500...An Epic Post On a Glorious Blog By a Spectacular Blogger

So, here I was doing my blog, promoting others, editing, fixing grammatical errors adding pictures when I look up and notice that I am at 499 posts.
Whoa.
Stop the presses! Here I am ready to squeeze off another one like a teenage boy watching Tomb Raider.
What was I thinking? I have been promoting Mike Rugg and his fundraiser. I was discussing bear anatomy compared to humans. I was about to give myself a promotion for my Squatching U.S.A. project..but is it worth #500?

What the heck could I possibly blog about for my 500th post?

I had to stop and reflect upon The Bigfoot Field Reporter.

I began this blog and my mission in 2009 under the direction and support of Craig Woolheater. He took me under his wing and introduced me to many notables in the Bigfoot world. But it didn't begin there.

I began as a sole individual. The BFRO sucked me in with their fantastic database. In 2006 I began reading every report. I was blown away. Here I am thinking Bigfoot was a Pacific Northwest phenomenon...then I find out there was a sighting in the 80's fifteen minutes from my driveway!!!! I began snooping around. Before long I had my own personal experience and wanted to share it with someone. I had been a regular on the KY Research project vigil and had befriended Todd aka Grtpumpkin. He told me I should join the MABRC. I did and I shared my story with them and before long I was joining members on expeditions. I met my number one research partner, Bob Durdella. I went to West Virginia with Rick Skeen. I went to Honobia, OK with DW Lee and Randy Harrington. I went to Billy Creek and Salt Fork with Todd and others. I was traveling across the United States on my own dime. I loved it.
I began a new radio show for the MABRC with Drey Blevins. I interviewed Scott Nelson, Doug Haijeck and Thom Powell. I co-hosted another radio show with Don Keating. I was meeting people and having a blast. Eric Altman has invited me on many of the PBS outings.

I have met so many people and have been so many places that it all becomes a jumbled blur.
Why do I do this?
My mission, my initial goal, was to unite researchers across the United States. To share information. I think I have done that. I have met and hung out with and squatched with and have sung with so many researchers. I feel so blessed.

In 2009, I went on a tour of the west coast for my birthday. We spent 2 days at Bluff Creek with Steven Streufert and Bobo. We were guests of Autumn Williams and her mother Sally on our way to Beachfoot to celebrate Peter Byrne's birthday. I met Cliff Barackman and Steve Inness, Robert Michael Pyle, Bob Gimlin, Tom Yamarone. Too many people to name.

It has been a lot of fun and I want to do more with it.

I would like to have my project funded so I can have an epic summer of story telling! We shall see! Thanks for reading!

COMPARISON OF BLACK BEAR PAWS TO HUMAN HANDS AND FEET

This tutorial written by Margaret “Cookie” Elizabeth Sims of the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon is a training tool used as an identification guide for Wildlife Law Enforcement.

This comparison shows the differences between a Black Bear paw and human hands and feet.

'Partial wildlife remains found out of context cause much concern over the possibility that the unidentified remains may be of human origin. Wildlife forensic scientists are often asked to identify unearthed bones found near human activity areas, such as new home construction, excavation sites, etc.
There have even been cases involving skinned bear paws that had been deliberately placed in public areas to startle those who mistaken them as human hands.
Gilbert (1993) suggests that paw bones discarded at taxidermy “dump” sites could also be confused with human remains. Because bear paws and human hands and feet are similar in overall size and shape, morphological examination of the skeletal elements are
required to enable forensic scientists to identify partial remains in cases where the skin and/or
claws are absent.'

Read entire report and view images here
http://www.lab.fws.gov/idnotes/IDG11_BearHumanFeet.pdf

This is relevant to Bigfoot research to know the anatomy and physiology of a bear paw since it has been used in the past by a certain hoaxer to try and pass it off as a Bigfoot hand.

We learn and grow from so many sources!

Ohio Bigfoot Lecture

Longtime Ohio Bigfoot Investigator Marc DeWerth of Columbia Station, Ohio will be speaking on Bigfoot in Ohio this Saturday, June 2nd from 7 to 10 PM for the Aurora Park District in northeast Ohio. the address for the event is 129 West Pioneer Trail (Walker Building), Aurora, OH 44202. The cost is $3 per person and reservations are suggested and can be made at 330-562-4333

Marc’s talk will focus on the abundance of sightings in northeast Ohio, the best places to go Bigfooting in Ohio, and he will recount his own alleged personal sighting from 1997. The lecture will be followed by a night hike where Marc will demonstrate proper call blasting techniques. Marc is currently the President of the Ohio Bigfoot Organization and was the host of the Ohio Bigfoot Conference 2012 that took place on April 29th in Cambridge, Ohio. He has nearly 20 years of experience investigating Ohio Bigfoot reports and has personally investigated over 150 alleged Bigfoot reports working with the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, the Eastern Ohio Bigfoot Investigation Center, and the Ohio Bigfoot Organization. www.ohiobigfootconference.com

This event will be fun for the entire family!

Squatching U.S.A.

This is it! Dream big or stay home...ok, I changed the saying a bit, but I have had this dream to conduct bigfoot research across the United States and I am ready to make this dream a reality!

I have worked at Cleveland State University 12 years for the benefit of having my 3 love of my life daughters attend for free. I have lived my entire life for them and now that they are grown, I want to live my life for me!

On July 1st I am going to load up my Jeep with camping gear and clothes, my laptop and cell phone and I am going to begin a cross country journey to research Bigfoot, but mostly to document me meeting all of the Bigfoot enthusiasts I have met through Facebook.

I need about $5000.00 to begin the journey.

An outline of my proposed journey is located on my webpage here.

http://bigfootlives.blogspot.com/2012/05/squatching-usa.html

Approximately 6,900 miles total round trip.



BACK THIS PROJECT!

Scientists seek big genes of bigfoot

The Lausanne Museum of Zoology in Switzerland together with prestigious Oxford University said Tuesday, May 22, that they will together use DNA testing to examine organic remains that some claim belong to the beast.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/05/22/scientists-use-dna-tests-in-hunt-for-bigfoot/?intcmp=features#ixzz1vcYG9rIe

The Bigfoot Discovery Museum

Mike Rugg of The Bigfoot Discovery Museum in Felton, California will be presenting his first fundraiser of the season, Sasquatch & the Supernatural on Sunday June 2, 2012 at 5497 Highway 9, Felton, California.

His guest speakers are Jeffery Gonzalez of Sanger Paranormal Society and author/writer, photographer, paranormal investigator, Aubrey Graves.

There will be a delicious BBQ and a raffle will be held to raise funds for the museum.
If you didn't know, Mike doesn't even charge an admission fee to his museum!
He has been a steadfast archivist of the history of Bigfoot in California and has poured his blood, sweat, tears and soul into his legendary establishment!

If you wish to donate items for the raffle, please contact Mike @ harrybiped@yahoo.com

I encourage you to donate to the museum. Mike does have a PayPal account now! Click HERE to donate!

Black Cow

Last night I received an email from a gentleman who lives in Northeast Ohio. He described to me an eyewitness account which was told to him while he and his wife were out conducting Bigfoot field research.

~"My wife became a fifth grade science teacher and recently published a book called "BLACK COW". Odd name for a book involving bigfoot unless you know why. We were investigating in Columbiana County during our time with AARF and met a farmer. We asked him if we could walk his property to take nature pics and assured him that we had no weapons. He was a great guy and we talked to him for 45 minutes or so. I looked at my wife and she gave me the 'go ahead' look and told the farmer our real reason we wanted to walk the area.

He became very serious and asked if we were the "Law" or from the "State". We emphatically said no and again explained we were investigating sightings from others in the area and that his farms location was kinda in the middle. He took his hat off (I know its cliche') and said with more of a sigh than anything else... "There's others." Our expressions of WTF? must have given us away. He told us this story.

" A few years back I woke up at night because all the animals were going nuts. I looked outside and saw a shadow of a man go behind my barn where the mercury light was. I called the sheriff and told them I had a prowler breaking into my barn and was going out on him. They said to stay inside, but I didn't. I grabbed my gun and went outside. Very quiet. I snuck down to the back of the barn where it was dark and come around the corner and there he was. He was big! Right in front of me. Looking down at me. All covered in hair and big! I backed up and ran to the house. "

I had to ask the obvious. "You had a gun. You ran?"

I think that pissed him off a bit. He continued.

"Hell yes I ran. You would have too! That thing was big. It didn't mean me harm though. He just looked at me. When I got back to the house, I looked out the window and saw him walk away into the corn. Never ran. Just walked away. The sheriff showed up about twenty minutes later and I was still a bit shaken. They asked what was going on and I told them that they wouldn't believe it. I started to tell them what I saw and as I did, that sheriff started walking away to his car like he was not believing me. I kept following him telling him I knew what I saw and That I wasn't crazy. He opened his car door and grabbed the radio and told me to hold on. That's when he said it. Craziest thing ever. He said " All units be advised we have a BLACK COW on the loose again". I started to tell him I know the difference between a cow and what I saw. He assured me he knew that and told me to stay inside tonight."

I interjected that BLACK COW was a code used for Bigfoot. He just nodded.
I have written to all of the county agencies around me and they have all denied any reports or investigations of bigfoot or knowledge of any codes to refer to it. ~

Black Cow

Alec Dewalt thinks he is done spending time in the woods of northern Ohio when his summer job ends. But after a strange car crash, a unique girl enters his life and Alec is thrown into a mystery that makes him question his father's job, his grandfather's death and the woods around him.
Native American folklore and government secrets combine when Alec explores the strange events that unfold right in his own backyard.
Ultimately, Alec must decide the fate of ancient secrets that may change everything...

1 Customer review
5.0 out of 5 stars Black Cow is an enjoyable read., April 30, 2012
By
Kat -
This review is from: Black Cow (Paperback)
I found BLACK COW to be a refreshing and enjoyable reading experience. Various books have been written about UFO's, aliens, and vampires. However BLACK COW addresses a more realistic phenomenon in an interesting manner. I whole heartedly recommend the book to young readers as well as readers who are young at heart.

It Was the Best of Evidence;It Was the Worst of Evidence

Tonight I asked a few questions to Melissa Hovey. We were casually chatting and I asked if I could use our conversation. There will be no arguments or debate surrounding the telling of this event. We aren't going to discuss the authenticity of "The Photo".

Melissa Hovey is a well known Sasquatch researcher. Melissa now resides in the state Ohio after leaving Dallas to be with her fiancee, Wayne Larsen. She is President of the American Bigfoot Society (ABS) an organization comprised of researchers, 'from across the country and around the world, who all share the common goal of documenting what has been described as an Upright Bipedal North American Primate.' She is also a former member of the TBRC so you know this woman has had her field training.

Melissa is a very blunt person who doesn't mince words. And as you can imagine, she has gained both fans and enemies alike. Her background as a Paralegal assists her in getting down to the nitty gritty, sinking her teeth in and not letting go until she is satisfied with her results. To me, she has always been the Pit Bull of women in Sasquatch research.

Because we have such different styles, (and because I can be obnoxious at times) we have not been the closest of friends. Not enemies, but not BFF's either. However, she does find me amusing...(that can be bad?)
Sharon Lee what made you want to believe this witness?

Melissa Hovey I never said I do. But, he has given me no reason to believe he is a hoaxer. This is a strange situation. I have always very good at reading people - this guy is either telling the truth or he just does not care to push this hoax further or faster.. I just don't know what's in his head. So, its hard to believe him, but its also hard to call him a liar when he has not been caught in a lie. I called him a liar once.. LOL. Didn't go as planned. He simply said, "Well, that's okay. I understand why you don't believe me." Paraphrasing there. This is the most difficult situation - to include my professional interviews - I have ever dealt with.

Sharon Lee Did you feel that the photo was just "too" perfect?

Melissa Hovey Initially - and now.. Yes. Who wouldn't, I mean, look at it. But, then I say to myself ----- is it possible someone was able to snap a clear photo? Isn't that what we all want? But, then my head goes back to -- it's just too clear. It can't be real. I don't care...

Melissa Hovey You know Sharon -- it was the "is this real or not" conversations that pretty much made up our minds to publish the photo.

Sharon Lee what did you think would come of you posting the photo?

Melissa Hovey Honestly, I thought within a day or two someone would produce an image that matched - and it would be discovered that this was a photo of a movie costume. Seriously. That's what all the members of the ABS BOD thought would happen. Then, a week went by, then two, then three....

Sharon Lee has the witness contacted you since you published the photo?

Melissa Hovey Yes he has. Multiple times. No, he has not released any new information with the exception of the game cam/ 35mm clarification.

Sharon Lee did he apologize for the maelstrom? Has he invited you to the location? Is the witness watching all of this unfold on Facebook?

Melissa Hovey No, but I don't think he is paying attention. He has never really cared what anyone thought of the photo. He didn't send it to me for the reaction of anyone but experts. What questions would you like Melissa to answer? Post them here and I will do my best to get them posted.

Squatching USA

I am organizing a 3 month tour to film a documentary about my travels related to Bigfoot Research and FaceBook. I hope to begin July 1 in Ohio and end in Jefferson, Texas for Cryptopalooza in October. I would like to get a list of people, fellow researchers and Facebook friends who would be willing to share your research areas or homes with me as part of the journey. The sooner I can get names and locations, I can map out the course. I will be blogging and updating my travels daily and hopefully will have much success and good times! If you are willing to assist me in this project please email me at: sharonlee@thebigfootfieldreporter.com Thank you!
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SQUATCHING U.S.A.