Bigfoot research is often the domain of amateur enthusiasts. But some highly educated scientists in relevant fields, such as primatology and anthropology, have expressed beliefs that Bigfoot exists or at least that he may exist and that this possibility should be taken seriously.
One such scientist, the late Dr. Grover S. Krantz, has been quoted by Bigfoot bloggers as saying: “Many major scientific breakthroughs are made by amateurs or by those who are only marginally involved in the fields in question.”
We will, however, take a brief look at some of the experts who have investigated Bigfoot. This is not a comprehensive review of their work or the evidence they feel supports Bigfoot claims, but simply an overview of some fascinating scientists who have often endured scorn from their colleagues but held fast to a belief that Bigfoot should be seriously studied.
Dr. Grover S. Krantz was born in 1931 in Salt Lake City. He obtained an M.A. in anthropology from the University of California–Berkely and his doctorate from the University of Minnesota. He was a beloved professor at Washington State University (WSU) for some 30 years until his retirement in 1998. An obituary for Dr. Krantz in the WSU magazine praises his more conventional contributions to anthropology, but also mentions: “Despite widespread criticism and damage to his professional reputation, Grover stood by the scientific evidence he gathered and the methods he used to support the existence of Sasquatch (Bigfoot). He even traveled to Russia and China to investigate similar stories of a very large bipedal ape.”
Jane Goodall
Arguably the world’s most famous primatologist, Jane Goodall has expressed her belief in Bigfoot. Though she has no formal training or degree, she is widely recognized for her groundbreaking discoveries related to the behavior of chimpanzees. She initially faced hostilities from established scientists even regarding her chimpanzee research, which has now been embraced by the scientific community at large.
Regarding Bigfoot, “I’ve talked to so many native Americans who all describe the same sounds, two who have seen them,” she said during an interview with National Public Radio’s Ira Flatow on Friday, Sept. 27, 2002. With a keen interest in the topic, she has read much about it. Goodall said the accounts from all over the world of similar such creatures lead her to believe that Bigfoot’s possible existence should be taken seriously. She admitted in 2012 to the Huffington Post that no “smoking gun” has been found—no indisputable Bigfoot body—but, “I’m not going to flat-out deny its existence.”
“I’m fascinated and would actually love them to exist.”
Dr. Samuel Sentell
Dr. Samuel Sentell has a private practice in neuropsychology in Louisiana. He holds Ph.D. degrees in medical science and psychology from Vanderbilt University. He is interested in studying Bigfoot from both a biological and a psychological perspective.
He wrote in a post on the Society for Scientific Exploration website in 2012: “Bigfoot/Sasquatch continues to be an area of great interest in our culture while science steadfastly resists examination of the anecdotal data in any comprehensive way. … Bigfoot phenomena are sometimes hoaxed but hoaxing can be studied within social psychology. Nevertheless, Bigfoot phenomena are not all hoaxes. Bigfoot is also an archetype of the human collective unconscious and can be studied within psychoanalytic, neuroethological and phenomenological disciplines.” Dr. Sentell said he has personally “found anomalous scat and hair as well as other anecdotal evidence supporting the possibility of Sasquatch.”
Dr. John Bindernagel
John Bindernagel, B.S.A., M.S., Ph.D., is a Canadian wildlife biologist. He has posted a photo of himself with Jane Goodall alongside his autobiographical snippet on his website. Goodall is holding up the cast of an alleged Bigfoot print Dr. Bindernagel said he found in British Columbia, Canada, where he began conducting field research in 1975.
“I am much more concerned with addressing ecological questions such as how it overwinters in the colder regions of North America, than with dwelling on the controversy of whether it does or does not exist.” — Dr. John Bindernagel
He wrote on his website: “Wildlife biologists such as myself regularly depend on tracks and other wildlife sign as evidence for the presence of bears, deer, wolves, and other mammals, recognizing that tracks constitute a more reliable and persistent record of the presence of a mammal species in an area than a fleeting glimpse of the animal itself. I am satisfied that the Sasquatch is an extant (or ‘real’) animal, subject to study and examination like any other large mammal, and am much more concerned with addressing ecological questions such as how it overwinters in the colder regions of North America, than with dwelling on the controversy of whether it does or does not exist.”
Dr. Esteban Sarmiento
Esteban Sarmiento, Ph.D., is a biologist and primatologist who has worked as a functional anatomist at the American Museum of Natural History. While he does not claim that Bigfoot exists, he admits the possibility that it does and encourages careful scrutiny of evidence.
He attended the annual Texas Bigfoot Conference in 2009 and commented on a purported video clip of a Bigfoot in northern California—the so-called “Patterson-Gimlin film” shot in 1967. He said, according to BigfootEncounters.com: “If it’s real, this animal is exceedingly human-like.” He said the “Bigfoot” movements shown in the film do not resemble those of great apes.
Dr. LeRoy Fish
Dr. LeRoy Fish (1943–2002) received his doctorate in zoology and ecology from Washington State University. As a retired wildlife ecologist, he dedicated much effort as a consultant to the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization.
Source: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1390150-scientists-who-believe-in-bigfoot/
Brian M
What about Jeff!
Scott A
And Dr. Matthew Johnson, who has had personal experiences, has had various people go spend time at SOHA to see and hear for themselves. Sasquatches are right there and have never hurt anyone. I do realize that there are some terrible, dangerous and even fatal encounters with this variety of beings. Those are only some of the encounters. All data must be considered when trying to get to the bottom of this mystery, even if it means dealing with exotic stories outside what others experience. I realize that stories of portals sound crazy but people should hear him out. If it is not a portal then what is it? Avoiding discussions between people of different experiences means there is less sharing. That’s like scientists not sharing their data or hearing out people in this field from fear of ridicule from other scientists. Sharing data and hearing everyone out is crucial.
Brian M
I think Wes had him on in the early days but the episode has disappeared down the blogtalkradio black hole.
Christopher c
I wish I could have spent time with Jane Goodall,I wish I could have brought her to the lower montane forests of Klamatth California. she would have easily been able to notice the subtle differences in the landscape that I would have just passed up on my hikes like bedded down area’s that resembled primate bedding area’s of Africa, she would have been one of the great Sasquatch researchers of her time.
Christopher c
Wes it’s funny,I have this friend who just came forward with things he had experienced as a young man but he claims it’s not SASQUATCH but rather it’s the Pit River Devil ,I believe they are one in the same you guys can be the judge ,he says it’s 7-8 ft. tall dark and broad shouldered ,breaks branches but he claims it’s not Sasquatch,I had my first two experiences in Shasta county,now I made friends with the locals in this very remote town and have kept in touch with them over the years ,well just the other day a local I know called me up all drunk saying he wanted to get something off his chest,this friend I will refer to as Micheal S.,who was the mayor of the town of Big Bend at age 24 goes on to tell me that he has been having experiences ever since he moved there from Redding ca.at age 10 in the late 70’s,Micheal goes on to telling me that as a young boy he would hang out at the PG&E camp that my family belonged to because there was a swimming pool with people to play with in the summer,well mike starts telling me that since age 12-13 all the way till he bought his first car he would have this thing follow him home at night,I -asked him this thing.. what did it look like? he says it was about 7-8 feet tall dark and massive at the shoulders but he could never get a good look at it,he said that at first he would run from it but after a while he says he got bolder maybe at age 14-15 and he says he would turn and challenge it and say what the F… do you want ?why are you following me ?quit f…… with me! and he says every time he would walk towards it it would be that much farther away from him so he could never get a good look at it, as he says it moved like a mist when he walked towards it,and when he had his back to it he said it sounded like Hell behind him,I asked him what do you mean by Hell behind you? he says that it sounded like stumps ,sticks and twigs breaking and busting and I said you mean like a bulldozer ? mike says exactly! he said it would always follow him down his grandma’s road and stop as mike crossed the Nelson Creek bridge to his grandma’s house and as he would sprint to the house he would look back and see this thing just standing there starring and then it would break a bunch of timber around the area and this would terrify him as a young man ,he would later ask the local Elders of the Pit River Tribe about it and they would reply you have seen the Pit River Devil,he would ask why does it follow me? and one of the elders said he’s just watching out for you ,making sure you get home, now it took my buddy mike all these years because even though I have told him my story he seemed to want to quickly move to a new subject,the main reason for this is mike lived in a very small town pop.150 and his one good friend growing up ,after hearing mike tell his story mikes good friend decided to try and prank him and mike knew it was his buddy but that kind of injured him since it was his one good friend,mike says he knew it was him because every time his buddy wasn’t around that thing would be there and it was almost twice as tall and easily 3 times as wide as his friend,mike really was brave to come forward and share with me this story but still he says it’s not SASQUATCH but the PIT RIVER DEVIL. which he says is a spirit that deals with the waterways. hope anyone who reads this found it interesting.
SANDRA E
Christopher I found it very interesting! It must have been really unnerving to find this creature following him around….it would pretty much creep me out!!
To the point of this blog, I like the idea that scientists are starting to “come around” to the idea that Sasquatch could be a reality. It’s good to know some are on our side.
Christopher c
Thanks SANDRA E. I can’t believe how my own friend of 25 years had been holding it in like that with no one to tell for fear of being ridiculed that must have been hell,I want to see if he will go on the show next time I talk with him.
Dr. Chris K
I am a retired Naval Officer, and formed geospatial intelligence (imagery) analyst. Since I lost my teaching job of 8 years due to. COVID related issues, I have made the decision to pursue investigating this subject full time. I have a PhD (Paleoanthropology/Philosophy) and I have received training as a Primatologist under one of the worlds top scientists. Although I have a substantial amount of “book knowledge” I am new to the world of BF “research.” I have decided to exclusively monitor a family group I believe is indigenous to SE Oklahoma 100% of my concentration will go into this area of operation.
I’m a tad bit on the spectrum, and super introverted, but if anyone would like to share any relevant information pertaining to this subject, or reach out to me for any reason, I can be reached at:
shoes 2552@gmail.com/ FB: Christopher Allen/ or IG at magnum__pedibus_phd This being said, I will always be willing to Colab with any real BF researchers IVO The Kiamichis, I have 1 FLIR + a GEN III NOD+ a parabolic + an RV, but I plan to secure some private funding for my project and purchase more gear.
Be advised, I am no BF expert, not even close, putting this out there bc I don’t want anyone to get a convoluted idea that I am, and view me as such, (you’ll be disappointed) I’m .a guy who has been desperately trying to find answers for the past 22 years. I am finally deciding to interact with the public and share my beliefs bc up until recently, my career required me to maintain security clearances… Not anymore, now that I’m retired, it’s time to make the epicenter of my focus this enormous foot fetish I have. More than anything, I want to learn, I pick up information real quick, and would gladly be the Booboo to a more seasoned researcher (as long as I can address them as “Yogi”)
PS: I had an “encounter” when I was 16, hence my obsession For knowledge pertaining to this subject. I put encounter in “ bc I am not referring to the term the way classical primatologists use it.
Cheers, and happy “footing” I will see one of these things if it’s the last thing I do!
Chris
Dr. Chris K
Sorry for the typos, fat fingers.