There are many legends worldwide of creatures that populate the forests, oceans and swamps of the world. Some of these legends have been passed down from generation to generation for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Native American tribes have stories of Wendigo, Wampus Cat, Thunderbird and more. One creature that seems to have roots in more than one tribal unit in the northwestern United States and Canada is known as Sasquatch or Bigfoot. Other parts of the continent may know him as the Skunk Ape or Swamp monster. These creatures are called legends because no one has been able to prove that they do exist, but many people believe that they are real and search for proof. What scientific processes are being used to prove that Bigfoot is not just a legend but a real creature?

On October 20, 1967 Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin were making a film about Bigfoot when they filmed what they said is a female creature walking through the woods. This is the first time that Bigfoot was supposedly caught on film. Many people and scientists have watched the film trying to prove that the creature was fake. Many of them think it is a man in a guerilla suit. However, no one has proven this 100 percent. Was the film real or made up?

The average height for an NBA player is between 6 ½ to  7 feet tall. People describe Bigfoot as being very tall.  Their descriptions have it standing as tall as 15 ft high. The creature is said to have human features, walks on two legs and is covered from head to toe in hair. Old and new stories say Bigfoot smells very bad. There is of course the feet. It is said his feet can be as long as 24 inches (2 Feet long) and 9 inches wide. According to the Guiness Book of World Records the largest human foot belongs to Robert Wadlow who was 8 feet tall. He wore shoes that were size 37. Size 37!!! What size do you wear?

With Bigfoot sightings from as far north as Alaska to as far south as Florida scientists have begun to study this legend. Could this mysterious animal from legends be real? Could modern science prove that it exists? Scientists have traveled to sights where people claim to have seen Bigfoot. They have taken casts of footprints to examine. This means that they have poured plaster in the footprint and let it dry. They have found hair caught on trees nearby and they have sent the hair for genetic testing. Some hair they tested belonged to bears and some to moose or elk. There are other hairs that they have been unable to identify. Scientists have proven that many of these sightings are hoaxes. A hoax is trying to fool people into believing that something is true. What scientists have not done is prove Bigfoot exists. Most scientists say that there have been no homes like dens or caves, and that no bones that fit the description of this massive creature have ever been found. Yet people still believe that Bigfoot is out there.

Some people believe so strongly that Bigfoot exists that they take vacations to certain places hoping to see one. Atlas Obscura even has a map of Bigfoot museums, festivals and campgrounds. If a trip deep into the woods or swamps of The United States or Canada sounds exciting to you, you just may be the one to prove that Bigfoot is real.