Well with Spring finally springing, I thought I would point out some common mistakes made in the field by some, identifying Bear sign as Sasquatch sign, which with the advent of social media has become more common place.

Whereas twenty years ago, tracks were usually a Sasquatch Print or a hoaxed print, today we see many a new researcher indicating bear tracks as Sasquatch tracks.

The idea sprung on me when perusing my usual sites, I came across a Ballyhoo post which showed a track. Now this is one of the rare instances where I do not think LNP is pulling our leg. She legitimately thinks that this track could belong to a Sasquatch.

Bigfoot Ballyhoo Blog April 21st, 2018

However what LNP appears to be looking at is a bear overstep. Judging from the size, a black bear because the width of the track in comparison to LNP’s hand is too narrow to what we have observed in Sasquatch tracks.

The other tell tale sign is the shift to the left the print takes looking at it from top to bottom, as you will see an unusual indentation on the right side of the track outline going from top to bottom.

in this enhanced photo you will see what appears to be toes, in the upper middle portion of the print indicating overstep.

Needless to say this is not uncommon. The most common tell tale sign of an overstep is a deviation in the flow of the foot. The heel being at an awkward angle to the direction of the toes.

Once I had responded to a call from a man claiming to have numerous tracks near the Black River in the Adirondacks. I ha seen some of his casts and they looked peculiar. Sure enough we had gone to the location and discovered a set of fresh tracks in the sand on one of the banks to the river.

Clearly what was we saw was a bear overstep.

Black River, Adirondacks: Bear overstep.

Again you can see the similarities in the LNP print and this one. Again the deviation from the upper middle section of the foot on the right.

Again this is a common mistake made by some folks not akin to tracking and animal sign. Again this is a learning curve and not meant as a put down. I too, took my bumps many years ago to learn the correct way to observe track evidence.

If you are not sure don’t be afraid and ask. Do not be in a rush to get those track photos posted. If you can cast them, please by all means do. Even if it is not a Sasquatch print, it’s good practice!

A lesson learned

In 2004 I had very little experience with bear sign and I had a reported sighting by two children stating they had observed a Sasquatch briefly. After interviewing them, their story was compelling, and upon examination of the area, just some 72 hours after their sighting, we found some scat I had never seen before. I did the right thing, and asked a veteran Bigfoot researcher and Forester Kathy Strain to look at a picture of the scat.

It was black bear scat. The children had heard stories previously of the Sasquatch, which may have predisposed them of a bear on its hind legs being a Sasquatch. I now believe what they had observed may have been a bear on its hind legs observing them. At least that’s what the physical evidence leans towards.

Point being, if you don’t know, be a responsible researcher and ask. And it changed the outcome of the investigation from likely Sasquatch, to likely bear.

And as a responsible researcher you should feel good about that, because our overall aim should be to the truth.

Some more Bear Sign

Source: https://www.wildernesscollege.com/american-black-bear-tracks.html

Many of the above bear sign is often shown to me as Sasquatch sign by some researchers. I suggest researchers go to the following site, if not to learn but rather to brush up.

https://www.wildernesscollege.com/american-black-bear-tracks.html

It should also hone the enthusiasts of Sasquatch and its research, to be more the wiser when perusing some sites showing “evidence” of a Sasquatch, which seems for some to come on a daily basis, another huge warning sign that their research lacks cross checking and self-analysis, which we should all be doing as responsible researchers.

Of course everyone be safe out there, and remember to Squatch responsibly and make sure when you head out to the forests to be prepared for whatever.

This Week on Squatchdetective Radio:

Till Next Time,

Squatch-D