Could North America sustain a Bigfoot

1. CAN NORTH
AMERICA
SUPPORT A
BIGFOOT?
By: Destiny Flanagan
Photo is public domain (CC0)

2. Bigfoot? Sasquatch?
Yeti?
Creptids and their existence have been a major area of interest for
decades. Specifically the existence one of the most famous creptids, Bigfoot, has
been constantly debated. Often referred to as a Sasquatch or Yeti in different
parts of the world, Bigfoot has been recounted in Native American Legends,
with the first sighting said to be in 1811 near what is now Jasper, Alberta
Canada (Unmuseum.org). In 1924 three major sightings occurred, and the
creatures popularity began to gain traction after a reported sighting in
California in 1958. To help the plausibility, a 1967 video by Roger Patterson and
Bob Gimlin supposedly captured an image of the creature. This creature is
often described as “A hairy, ape-like, biped that stands seven to nine feet tall
and weighs between 600 and 900 pounds” (Unmuseum.org). Most of its
sightings are characterized by discovery of a large footprint, hence the defining
name Bigfoot. Although majority of sightings have been in the North West and
pacific coast of North America, many question if North America could even
provide a viable habitat for a Bigfoot(s). In examining the proposed close
relative of Bigfoot, the Gigantopithecus, areas of North America Boast an
ecosystem that could support bigfoot based on dietary needs, typical habitat,
and the history of tectonic plates supporting their arrival. Therefore, the
existence of such creature cannot be discounted based on environmental
factors.
CC0 Public Domain

3. The Earliest
Ancestor
In 1935 a German Paleoanthropologist named
Ralph von Koenigswald walked into a pharmacy in
Hong Kong and noticed a large ape-like tooth being
sold as a “Dragon Tooth” (Smithsonian), from there
the Gigantopithecus was born. Several teeth and jaws
have been found since in India, Vietnam, and China
to further support its existence (Smithsonian). The
fossils that were found conclude that the creature is
closely related to the modern day orangutan, and
roamed Southeast Asia over 300,000 years ago
(Smithsonian). The ape was estimated to stand about
10 ft tall and weigh about 1,200 pounds
(Smithsonian), relatively close to the size of Bigfoot,
but this may have also been the cause of its
extinction.
CC BY 2.0

4. Dietary Needs
Using the fossils of the jaw found in
scientists were able to use the carbon footprint
and differences in chemical pathway left by
plants on the teeth to determine the
Gigantopithecus’ diet (livescience.com). The
structure of the fossilized jaws also included
“large, flat molars, thick dental enamel, a deep,
massive jaw” (Smithsonian Magazine). Based
on these factors it was likely that the
Gigantopithecus’ diet consisted of fruits, seeds,
grasses, bamboo, and other plants.
CC BY-SA 3.0

5. CC0 Public Domain
Environment/ Climate
Although the Gigantopithecus is not Bigfoot, they both seem to share similar characteristics
as reported through sightings, that help to form the assumption that these animals are closely
related and would need a very similar environment and habitat to sustain. Based on the size and
diet of the Gigantopithecus its choices of habitat are fairly limited. The only place that could be
feasible would be the forests (livescience.com) of Southeast Asia. For a mammal of its size the
Gigantopithecus and Bigfoot would typically need a large range, the ability to hide, and a fairly
constant temperature (livescience.com). The believed cause for the extinction of the
Gigantopithecus is its size, diet, and depletion of habitat. It is assumed that the decreasing
temperatures which ultimately caused a change in vegetation caused a crash in population. In
relation to its close relative the orangutan, orangutans have the ability to reduce their
metabolism in seasons of low fruit bearing (livescience.com). Specifically in Southeast Asia the
climate began to shift 800,000 years ago causing the demise of the Gigantopithecus.
In North America, without the effects of global warming, there are some areas that provide
an environment and climate similar to South Asia that could sustain a Bigfoot. There are
temperate rainforests located in the Northwest Pacific that share these characteristics, which
would explain why so many sightings have generally been in that area (oregonwild.org). There
are also some forest areas located in the Southeastern area of North America, referred to as the
Appalachian Mixed Mesophytic Forests, located in the Southeast that could also make a fit
habitat for Bigfoot, and include some Bamboo forests (worldwildlife.org).