Many people claim to have seen the elusive creature in the forests of North America. But what if there is a simpler explanation for these observations? What if Bigfoot is actually a black bear?
That is the hypothesis of a new study by Floe Foxon, published in the Journal of Zoology. The study is a comprehensive analysis of the factors that influence the frequency of bigfoot sightings in the US and Canada.
The study used data from several sources, including the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, which maintains a geotagged database of reported sightings, the Canadian and U.S. governments, which provide estimates of the black bear population and forest area in each state or province , and the national census, which provides information on human population density.
Researchers found that there is a strong correlation between bigfoot sightings and the local black bear population. For every 1,000 bears, the chance of a bigfoot sighting increases by about 4 percent.
This correlation holds even after controlling for other factors, such as the amount of forested land and the number of people living in the area. The study also found that bigfoot sightings are more common in areas where black bears have a wider range of colors, from golden brown to deep reddish, as well as black.
Researchers suggest that many people may mistake black bears for bigfoot because they have similar colors, sizes and behaviors. Black bears can weigh up to 600 pounds and stand up to 6 feet tall on their hind legs. They also visit the wooded areas that are supposedly bigfoot’s favorite terrain.
They can walk upright for short distances and sometimes make sounds that sound like growling or howling. The study cites an example of a reported bigfoot sighting where it said photos were taken, but, “One of the photos looks like a bear.”
The study concludes that “if Bigfoot is there, it could be a bear.” The research does not rule out the possibility of Bigfoot’s existence, but does cast doubt on the reliability of eyewitness accounts.