be the laughing stock of paranormally-themed reality shows as of late (though there are a few other contenders). In a nutshell, it seems like a lot of things on the show were staged or faked. Which is nothing new when it comes to shows like Ghost Hunters or Ghost Adventures, but now cryptozoology is getting in on the fun. The show seems to be inserting supposed Bigfoot calls, as well as knock on trees that sasquatch supposedly use for communicating. It should be said that I have yet to even watch Finding Bigfoot, because all of this came out before I even had the chance to get to it on my DVR. I should have known better.
Anyways, in other Bigfoot news…it seems like researchers from the BFRO (the same team featured on Finding Bigfoot, ironically) are searching for the creature along the flooded banks of the Missouri River.
They are smarter than we think...
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOX) –They haven’t seen anything yet, but a group searching for proof of Bigfoot is alert for reports along the Missouri River, where they believe heavy flooding could disrupt the legendary creature’s normal comings and goings.
“We’re definitely going to keep our eye open for more reports that might come in, because the creatures might be a little displaced from all that flooding,” said investigator Rachel Luffman with the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, “They might be venturing into areas where there are more people, and more people might be seeing them.”
An online community of some 400 Bigfoot researchers nationwide, the BFRO investigates sightings and looks for patterns. One pattern, Luffman says is clear — where there’s water, there’s Bigfoot.
“Over the years, we found that it really does seem like sasquatches do tend to use river systems and creeks as roadways,” Luffman said, “They tend to stick close to fresh water and they stick close to those rivers. If the rivers start flooding, they might be moving out of their comfort zone.”
Luffman admits her field of research suffers from hoaxes, jokes and shakey videos. But she insists there is something real about it that can’t be dismissed. Her own father, she says, went from Bigfoot skeptic to believer, after attending a night time expedition with her in 2009 in the Shawnee National Forest.
“We were out there. We went up a trail and cooked some bacon, hoping that might attract something,” Luffman said, ”And we had done some calls, and on the way down, we had our lights on because it was dark and we had to see, and my Dad just happened to turn his head off the trail and saw two huge eyes looking back at him from about 30 feet away.
“And when I came back, I looked and with both of our lights shining on this creature we could see his eyes, the shape of his head. It was just amazing, He took a few steps away from us. He sounded enormous. He was obviously walking on two legs.”
With floodwaters rolling down the Missouri River, Luffman says hikers, campers and motorists should be circumspect for possible Bigfoot sightings — anything from a road crossing to a face-to-face encounter.
“Do stay calm. Remember that they’re not as a rule aggressive animals. They’re pretty quiet. They’re curious about people.
“And don’t try to shoot it or anything like that. Don’t run after it. Just try to stay calm and show it some respect and you’ll have an experience that is incredible.”
This is actually an interesting method, in my opinion. I mean, it may seem callous to some people to know that in the midst of these disasters, people are looking for Bigfoot, but on the other, they make some good points. if other animals have to feel these rising waters, so would any Bigfoot. I wish the TV shows would stick to scientific theories like this and stop inserting fake screams and spooky music to make things more dramatic.
