English 1102 Crytid project

1. SQUATCH OR NOT?
One of North America’s most famously known cryptids is the Sasquatch, commonly referred to as Bigfoot. Many
people believe in Bigfoot, and claims of Bigfoot sightings are made every year. However the ecosystem of the
Pacific Northwest region of North America can not support such a creature.

2. BIGFEET CAN’T EAT!
Bigfoot is considered to be a large primate similar to the gorilla , and is classified as the wood ape. Therefore it would have a
similar diet to gorillas which is plant based since they are omnivores.“Reliable reported observations of the wood ape do seem
to indicate that it is an omnivore; that is, it is an animal that feeds on both plants and other animals. Using the anecdotal data
supplied by the thousands of reported sightings from North America, it is reasonable to propose that the wood ape’s diet consists
of nuts, leaves, berries, fruit, fish, shellfish, crawfish, insects, small rodents, squirrels, rabbits, deer, elk, wild hogs, and
domesticated farm animals such as chickens and hogs.”(Wood Ape). Although the diet of a Bigfoot can be supported in the
PNW, it is not readily available at all times of the year, due to the ecology of the area. During the colder seasons the food that a
Bigfoot would consume would not be available, unlike a tropical climate which would better support the diet of a Bigfoot year
round.

3. COULD BIGFOOT SURVIVE?
It is said that Bigfoot may have evolved from its early ancestor the Gigantopithecus. However the
early ancestor went extinct due to climate change in its former habitat. “Zhang’s team suggested
the rise of the Tibetan plateau 1.6 million to 800,000 years ago altered the climate of South Asia,
ushering in a colder, drier period when forests shrank.”(Smithsonian) Bigfoot’s potential early
ancestor’s reaction to a cold and drier climate lead to its demise and extinction. Therefore being a
descendant of this creature would mean Bigfoot can not survive in a non tropical climate, which
its early ancestor thrived in.

4. WHERE SASQUATCH’S
SQUAD?
Bigfoot being considered an Ape, closely related to a gorilla, would exhibit certain traits of such animal. One
trait is almost always roaming in packs. “Gorillas are social animals who usually form harems: One silverback
male lives together with several adult females and their offspring. However, in mountain gorillas about 40% of
groups contain several adult males who are closely related.The size of gorilla groups is very variable. An
average gorilla group contains four to ten members.”(Berggorilla) Gorillas normally roam in groups and are
not usually caught alone. In each Bigfoot sighting the Sasquatch has only been viewed roaming by itself
which would be highly unusual for a creature that is considered an Ape.

5. JUST ANOTHER MYTH
It is highly unlikely that Bigfoot could exist and survive in the Pacific Northwest due to to the fact
that its needs would not be met in the region. The climate, unreliable food sources, and unlikely
behavioral patterns suggest that Bigfoot is nothing but a myth.