The Search for Bigfoot

Hatfield and his brother-in-law ran away, and the mysterious beast disappeared into the darkness.

But the story quickly spread. A group of men later searched the woods. They found no trace of it—no footprints in the dirt, no clumps of fur clinging to trees. 

Still, some of the men were sure they knew what Hatfield had seen. For years people had been telling stories about a giant hairy creature lurking in the California woods. They called it Bigfoot.

Hatfield and his brother-in-law ran away, and the mysterious beast disappeared into the darkness.

But the story quickly spread. A group of men later searched the woods. They found no trace of the creature—no footprints in the dirt, no clumps of fur clinging to trees. 

Still, some of the men were sure they knew what Hatfield had seen. For years, people had been telling stories about a giant, hairy creature lurking in the California woods. They called it Bigfoot.

For as long as people have been exploring the dark forests of America’s West, they have been telling stories about giants that lurk in the shadows.

The first stories were legends belonging to different Native American tribes. The Muckleshoot people told of Slapu, a hairy female giant that snatched naughty children who wandered off alone. The Quinault people shared stories of giants that crept out of the woods to steal food and tools. The Sts’ailes people spoke of a giant they called sasq’ets, which means “hairy man” in their language.

These different legends were passed down through families and within communities. Like leaves picked up by the wind, these stories spread across the land. They reached outsiders, who turned them into stories of their own. This is likely how, in the early 1900s, the tale of Bigfoot began.

People have been exploring the dark forests of America’s West for a long time. They have been telling stories about giants in the shadows for a long time too.

The first stories were legends belonging to different Native American tribes. The Muckleshoot people told of Slapu. Slapu was a hairy female giant that took children who wandered off alone. The Quinault people shared stories of giants that stole food and tools. The Sts’ailes people spoke of a giant they called sasq’ets. The word sasq’ets means “hairy man” in their language.

These different legends were passed down through families. They were told within communities. Like leaves picked up by the wind, they spread across the land. They reached outsiders, who turned them into stories of their own. This is likely how, in the early 1900s, the tale of Bigfoot began.

The Bigfoot story was likely first told by lumberjacks working in the forests of the West Coast. It was one of many tall tales men told around their campfires after long days of work. These were creepy stories, outrageous stories, stories old-timers told to scare younger men. They warned of a ferocious rhinoceros that lived in the forest, a creature called the hodag. They swore there were fist-sized mosquitoes that could suck the blood of a cow—or a man—in one slurp.

And then there was the giant Bigfoot stalking the woods.

Nobody really believed that such creatures were real. These stories were just for fun—everyone knew that. But then something changed. In 1958, in a Northern California forest, Bigfoot somehow started to come alive.

The Bigfoot story was likely first told by lumberjacks. These lumberjacks worked in the forests of the West Coast. It was one of many tall tales men told around their campfires after long days of work. These were creepy stories told by old-timers to scare younger men. They warned of a scary rhinoceros that lived in the forest. It was called the hodag. They also swore there were fist-sized mosquitoes. These mosquitoes could suck the blood of a cow or a man in one slurp.

And then there was the giant Bigfoot stalking the woods.

Nobody really believed that such creatures were real. These stories were just for fun. Everyone knew that. But then something changed. In 1958, in a Northern California forest, Bigfoot somehow started to come alive.

It began with a set of footprints. All summer long, men had been noticing strange footprints around their worksite in the forest. The prints looked almost human, with a heel and five toes.

Except they were enormous.

Someone was playing a prank, the men agreed. Any minute the jokester would step forward for a big laugh. More footprints soon appeared, and rumors swirled.

Some claimed that strange things were happening in the woods.

“Did you hear about the four dogs that disappeared?”

“Did you hear that a 700-pound tire was found in a ditch?”

Some men claimed to hear chilling sounds in the night—rumbling growls, bone-chilling shrieks.

A few started carrying guns, just in case.

It began with a set of footprints. All summer long, men had been noticing strange footprints around their worksite in the forest. The prints looked almost human. They had a heel and five toes. But the prints were enormous.

The men agreed someone was playing a prank. Any minute the jokester would step forward for a big laugh. More footprints soon appeared. Rumors swirled.

Some claimed that strange things were happening in the woods.

“Did you hear about the four dogs that disappeared?”

“Did you hear that a 700-pound tire was found in a ditch?”

Some men claimed to hear chilling sounds in the night. They heard rumbling growls. They heard bone-chilling shrieks.

A few started carrying guns, just in case.

And then, in September, a fresh set of footprints appeared. One of the workers, a man named Jerry Crew, studied them closely. Crew had heard the Bigfoot rumors, of course— everyone had. He had laughed them off like most of the others. But looking at the footprints in the mud, a chill went up his spine. This giant—Bigfoot—is out there, he decided.

Crew was known by his co-workers as serious and trustworthy. His opinion turned other men into believers. He also decided to share the news with people outside the forest.

And then, in September, a fresh set of footprints appeared. A man named Jerry Crew studied them closely. He was one of the workers. Crew had heard the Bigfoot rumors, of course. Everyone had. He had laughed them off like most of the others. But looking at the footprints in the mud, a chill went up his spine. This giant is out there, he decided.

Crew was known by his co-workers as serious and trustworthy. His opinion turned other men into believers. He decided to share the news with people outside the forest.

Genzoli would later say he wasn’t sure there really was a giant in the woods. He just thought his readers would get a kick out of the story. He was shocked when his article was picked up by hundreds of newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times. It caught the attention of people around the world. Soon, people from everywhere were asking: Is there a giant living in the woods of California?

In the coming years, fascination with Bigfoot grew and grew. Hundreds of people went into the forests, searching for clues. Sightings were reported in California and other Western states.

Many claimed to have seen footprints. Others brought back clumps of fur and scat (animal poop) they said must belong to Bigfoot.

Hundreds of people, including Robert Hatfield and his brother-in-law, swore they actually saw Bigfoot with their own eyes.

In 1967, two men claimed to have filmed Bigfoot walking along a creek in California. The image was blurry. But for some, this was the final proof they needed.

Yes! Bigfoot is real!

Genzoli would later say he wasn’t sure there really was a giant in the woods. He just thought his readers would get a kick out of the story. He was shocked when his article was picked up. It was in hundreds of newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times. It caught the attention of people around the world. Soon, people from everywhere were asking: Is there a giant living in the woods of California?

In the coming years, fascination with Bigfoot grew and grew. Hundreds of people went into the forests, searching for clues. Sightings were reported in California and other Western states.

Many claimed to have seen footprints. Others brought back clumps of fur and scat (animal poop). They said these items must belong to Bigfoot.

Hundreds of people, including Robert Hatfield and his brother-in-law, swore they actually saw Bigfoot with their own eyes.

In 1967, two men claimed to have filmed Bigfoot. He was walking along a creek in California. The image was blurry. But for some, this was the final proof they needed.

Yes! Bigfoot is real!

But no.

In fact, the film is so blurry it’s hard to know what is on the screen. Is it a hairy giant walking on two legs? Or is it a person in a gorilla costume? Most scientists and animal experts reject the film as a hoax. Other “evidence” doesn’t impress them either—not the footprints, the fur, or the scat people have seen.

They point out that many different large animals live in forests—bears, mountain lions, elk, moose. All leave behind their scat and clumps of fur. They make strange noises too. Female foxes—called vixens—let out earsplitting shrieks that sound scarier than any movie monster.

And Jerry Crew’s footprints? It turned out that they were fake. Years later, two brothers admitted to planting the footprints as a joke.

It’s been more than 60 years since Genzoli’s article ignited Bigfoot mania. Thousands of people have looked for the giant. And yet nobody has come up with clear evidence—a skeleton, an in-focus photograph, a clear video.

But no.

The film is blurry. It’s hard to know what is on the screen. Is it a hairy giant walking on two legs? Or is it a person in a gorilla costume? Most scientists and animal experts say the film is a hoax. Other “evidence” doesn’t impress them either. They are not impressed by the footprints, the fur, or the scat people have seen.

They point out that many different large animals live in forests. This includes bears, mountain lions, elk, and moose. All leave behind scat and clumps of fur. They make strange noises too. Female foxes let out earsplitting screams. They sound scarier than any movie monster.

And Jerry Crew’s footprints? It turned out that they were fake. Years later, two brothers admitted to planting the footprints as a joke.

It’s been more than 60 years since Genzoli’s article started Bigfoot madness. Thousands of people have looked for the giant. But nobody has come up with clear evidence. Nobody has a skeleton, an in-focus photograph, or a clear video.

But even without hard proof, many still cling to the belief that Bigfoot is out there.

There are Bigfoot books and Bigfoot blogs, Bigfoot movies and Bigfoot TV series. Google “Bigfoot” and you’ll get more than 30 million hits. There are even “Bigfoot hunts,” with people paying hundreds of dollars to be guided through the woods with hopes of photographing the creature. According to a 2018 survey by Chapman University, 21 percent of Americans think that Bigfoot is a real creature.

But with no real proof, why do so many believe?

One reason could be that new species of animals are constantly being discovered. Scientists agree there are likely millions of species of plants and animals that have yet to be identified. They are hidden away in rainforests, fluttering or slinking behind curtains of trees. They thrive in the pitch blackness of the deep ocean, far from human eyes.

There is no proof. But many still believe that Bigfoot is out there. There are Bigfoot books and Bigfoot blogs. There are Bigfoot movies and Bigfoot TV series.

Google “Bigfoot.” You’ll get more than 30 million hits. There are even “Bigfoot hunts.” People pay hundreds of dollars. Then they are guided through the woods. They hope to take a picture of the creature. According to a 2018 survey by Chapman University, 21 percent of Americans think that Bigfoot is a real creature.

But with no real proof, why do so many believe?

One reason could be that new species of animals are constantly being discovered. Scientists agree there are likely millions of species of plants and animals that haven’t been found. They are hidden away in rainforests. They flutter or slink behind curtains of trees. They live in the pitch blackness of the deep ocean, far from human eyes.

There have also been animals from legends and myths that turned out to be real. The giant squid is one. For centuries, sailors had come home with stories of a sea monster with a single dinner-plate-sized eye and strangling tentacles. They called it the Kraken. Few believed that this sea monster was real—until the late 1800s, when a giant tentacle washed up on a beach.

Another is an animal called the okapi, a beautiful donkey-sized animal with velvety striped fur. The okapi was well-known among people who lived in the forests of Central Africa. But it wasn’t until 1901 that outsiders and scientists accepted that this animal actually existed. It turns out to be a close relative of the giraffe.

As for Bigfoot, scientists agree it’s highly doubtful that such a giant creature could remain mostly hidden. Most reject the idea completely.

So why do some people continue searching? Maybe because there is something pleasing about the idea of Bigfoot. Nobody has ever said that this giant is dangerous. In most stories, he is described as shy and gentle, watching over the forests—and us.

It’s unlikely that Bigfoot is real. And if someone does prove that this gentle giant is out there? Maybe it would be best if we humans left him alone.

With additional reporting by Mackenzie Carro

There have also been animals from legends and myths that turned out to be real. The giant squid is one. For centuries, sailors had come home with stories of a sea monster. This monster had a single dinner-plate-sized eye and strangling tentacles. They called it the Kraken. Few believed that this sea monster was real. Then, in the late 1800s, a giant tentacle washed up on a beach.

Another is an animal called the okapi. An okapi is a beautiful donkey-sized animal with velvety striped fur. The okapi was well-known among people living in the forests of Central Africa. But it wasn’t until 1901 that outsiders and scientists accepted that this animal actually existed. It turns out to be a close relative of the giraffe.

As for Bigfoot, scientists think it’s unlikely that such a giant creature could remain mostly hidden. Most reject the idea completely.

So why do some people continue searching? Maybe because there is something pleasing about the idea of Bigfoot. Nobody has ever said that this giant is dangerous. In most stories, he is described as shy and gentle. He watches over the forests, and us.

It’s unlikely that Bigfoot is real. And if someone does prove that this gentle giant is out there? Maybe it would be best if we humans left him alone.