Is Bigfoot Real?

The reality of Bigfoot has been debated for decades, with over 6,000 sightings in the U.S. alone and new reports constantly, it is very much a relevant conspiracy today. 

Bigfoot has been described as an ape-like creature with human characteristics that walks on two feet. Although many pictures and reports have been gathered, no definitive proof has surfaced. This is the main reason skeptics question Bigfoot’s existence because, with no concrete evidence, the myth cannot be proven true or false.

Northwest sophomore Olivia Grantham commented, “I don’t think [Bigfoot] is real because if he was we would have found him by now. I think all of the [sightings] are fake.”

Northwest U.S. History teacher and Bigfoot believer Mr. Kopatich disagreed, “Bigfoot is real- it’s common knowledge. For people that don’t think it’s real, I say just follow the evidence. Why would they have T.V. shows about it if it wasn’t real?  Why would people make up sightings?”  

Bigfoot is not only a popular conspiracy theory but is also believed to be a spiritual sign. The Ojibway and other nations believed the creature appeared in times of danger as a warning that they must change their ways. In fact, countries all around the world see Bigfoot in different ways. In China, a number of research groups have gone on expeditions searching for the elusive “Yeren”, their version of Bigfoot. Canada has a Sasquatch, Nepal has a Yeti, Australia has a Yowie and Indonesia has an Orange Pendek. This fronts the question of whether Bigfoot is real since each country has adapted the legend of Bigfoot to fit its climate and culture. Is Bigfoot truly versatile, or is the myth just widely believed?

Sophomore Dani Urrutia stated, “I definitely think Bigfoot is real because there are so many pictures and reports that they can’t all be fake.”

Regardless of the origin of this popular conspiracy, over time people have come up with their own explanations for Bigfoot’s existence. Some people think Bigfoot is a mythical creature roaming the Earth, a failed government experiment or an alien that was sent from another planet. With no solid evidence or scientific authentication to evince Bigfoot’s existence, theoretical ideas are all people have to validate their beliefs.

Junior Sara Anderko stated, “There’s a slight chance he could be real because he could be an alien from outer space that has come down here. Also, back in ancient times, animals used to be bigger, so maybe he never died and he’s just been evolving.”

Even though Bigfoot has been around for centuries, scientists have still not found any definitive proof (at least none that have been made public knowledge). The closest thing people have to concrete evidence are grainy videos and reports from all over the world. The problem when validating the credibility of these reports is that it is pervasive for people to post fake videos of Bigfoot on social media to gain attention and followers. In today’s society, Bigfoot has become more of a ploy for attention rather than a legitimate debate with credible reasoning. People must decide for themselves- is Bigfoot truly roaming in their own backyards, or is it just a popular myth?