Kill or Capture?

Courtesy Bigfoot Captured (History Channel)

Do we need a body?

For those that have had a genuine encounter with Sasquatch, nothing more is needed to confirm their existence.  The absolute size differential in the presence of the giant hominid, the overwhelming stench permeating the air, the rocks and branches being thrown like child toys into a back country camp, the midnight wailing and shrieks bolting them awake in their tents.  For the experienced, this is proof enough.

For the skeptics that dismiss the reported sightings and associated evidence as either hoaxes or misinterpreted encounters with a bear or other large animal, there is only one thing that will convince them of Sasquatch.  They need a body. 

Where is the body?

Footprint casts are often dismissed as pranksters walking along trails and logging roads with fake molds strapped to their feet.  Tree structures attributed to Sasquatch could be from natural causes or human construction.  Hair samples submitted for DNA analysis have yet to bring forth a smoking gun proving the species existence.  The FBI recently released that in the mid-1970’s, even the government looked into a comparative species analysis of unknown hair samples sent to the Bureau by a Sasquatch research organization based out of The Dalles, Oregon.  The FBI concluded that the hair samples were of “the deer family”.

It is an interesting conundrum.  Why don’t we have a Sasquatch body yet?  Surely with all of the reported sightings over the past century, someone, somewhere would have stumbled across a bone or carcass at some point.  Or is it that strange?  Even for the most experienced outdoors person, how many bear or mountain lion carcasses have they come across?  The answer for most is probably zero.  It is well documented that predatory animals at the top of the food chain rarely die naturally out in the open.  Humans are their only predators and they normally hide and die in private. When they die, natural decomposition and scavenging by other animals quickly disperses the remains.
    
Unfortunately, the unbelievers and naysayers do have a point.  Without a body, alive or dead, it is difficult to officially confirm Sasquatch existence.  To that point, it is near impossible to officially confirm any living organism, flora or fauna, without a documented “body” sample.  This is where the “voucher specimen” comes into play with all newly discovered species.  Upon discovery of a new species of a plant or animal, there are academically accepted guidelines and methods for collection, processing and storage of new species.  This is important because it allows for definitive comparison and analysis of any future tissue samples, DNA, etc. back to the originally documented voucher specimen.
        
This takes the conversation into the legal and ethical realm.  Do we stage hunts to capture a live Sasquatch?  Do we need to kill a Sasquatch to enter the species into the traditional voucher specimen system?  Is it human?  How do we classify it?

States like Washington, Oregon and California already ban the hunting and killing of Sasquatch.  Other states like Texas deem any “non-game animal”, including Sasquatch, fair to hunt without bag limits.  For us at the Sasquatch Syndicate the definitive answer on killing is, No. 

For a fascinating conversation on the subject of capturing Sasquatch, have a listen to the Sasquatch Syndicate podcast with former professional wrestler “Rockin Randy” Stewart.  Randy and the team discuss his encounters as a child and methods of capturing Sasquatch using non-lethal means.  They also bring up the numerous benefits and consequences of proving the existence of Sasquatch. 

Do we tranquilize and tag them like bear and lion programs?  What is the government response if we make a discovery?  Will the discovery be hidden and classified?  Is the general public ready for Sasquatch?  Over the last century there have been thousands of documented encounters with Sasquatch in North America. 

Some of the reports are probably false.  Some are certainly hoax.  Many are certainly real.   

However, if even ten accounts are valid – how would that make you feel?

Let us know what you think, leave your comments and perhaps you'll get a shout out on the show.

BELIEVE

By Kevin Weberling,
Research Writer, Sasquatch Syndicate Inc.