Sasquatch Tracks

In this installment of Sasquatch Tracks, the team is joined by David Zigan, a veteran investigator with over two decades of experience as a certified peace officer in Georgia, currently working in a Crime Scene Investigations Unit near Atlanta. A graduate of the National Forensic Academy, Zigan holds certifications in latent fingerprint examination and crime scene reconstruction, and has testified as an expert witness in numerous criminal cases. His forensic specialties include bloodstain pattern analysis, shooting incident reconstruction, and advanced fingerprint processing, which he has also taught as an adjunct instructor at the academy. Now turning his attention to Bigfoot research, Zigan brings a scientific rigor rarely seen in the field. By applying his forensic background—particularly in dermal ridge analysis and evidence handling—he seeks to elevate the credibility of Sasquatch investigations. Through education and methodical analysis of physical evidence such as footprint casts, Zigan is helping bridge the gap between mainstream forensic science and cryptozoological inquiry. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: Bigfoot Forensics: David Zigan's Official WebpageSong: Upbeat Country Western by Infraction [No Copyright Music] / Road Trippin Connect with Sasquatch Tracks! Get T-shirts, mugs, and more at the Sasquatch Tracks Store on Tee Public.Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Instagram.Follow Sasquatch Tracks on X.Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email.Have you seen an animal you can't identify? Submit a report here.

In this installment of Sasquatch Tracks, the team presents an update on the well-attended annual Ohio Bigfoot Conference, before taking a deep-dive into one of the most promising new analytical endeavors related to relict hominoid research, The Sasquatch Data Project. Joining us to discuss this ambitious effort is Terrestrial, the nom de plume of the data scientist behind The Sasquatch Data Project who in the past worked on NASA's Dawn Mission related to the study of the dwarf planet Ceres. Terrestrial has a Bachelor of Science in Earth & Atmospheric Sciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology and is currently pursuing a Blue Ridge Naturalist certification. According to her website, while working as an undergrad at Georgia Tech, she played an integral role in categorizing, identifying, and measuring ground-ice features on Ceres for NASA’s Dawn Mission, and first-authored a paper published in JGR: Planets, in addition to co-authoring several papers while working on this mission. Terrestrial tells us her interest in Sasquatch began at the early age of 5 and has only grown since. In 2023 she decided to retire as a professional Twitch gaming live-streamer and devote her time into creating the ultimate data resource to aid in the research of North America’s soon-to-be-known great ape, the Sasquatch. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: The Sasquatch Data Project: Official WebsiteThe Sasquatch Data Project on InstagramSong: Summer Night by Pro Tunes Music (Video Link) Connect with Sasquatch Tracks! Get T-shirts, mugs, and more at the Sasquatch Tracks Store on Tee Public.Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Instagram.Follow Sasquatch Tracks on X.Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email.Have you seen an animal you can't identify? Submit a report here.

What were the strange, hair-covered "whistlers" encountered by ancient Chinese woodsmen? What about the eerie, chest-beating "monsters" described in the legends of Indigenous Americans? And what can be made of strange tales of "wild men" encountered in various parts of the world throughout the Middle Ages? Could these early accounts actually represent records of historical hominoids that have been recorded throughout time? If Sasquatch exists in the modern world, then these enigmatic relict hominoids must have also existed alongside humankind since the dawn of modern homo sapiens. If so, where are the historical accounts that describe such creatures? A sticking point for many skeptics, the presumed absence of humanlike creatures in the historic record has become a point often used in arguments to demonstrate that no such creatures exist. In this episode of Sasquatch Tracks, the team takes a deep dive into observations of "historical hominoids" with a look at ancient accounts of what may be relict hominoids from around the world. From early times to the present, the team offers a fascinating exploration of the history behind this enduring mystery. Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can't identify? Submit a report here.

In this installment, after the team opens with a discussion about new legislation in California that seeks to make Bigfoot the official state cryptid, we are joined by researcher Jeff Carpenter, who discusses his experiences covering more than 20 years of research into the Sasquatch (Bigfoot) legend as well as local history/legends from the WNC mountains. Jeff grew up learning outdoor craft of hunting and tracking from his father, Earvin Carpenter. He is a descendant of some of the earliest settlers of the Western North Carolina mountains, including his grandfather, Harley Carpenter who was one of the first mountain people written about in the well-known Foxfire book series on Appalachian Mountain Living. Jeff is currently a Field Investigator for the Bigfoot Research Organization which interviews witness reports as well as documenting them for further study. He is also a member of the East Coast Expeditions Group, Kentucky Bigfoot Organization and the Co-Founder of the Appalachian Sasquatch Research Project. Jeff has presented his research findings during presentations he has given in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio, as well as being a guest speaker on numerous podcasts. He made an appearance in the Small Town Monsters documentary movie titled “ On the Trail of Bigfoot: The Ancients”, which can be seen on YouTube and Amazon Prime, as well as other streaming channels. Jeff is the former Director of the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department where heworked for 32 years and is now retired. He is a graduate of Western Carolina University and still resides in Sylva. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: Albert Ostman's story of being kidnapped by Sasquatch Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can't identify? Submit a report here.

In this episode of Sasquatch Tracks, the team takes a deep dive into the enigma of Sasquatch kidnappings, with a look at the most well-known cases involving alleged abductions by relict hominoids. We also examine traditional beliefs among Indigenous American groups regarding such incidents, and the possible anthropological and biological factors behind stories of those who were kidnapped by Sasquatch. At the heart of our discussion is the odd tale of Albert Ostman, a Swedish-born immigrant who in the 1920s, while camping near Toba Inlet, British Columbia, claimed he was kidnapped by Sasquatch "people". Recalling the events of his strange encounter, over the years Ostman gave very detailed descriptions of his alleged captors during the strange ordeal. In our discussion, the team examines Ostman's story, the evidence that supports it, as well as questions that raise a few concerns, and compare Ostman's narrative to the stories of others who claimed to have been kidnapped by Sasquatch. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: Albert Ostman's story of being kidnapped by Sasquatch Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can't identify? Submit a report here.

It's an all new year of Sasquatchery... and as the team kicks off 2025, we dive into the famous story of the "Minnesota Iceman" and the claims involving a frozen relict hominoid, and then shift out attention over to recent news involving a Texas-based company's efforts to try and revive ancient extinct species that include the Woolley Mammoth, the dodo, and the enigmatic Thylacine. Then following our news segment, the team is joined by Tim Halloran, who is the author of the book, The Bigfoot Influencers: Compelling and Candid Conversations with Researchers, Scientists, and Investigators, and co-host of the complementary Bigfoot Influencers Podcast with his wife, Dana. He describes the book as a first of its kind guide for readers that takes them through compelling and entertaining conversations with prominent individuals who have impacted and influenced the Bigfoot Phenomenon. For the first time, in one place, readers can explore the diverse history of the subject. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: 'The Bigfoot Influencers' by Tim Halloran on Amazon Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can't identify? Submit a report here.

'Tis the season... of Squatching! As the holiday season makes its way to the snowy peaks around the Appalachian Institute for Hominological Studies, the Sasquatch Tracks team is joined for a yuletide-themed holiday Sasquatch conversation covering all things cryptid with friend of the program and renowned artist Sam Shearon. Along with his impressive horror art, Sam Shearon is known for his work in the field of cryptozoology, most notably for cryptozoology book covers, film posters and compiling artists impressions of cryptids from eyewitness accounts. His work can be found in publications of the Fortean Times, Paranormality Magazine as well as the cover artwork for Vesuvian Media, IDW publishing, Boom Studios, Stan Lee’s Pow! Entertainment, Clive Barker’s Seraphim, and also for horror magazine Fangoria’s ‘Trinity of Terrors’. He has created album artwork and merchandise for bands including: Slayer, Ministry, Rob Zombie, Rammstein, Filter, KISS, Iron Maiden, Jason Charles Miller, American Head Charge, Powerman 5000, HIM and many more. Continuing our holiday tradition with Mister Sam, we dive into a holiday-themed conversation as we round out another year of podcasts and Sasquatchery. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: Mister Sam Shearon - Official Website Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can't identify? Submit a report here.

In this installment of Sasquatch Tracks, the team is joined by Canadian survival expert, filmmaker and musician Les Stroud for a wide-ranging discussion about his interest in the search for Sasquatch. Best known as the creator, writer, producer, director, cameraman and host of the television series Survivorman, Les Stroud has impressed television audiences for years with his remarkable survival skills, which have kept him alive in some of the most demanding conditions on six continents. Stroud's unique experiences in the remote wilds of North America also led to Season 6 of the program, “Survivorman: Bigfoot,” which was the predecessor to a new effort Stroud is now undertaking that involves the search for Sasquatch. With "The Question of Bigfoot," Stroud plans to create a definitive film documentary that addresses the questions about the existence of Sasquatch, and what this could mean. The Sasquatch Tracks team enjoys a lengthy discussion with Stroud about his aims for the project, his past experiences in the wild, the art of filmmaking, music, and more. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: Survivorman ⁠⁠Les Stroud (Official Website) The Question of Bigfoot (Kickstarter page) Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can’t identify? Submit a report here.

In the winter of 1979, several residents around Carpenter's Knob in Cleveland County, North Carolina, reported a series of unusual encounters with an unknown, apelike animal. Among the early sightings were those reported by Minnie Cook, an 88-year-old resident who claimed that she observed the animal after she emerged from her home to learn what kind of animal had been disturbing her dogs. Over the next several weeks, "Knobby fever" would strike this rural portion of Western North Carolina, with many other residents reporting sightings of a large, roughly six-foot-tall apelike creature that both walked on its hind legs and on all-fours. In this episode of Sasquatch Tracks, following a recent news story involving the escape of several primates from a South Carolina laboratory, we take a deep dive into the story of Knobby, and examine the possibilities behind this enduring local legend of a southeastern "Bigfoot" creature. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: Knobby: The Bigfoot of Western North Carolina Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can’t identify? Submit a report here.

In this Halloween installment of Sasquatch Tracks, the team convenes for a delightfully spooky discussion in advance of our discussion with Oregon-based researcher Tanner Hoskins, co-Founder of the Pacific Northwest Bigfoot Search. A passionate advocate dedicated to the search for missing persons and a dedicated wilderness explorer, he founded the organization in July of 2020, combining his love for the outdoors with his curiosity about the unexplained. Despite being an amputee of the right leg and living life with severe scoliosis, Tanner Hoskins is an avid outdoorsman. He spent more than a decade in private security specializing in Active Shooter Response as well as volunteering in public safety before medically retiring in December of 2022. A devoted husband and father, he is also the Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Missing Persons Project (PNWMPP), which he founded in May of 2022 and transformed into a nonprofit organization in 2024. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: PNW Bigfoot SearchPacific Northwest Missing Persons Project Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can’t identify? Submit a report here.

On Father's Day Weekend in 1969, six-year-old Dennis Martin was camping with his family near Spence Field in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park when he vanished without a trace, leading to one of the largest searches in the history of the National Park Service. Tragically, he was never found, and the disappearance of Dennis Lloyd Martin remains unresolved after more than half a century. In recent years, renewed interest in the case has led to speculations about a possible kidnapping, as well as theories that an "Appalachian wild man" akin to Sasquatch may have been involved. Such theories focus on the testimony provided by the late Harold Key and his family, who observed an individual in the park under odd circumstances that unfolded on the same day as the disappearance of Dennis Lloyd Martin. In this special episode of Sasquatch Tracks, the team takes a deep dive into the details of the disappearance, discussing a recent Hulu series that discusses the kidnapping theory and its possible relevance to what some witnesses liken to wild men or even "apelike" creatures inhabiting the remotest portions of our National Parks. We examine the evidence for this, along with several alternative explanations for the disappearance, and what U.S. government documents and independent research into the landmark search and rescue case reveal. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: Dennis Lloyd Martin: 50 Years Ago, This Boy Vanished in the Great Smoky MountainsCold Cases - Investigative Services (U.S. National Park Service) Watch OUT THERE: Crimes of the Paranormal Streaming On Hulu Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can’t identify? Submit a report here.

In this episode of Sasquatch Tracks, the team is joined by Gary Opit, an Australian expert on the continent's indigenous fauna, and a longtime researcher of Australian cryptozoology. Opit is an environmental consultant and scientific member of the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales for 48 years. He is also a radio broadcaster, teacher, and author of books that include Australian Cryptozoology. Opit has created courses and lectured to university, TAFE and high school students on ecology, botany, zoology, biogeography, anthropology, geography, microbiology, evolution, Australian prehistoric plants and animals, Aboriginal ecology, permaculture, and much more. Gary has appeared in several North American produced cryptozoological documentaries on Yowies, Thylacines and Giant Goannas, including Monster Quest, Finding Bigfoot and Bogyman. He was also the first person to be interviewed on Yowies by Dean Harrison, and since February 1997 he has undertaken a citizen science wildlife study using a weekly live-to-air wildlife identification radio program, now in its 27th year. The broadcast is entitled ‘Wildlife Weekend’ and can be heard every Saturday morning at 6.50 am on Australian Broadcasting Corporation North Coast New South Wales Radio 94.5 FM and on their internet site. More about Gary and his work can be found in the links below. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: Australian Cryptozoology Gary Opit Australian Cryptozoology at Amazon.com Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can’t identify? Submit a report here.

In the summer of 1978, a strange series of events began to unfold for rural residents of northeastern Ohio. While enjoying a quiet evening at their rural home near Minerva, the Cayton family and their grandchildren witnessed a large, hairy, bipedal creature peering through their kitchen window. This creature, described as standing over 7 feet tall with glowing red eyes, sparked fear and curiosity, prompting the family to report their sightings to local authorities. Following the Cayton family's report, the Minerva area became a hotbed of Bigfoot research and investigation. Numerous additional sightings were reported in the surrounding woods and hills, with various tracks and other physical evidence purportedly found. However, that isn't all that this "classic" case appears to have entailed, as a deeper look into the story reveals sightings of mysterious large cats alongside "gorillas" in Ohio's history, as well as alleged connections to UFO sightings made by some area residents, and much more. In this special installment of Sasquatch Tracks, the team takes a deep dive into the story of the Minverva Monsters, which we affectionately refer to in the plural since, according to eyewitness reports, there appeared to be more than one of the creatures observed by the Caytons... but what were they, and what can we uncover about the case after all these years? Stories and other links discussed in this episode: The Akron Beacon Journal: Thu, Aug 24, 1978 ·Page 1 What was it? Man talks about ‘Minerva Monster’ mystery 40 years later Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can’t identify? Submit a report here.

In this installment of Sasquatch Tracks, the after opening news that focuses on tales of "swamp beasts" in rural America and also massive reptiles invading the Florida Everglades, the team is joined by John Hickenbottom, the naturalist at Ohio's Salt Fork State Park. A longtime outdoorsman whose interest in wildlife includes snakes and reptiles indigenous to his home state, as well as Ohio's archaeology and much more, Hickenbottom has worked professionally as a park naturalist for many years. John was born in southeast Ohio, where he also has heard several personal accounts of alleged sightings of Sasquatch in the Buckeye State, as well as having studied the early history of such reports in the region. John joins the Sasquatch Tracks team to discuss his own interest in the topic and his efforts in educating the public, as well as the unique story of how he came to know the team resulting from a Public Records Act Request his department received one day a few years ago. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: Salt Fork State Park Official WebsiteSalt Fork State Park on YouTube Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can’t identify? Submit a report here.

'Tis the season... and so joining the Sasquatch Tracks team for their 2023 holiday installment of the program is Mister Sam Shearon, artist extraordinaire and dealer in knowledge of all things esoteric and hominological. Along with his impressive horror art, Sam Shearon is known for his work in the field of cryptozoology, most notably for cryptozoology book covers, film posters and compiling artists impressions of cryptids from eyewitness accounts. His work can be found in publications of the Fortean Times, Paranormality Magazine as well as the cover artwork for Vesuvian Media, IDW publishing, Boom Studios, Stan Lee’s Pow! Entertainment, Clive Barker’s Seraphim, and also for horror magazine Fangoria’s ‘Trinity of Terrors’. He has created album artwork and merchandise for bands including: Slayer, Ministry, Rob Zombie, Rammstein, Filter, KISS, Iron Maiden, Jason Charles Miller, American Head Charge, Powerman 5000, HIM and many more. Sam spends some time in this episode discussing everything from Sasquatch, to mysterious wolflike cryptids, and much more in a conversation curated especially for the Halloween season. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: Mister Sam Shearon – Official Website Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can’t identify? Submit a report here.

During the summer of 1924, a team of gold seekers alleged that they were attacked by giant, ape-like creatures, measuring about 7 feet tall, who hurled boulders at them. Their story recounts an encounter with these beings in a remote area, where a member of their group shot at one of the creatures, hitting it thrice, resulting in it falling off a cliff into an unreachable canyon. Allegedly, these ape-like entities retaliated later by pelting their cabin with sizable rocks and leaving behind enormous footprints, in a series of events now remembered as the Ape Canyon incident. The story of the Ape Canyon incident remains one of the most well known stories in the history of Sasquatch studies, as well as one of its most controversial... but now, additional evidence may help corroborate it. Joining us in this episode is a return guest, researcher Marc Myrsell, along with Braden and Jared Mitchell, two of the descendants of one of the miners who lived through the incredible experience on Mt. Saint Helens in 1924 who also managed to rediscover the long-lost Vanderwhite mine their ancestor and his friends had been mining when the incident occurred. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: Marc Myrsell on Facebook Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can't identify? Submit a report here.

In this second part in a special two-part installment of Sasquatch Tracks, veteran researcher Matt Pruitt returns to the podcast to discuss his new book The Phenomenal Sasquatch: Seeking the Natural Origins of a Cultural Icon, a tour-de-force of intellectual exploration in the study of the relict hominoid mystery, In the new book, Pruitt explores the possibility that sasquatches are simply large, rare primates, and delves into the psychological factors that may be at play during people’s encounters with these creatures. Alternatively, he considers the hypothesis that the sasquatch is merely a construct of the human mind that exists only in stories and art. In this thought-provoking work, Pruitt presents a balanced and rigorous analysis, providing readers with an in-depth look into the search for the natural origins of this cultural icon. Along with his own written works and other contributions, Matt is the producer and editor of the podcast Bigfoot & Beyond with Cliff and Bobo. For more detailed information about previous research, affiliations, public outreach, and production work, visit the links below where you can find his new book on Amazon.com, and visit his personal website. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: Matt Pruitt's personal website The Phenomenal Sasquatch: Seeking the Natural Origins of a Cultural Icon Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can't identify? Submit a report here.

In this first in a two-part installment of Sasquatch Tracks, veteran researcher Matt Pruitt returns to the podcast to discuss his new book The Phenomenal Sasquatch: Seeking the Natural Origins of a Cultural Icon, a tour-de-force of intellectual exploration in the study of the relict hominoid mystery. Matt Pruitt has dedicated nearly two decades to investigating the Sasquatch phenomenon. He has gained extensive knowledge of the topic through a combination of conceptual analysis and practical fieldwork. As an engaging public speaker, he has been invited to share his insights on various media outlets and platforms. In 2023, he published The Phenomenal Sasquatch: Seeking the Natural Origins of a Cultural Icon, a book that demonstrates his dedication to unraveling the truth behind this intriguing mystery. In the new book, Pruitt takes a multidisciplinary approach to this question, drawing on insights from biology, psychology, anthropology, and other fields. Examining the fossil record, indigenous knowledge, historical records, eyewitness accounts, and physical evidence, Pruitt takes the reader on a journey into the heart of the Sasquatch phenomenon. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: Matt Pruitt's personal website The Phenomenal Sasquatch: Seeking the Natural Origins of a Cultural Icon Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can't identify? Submit a report here.

In this installment of Sasquatch Tracks, we are joined by Scott Tompkins, the creator of The Bigfoot Mapping Project, for an in-depth discussion about his mapping, data collection, and analysis of Sasquatch sightings. Scott holds a Bachelor of Science degree in GIS from the State University of New York at Cortland. With more than 14 years of GIS field experience, Scott has a well-versed perspective on the value of high-quality geographic data, which he has applied to his ambitious Sasquatch research embodied in the Bigfoot Mapping Project. According to Tompkins, The Bigfoot Mapping Project was created "to address the lack of centralized information and encourage future reporting. This application broadens the scope of reported information by providing functionality such as spatially tagging reports as well as attaching image files to the submitted report. Additionally, users can view the depth of both historical data and recent reports in conjunction, on a map." Stories and other links discussed in this episode: The Bigfoot Mapping Project Scott's paper in The Relict Hominoid Inquiry Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can't identify? Submit a report here.

In this installment of Sasquatch Tracks, we are joined by researcher and educator Darby Orcutt, who discusses an ambitious new project that is seeking to collect and analyze anomalous biological samples, in an effort that could ultimately help reveal the existence of relict hominoids like Sasquatch. Darby Orcutt is a faculty member at North Carolina State University where he is a librarian, instructor, and researcher. He teaches and writes about science, technology and society while also building collaborative scientific teams to tackle complex problems and fostering conversation between researchers and the broader public. However, Darby is known for his work at the intersection of science and the strange. Have you found a biological specimen that seems to be unusual? Orcutt and his colleagues are currently seeking to analyze such samples (including genetically), and those who submit their samples will receive any forthcoming results. You can learn more about Orcutt's project by clicking here. Also, if you are interested in contributing to this study of allegedly morphologically anomalous samples (which could help us to test more samples and conduct deeper analyses), a tax-deductible gift to NC State University can be made here. Stories and other links discussed in this episode: Chinese zoo defense of their bears being real, not people in suits Scientists claim to have revived 42,000 year old Nematodes Century-old samples reveal the brain of the Tasmanian tiger Golden tamarins, once close to extinction, reboundMatt Pruitt's Book The Phenomenal SasquatchThe Passing of Peter Byrne Follow Sasquatch Tracks on Twitter. Got a news tip or story to share? Send us an Email. Have you seen an animal you can't identify? Submit a report here.