One of the most important things to remember as a researcher interviewing a witness, who claims to have had a Sasquatch encounter, is to not assume anything as to the truth of the claim, until you have all the facts. The most important fact that must be kept in mind is the reality that this whole mystery is still ongoing.
The existence of this creature is still not accepted by society at large. Their existence is unproven, unconfirmed, and hotly-debated. Therefore, if the the Sasquatch does not exist – nor ever did – the undeniable facts are that every witness who claims a Sasquatch sighting is either mistaken, or lying. If the Sasquatch does exist then it is safe to assume that a fair number of people who claimed to have seen one, did see one.
Unfortunately, false claims are only reduced a small percentage, if indeed the Sasquatch does exist. With the internet and various other mainstream media programs now trying to cash in on this whole subject, claiming to have seen a Sasquatch does not necessarily evoke the dread it used to back when I started research in the 1970s. Back then witnesses, for the most part, seemed to be more concerned with not having friends or family members questioning their sanity; or having fingers pointed at them.
Seeing a Sasquatch and going public had some social consequences attached. This is still on some peoples minds today, however, I have noticed a strange shift in public attitude concerning this whole thing. Today, it almost seems trendy to claim to have seen a Sasquatch, whether true or not.
I have been contacted by a fair number of people trying to tell me some of the most incredible stories hoping I would refer them to the ‘Finding Bigfoot’ television show. One only has to listen to Coast to Coast Radio for a week to hear people claiming the most ridiculous things. For these, and other reasons a serious researcher must, when interviewing any eyewitness’, maintain a healthy sense of skepticism.
Skepticism is the best quality a good researcher can have, so long as it is not accompanied with closed-mindedness. Always remember: we are researchers trying to find an answer to an ongoing mystery – not religious leaders trying to push a faith.
Thomas Steenburg
Strange noises in the woods are simply that, strange noises in the woods – unless you saw what made them. Too often researchers, and the public in general, assume they are Sasquatch-related for no other reason than they just failed to recognize them. Or they make their skin crawl.
Now we have a fair number of researchers who spend almost all of their time howling at the moon, or call-blasting over loud speakers; assuming that whatever is out there is calling back, or simply responding to the activities in alarm, must be Sasquatch? To my thinking, this is wishful thinking gone amok. Just because you cannot fathom what else may be out there making some strange call, does not mean a Sasquatch is responsible. You will be surprised by what strange, and even frightening, animal vocalizations turn out to be from the most mundane and common wildlife.
In 2006, I was deeply involved in the investigation which has become known as the Chehalis Sounds; a collection of audio recordings by frightened residents in an area known as the Chehalis Flats. This area lies just south and outside the Chehalis First Nation Reserve on the Harrison River, in the lower mainland of British Columbia. These recordings were amazing, to say the least, and were identical to a number of well-known recordings from Washington and northern California, which many – including myself – were sure in the end would turn out to be Sasquatch in origin.
Many hours were spent, by myself and in company with others, trying to find an answer to the cause of these incredible cries. On April 5th 2006, in the early morning hours, myself and Gerry Mathews were out on the Chehalis Flats again. This time, we personally heard the vocalizations ourselves and witnessed what made them. Coyotes. I was shocked as I thought I knew every sound a coyote made having lived with them all around me most of my life. This was something different.
But when we publicly announced our findings, I was surprised at the reaction, and at times hostile reaction, from other researchers who simply did not want to admit that these sounds, as well as other famous ones which were the same, could be anything other than Sasquatch in origin. They just didn’t want to hear it. This revealed a good deal more as to the mentality of many researchers than whether or not a Sasquatch was responsible for these recordings, in my view. Sounds in the woods are simply that – sounds in the woods – unless you see what is making them; as evidence they are useless, even if it was a Sasquatch.
Thomas Steenburg
This is a blog interview which was aired Dec 4th, 2014. The program is called, ‘Spaced Out Radio’ and is hosted by Dave Scott. I think I surprised him with some of my answers? Enjoy…
Thomas Steenburg
I have noticed, especially since the wide-spread use of the internet, that claims of structures, nests, shelters, twisted trees and many other things have been put forward by many in the Sasquatch field as an established fact.
I, myself, have come across many such strange things out in the bush while searching for evidence. Their existence I cannot deny, however what I have NOT found is any evidence, whatsoever, that the Sasquatch had anything to do with them. Personally, I think that when an idea or possibility is repeated often enough, and over a length of time, many start to assume such possibilities as established facts, even though there really has been no evidence to support such assumptions.
The twisted tree theory goes way back to its origin in Northern California during the Pacific Northwest Expedition. The late Robert Titmus first made the suggestion when he noticed the tops of small trees broken off, and wondered if Bigfoot was the cause; perhaps a marker of some kind? He was never really convinced of this, he just wondered at the possibility. And yes, I did know the late Robert Titmus, and had discussed this issue with him on a number of occasions.
However, over the years, the suggestion took on a life of its own. Over time, due mostly to others finding such damaged trees, it led to documentaries and docudramas on television. As well, a number of attention seekers breaking and twisting things on their own, while claiming Sasquatch was responsible. The result is within the research community as a whole, many now think of this as an established fact. In reality it isn’t.
The same holds true for so-called nests, shelters, stick structures, etc., etc., all of which have came about as just possibilities suggested, but over time have morphed into a reality in the minds of many researchers who have accepted the connection without a thought. I don’t deny the possibility that perhaps the Sasquatch could be responsible for some type of nest, or damaging trees in ways or for reasons we do not yet understand.
However, in the 37 years I have been involved with this, I have talked and interviewed well over 100 people who claim to have seen a Sasquatch (not even counting obvious hoax attempts); I have talked to many people who have come across twisted or broken off trees. But I have never heard of one witness (at least reliable) who watched a Sasquatch twist or break a tree. The same holds true for shelters, nests, stick structures, etc. That is not to say that such activity does or never happens, I am just saying that so far I have seen no evidence of it.
Thomas Steenburg
I have done a great deal of both during my years of research and I have found advantages and disadvantages with both. The best advantage to going into the bush alone is the ability to remain quiet. Logic would suggest you are more likely to see wildlife this way though I must admit that coming across large animals, like deer and bear, have occurred as often in the company of other researchers as it has on my own, with the exception of the one good sighting I had of a cougar in the Alberta Rocky mountains in the early 1990s.
The biggest disadvantage of going alone is the safety factor. I have often thought, looking back at all those times I was by myself, nobody knowing where I was, if something unforeseen would happen well, needless to say, the jig was up. A reality which hit too close for comfort during the summer of 1986! That is a tale for another day…
However, sorry to say, I didn’t really learn my lesson and continued to just go into the back country on a whim when the urge to look for evidence hit me – and it still does, too often for my own good.
Researching with others of a common interest has mutual benefits as far as personal safety is concerned. This goes without saying. But the greatest advantage of searching with others is simple and straight forward – more eyes continuously scanning the immediate surroundings makes it less likely that something will be missed. It won’t guarantee it, but in my opinion it does tip the odds a little more in the researchers favor!
Thomas Steenburg
I have been asked many times in the past what I felt on the issue of Hibernation and whether I felt that this may be an explanation for the sharp decrease of reports during the winter months. This short interview was recorded by Jason Cain on a recent winter outing, Sunday January 18, 2015 and expresses my own views on the subject.
Thomas Steenburg
It seems to me that over the last 15 years or so a plague of sorts has been gaining continuous ground in the field of Sasquatch research. A problem, only magnified by the wide spread use of the internet (great tool though it is). One large, unfortunate side effect is it has become an easy to use soap box for every snake oil salesman out there.
Hoaxing, as far as this researcher is concerned, has reached epidemic proportions. It seems to me that people, for whatever motive they may have in private, have no reluctance at all to state publicly that they have had, or continue to have, one or numerous Sasquatch encounters. Too incredible to believe? Most often the case comes down to, “Take my word for it”, as no supporting evidence is forthcoming. Or said evidence is there but, for one reason or another, it can not be revealed at this time?
Media programs like ‘Finding Bigfoot’, are often targets to those looking for their 15 minutes of fame. Young guys submitting all kinds of bogus evidence with outrageous stories hoping just to see themselves on the tube, while having a laugh with their friends. The general public has lost the usual shyness, and reluctance, of making bogus claims as there really is no consequences for what is, to their minds, nothing more than a good joke; spinning a yarn; or no worse than faking a haunted house for Halloween.
This is a growing problem and getting worse but it pales in comparison to something much worse: The Hoaxing Researcher. There has always really been one golden rule in the world of Sasquatch research, right from the beginning: “THOU SHALT NOT HOAX’. Unfortunately, from the beginning there always have been researchers in this field faking evidence. However, back then, we all basically knew who they were and their motives for their actions. The late Ivan Marks was the first example of this behavior that I personally ever knew. His motive pure and simple: Attention-seeking fame. In fact, I have seen this motive in others so often now, I have given it a name in honor of the original model: ‘IVAN MARKS SYNDROME’.
Quite often the scenario is the same, the person has become involved in a event which at first might be legit. The person finds him or herself the center of attention for a period of time but as interest dies down, their own interest does not. They then undertake their own research and become engrossed in the whole question, as so many of us have. Sometimes, it is the rush of being the center of attention which some find irresistible; so they start making things happen to keep the media, as well as others, interested in their activities. The attention becomes the main focus of their activities rather than the question of the existence of the Sasquatch.
This is excluding, of course, the people who are just absorbed in some spaced-out faith which they are convinced must be reality: for lack of a better term, the paranormalists. All of these individuals, of course, only serve to make the subject as a whole appear foolish in the eyes of science and academia. Is it any wonder the majority won’t touch this mystery with a ten foot pole? I don’t blame them. We, as researchers, may have to endure the college hoaxer/ huckster when they come out of the woodwork, but there is no way we have to tolerate them. If I come across a case of ongoing hoaxing (which I have on a number of occasions), I will expose it for what it is. Let the chips fall where they may.
And I will close this post with a piece of advice: Anytime someone comes out of the woodwork with incredible claims of evidence for the existence of the Sasquatch, but for some reason the evidence can not be revealed at the present time, it’s BULL SHIT!
Thomas Steenburg
A researcher can never be ready to record images and video footage 24/7 unless you are able to employ one of those continuous recording devices now available on the market. But even then, it seems more often or not the researcher was looking the wrong way at the key moment. Or the camera failed to record, or it was over too fast to get a good clear image.
All these scenarios are conceivable for the one time so far in my 37 years of searching I might have seen a Sasquatch at extreme distance. There wasn’t time to bring my Land Rover to a stop, let alone take aim with a camera and start shooting. We also should remember that the researcher is a human being, with the same human traits. He or she encounters something incredible, and he hesitates. By the time he recovers to think about aiming and shooting, it’s most often too late.
So it seems that getting good clear footage of a Sasquatch is a long shot at best but we all still hope that someone out there, whether searching or just a witness out to enjoy nature, will come across a Sasquatch and get that nice clear photo or that incredible bit of video footage that has not happened since 1967. (Hoaxers need not apply). But I, like all of you, still try. And we still hope.
Thomas Steenburg
As a quick first post on this new blog, I will just simply start things off with posting my opinion as to what this species is; assuming of course the creature actually exists. I started looking into this matter in September of 1978 and since that time the world of Sasquatch research has grown and transformed into a little bit of everything for everybody. Researchers from all walks of life have entered this mystery with every type of preconceived notion the human imagination can possibly contrive. All this to the detriment of the subjects credibility to those in society whom would or could influence the direction of on-going research, thus stacking the odds against a discovery in the near future. Assuming of course there is anything out there to discover?
With this in mind, I very early in my own personal research adopted a personal motto. ‘Stick to the facts, and never deviate from the facts‘. By doing this I discard, for the most part, claims of a paranormal nature. The Sasquatch, in my opinion, is a species of higher primate. A creature of flesh and blood. They have been here for thousands of years and will continue to do so. As long as large areas of wilderness continue to exist in western North America I can see no problem with this creatures ability to survive.
Some have claimed that the Sasquatch is an endangered species. I think those who make such claims are acting on emotion rather than any common sense study of the facts. They are thinking with the heart not the head. This creature has displayed an amassing ability to live and breed and exist on the very edge of our modern society. Their elusive nature is what makes the species a success story of survivability and a great ongoing mystery for society in general.
Thomas Steenburg