Melissa Hovey's interview with D.W. "Darkwing" Lee

Check out the great interview that Melissa Hovey did with our BFG Staff member, D.W. "Darkwing" Lee.

Melissa Hovey's The Search for Bigfoot Blog

Strange Creature Caught on Eagle Cam Bigfoot?

Recently this was posted on Facebook, MABRC Researcher Darkwing decided to enhance it to see what he could make out of it.  First the original video with the uploader's remarks.

Published on May 23, 2016
My sister watches this eagle cam constantly. It is live footage of an eagle's nest located in northern Michigan. While watching one day she noticed a strange dark creature in the background. Almost looks like a bear but it appears to be walking normally. Check out the top right corner background. Anyone have any idea what this is?



And then Darkwing's enhanced video, he slowed it down to 26% of the actual speed and then used the magnification tool to enhance the figure as it moved through the woods.  After the video, see Darkwing's comments about the enhancement.



Darkwing's comments:
While the enhancements clearly shows arms and legs, it's still at a far enough distance that facial detail and other information to confirm if it's a Bigfoot is missing.  Its an interesting video to say the least, but this could also be a human in heavy clothing walking through the woods.

Thermal Footage from Oklahoma

Courtesy of the MABRC

During the last part of 2013 in Oklahoma, 2 different researchers, two weeks apart, in the same location, caught something on their thermals that sat for a long period of time watching their camps.

While the researchers are adamant that this could be a "possible" Bigfoot, it is very interesting footage from the same location, 2 weeks apart, by 2 different researchers.

The first three videos were taken by Driveroperator on November 15, 2013, by mounting his thermal on a pole above his vehicle during the night while he slept in his tent.  It shows a heat signature staying basically in the exact location for nearly 30 minutes watching from behind a creekbed behind his tent.










The next video was taken by Darkwing, who had mounted a thermal on a pole sticking up from his vehicle, and in the video, he does pan around the camera to see if he can spot any other heat signatures coming up towards him from other directions.  The heat signature maintains it's position in a creek bed about 50 feet away from the creek bed that Driveroperator's heat signature was seen in.  It continues to maintain it's position even when a large deer walks behind it at a distance of around 40 to 50 feet.  Only when the deer comes back through, does the heat signature lower itself, and proceeds to disappear, perhaps to go hunt the deer.



One of the lessons to note here, is that Bigfoot appear to tend to move the same way at night as they do during the day, using cover to move around to mask their approach.  Once they get a position where they feel they are safe, they will maintain it and watch from it.  After years of watching the woods with thermals, the two researchers involved have noted that all other animals in the woods continue to move around, except when they bed down.  This heat signature maintains it's position behind the creek bed the entire time, moving only enough to show that it is definitely not a rock or other inanimate object that had absorbed heat throughout the day and continued on into the night reflecting heat.

It's up to the reader though to decide for yourself what it is in the videos.

Procedure after finding a Track

Courtesy of the MABRC

Procedure after finding a Track

Note location, GPS if available in field journal, along with date & time.

Using a surveyors flag or other such, mark the track. (note: do so approx. 1 foot away from track so as not to damage track 

Visually scan the area for additional tracks, if found flag as above. 

Using the track direction search for other tracks If two or more tracks are found (track way) measure both step and stride. 

Do so on several.

Note in field journal.

If only two tracks are found, set up a tracking stick and search for other tracks.

In doing all the above take CARE not to destroy or disturb any of the tracks. Ask bf to lift foot so you can get a better look at track (sorry couldn't help my self).

Number a 3X5 card and lay about 2" away from the track Take minimum of 4 pictures, with 3X5 card visible in photo.

Get on ground and visually examine track, do not touch and take care not to disturb.

Use flash light at different angles to high light any possible points of interest.

If points of interest found, do close up photos of those points Take photos from directly above track, with and with out flash, a couple of each.

Take measurements

If using a photo scale, lay it next to the track and take a photo from directly above. (angles will distort getting a true measurement to varying degrees.) If using a tape measure, carefully lay a stick at both ends, ones long enough to reach the tape measure. Measure distance between the two sticks. ( 3 bamboo skewers work nicely, one next to the track and the other two at the ends, by using the one next to the track it is easier to keep the two end ones parallel to each other for a truer measurement) Repeat process for width measurements

* If using Track Caliper, lay next to track and carefully adjust so the top and bottom just touch the edge.

* No matter what you are using take care not to disturb the track

* If measuring device of choice in place take photos, minimum of 4, using effort so measurements are readable in the photo.

If casting, proceed to casting procedure

Latent Print Collection

Courtesy of the MABRC

The intention behind the guidance given by the MABRC on latent print collection is not to train researchers to be latent print examiners, nor to be crime scene investigators. Rather the guidance provided here is to give researchers a means of using makeshift equipment and proper protocols in the effort to successfully collect latent prints of suspected Sasquatch should the opportunity present itself.

Researchers should be aware that it is difficult at best, to substitute for professional fingerprint equipment, however the technique and guidance provided here can successfully lift latent prints under good conditions.

The list of supplies that a researcher will need a very simple and inexpensive.

-- A small, empty squeeze bottle (similar to an eye drop bottle, preferably with a screw off top)
-- A bright flashlight 
-- A two inch wide roll of clear tape
-- A black or dark colored plastic sheet (transparency sheets work perfectly)
-- A fine powder such as talc or cake flour
-- A camera lens brush with fine hair at one end, and a bulb at the other end (similar to a mini turkey boaster)
Researchers should be aware that the probability of encountering a Sasquatch print that is suitable to be lifted is minimal, and more than likely will either be encountered on a window, vehicle surface, or other nonporous surfaces. Prints will most readily be apparent after the surface has been coated in a fine dust, such as a vehicle that was used in field research.

Researchers should follow the following protocol in order to minimize contaminating the print, and aid in the successful recovery of the observed sample.

1. Photograph the print or hand mark of the surface prior to conducting any attempt at recovery. The use of a photographic scale or other measuring device is vital in the attempt to document the print.

2. If the print is difficult to see, attempt to use the flashlight at different angles in order to highlight the print for photographing. Dependent upon the camera the researcher uses, a flash may or may not be needed.

3. Take several photos from various angles and distances.

4. Annotate in your research journal what the photo is of. (The researcher may need to describe what is in the photo for later recollection.)

5. The researcher should now put on a pair of powder free latex or nitrile gloves in order to prevent contaminating the print, or worse yet, leaving one of his/her own, and lifting it as the specimen.

6. The small squeeze bottle should be filled approximately one-third to one-half full of the fine powder. It is imperative that the bottle be capped after every use in order to prevent moisture from absorbing into the powder and making it difficult to use. (A cheap trick to prevent moisture from sticking the powder together is to add a little dry, white rice to bottle)

7. Firmly shake the bottle a few times in order create a dust within the bottle, then remove the cap and softly squeeze the bottle away from the suspected print.

8. Pay attention to how much dust comes out of the bottle when squeezed, and at what direction the air is carrying the dust. Seldom is the air completely still, so pay attention to the direction it flows, and how fast it settles.

9. Once you have determined the air flow direction, the rate of descent of the dust, and how much dust exits the bottle with each squeeze, move to the opposite side of the print from which the air is flowing.

10. Softly squeeze the bottle and attempt to drift the dust onto the print. The key here is to lightly dust the print with powder, but not so much that the surface is obscured. (This is something that you can practice with at home before going to the field)

(If more powder is needed to dust the print, ensure that you continue to shake the bottle before squeezing it)

11. Using the lens brush, softly squeeze the bulb in order to blow air out the brush, and blow away any excess powder. Ensure that the brush DOES NOT touch the print at this point.

12. Use the flashlight from various angles to check and see if a print is visible under the powder.

13. If a print is apparent, but not clear, delicately use just the tip of the brush and softly brush it across the print to further remove any excess powder. Extreme care should be used on this step as it is very easy to destroy a print using the brush.

14. Using the roll of tape, start the tape and double back the end in order to make it easier to remove later.

15. Tack the beginning edge of the tape approximately two inches past the print, and with one hand controlling the tape roll, use the other hand to secure the tape to the surface.

16. Using one finger, slide it down the non-adhesive side of the tape, securing it to the surface and the roll of tape is maintained taut using the other hand. It is vital that the tape not have any kink, wrinkles, or air bubbles under it as it is secured to the surface.

17. Once the tape has been secured successfully two inches past the print, cut the tape and secure the end to the surface.

18. Using the transparency, or other similar dark material, cut a piece that is approximately one inch larger on all sides than the print that is attempting to be lifted.

19. If using a transparency that has been printed on, ensure to use the opposite side which will be shiny and non-porous. It should be noted that paper does not serve as a good medium when using this method.

20. Place the “card” near the tape and use the fingers of one hand to secure the flat end of the tape to the surface. 
Using the other hand, grasp the doubled tag of tape and slowly begin to peel it from the surface. Ensure that the tape is peeled back smoothly, firmly, and evenly as it is very easy to ruin a print at this point.

21. Once the tape has been removed and is secured using both hands, tack the flat end of the tape back to the surface and to one end of the “card” simultaneously.


22. Using one hand to control the tape, use one finger of the other hand to firmly slide against the non-adhesive side of the tape working your way up the card. Ensure that the tape is secured to the card smoothly, evenly and firmly. Kinks, wrinkles, or air bubbles can destroy the print.

23. Once the tape is completely secured to the “card”, remove it from the surface and trim any excess tape from all four sides.

24. Using a label, place it on the back of the card and label it with the appropriate tag number. Once this is done, fill out the specimen collection form and label it with the tag number from the print, and add this tag number to your research journal entry.

The researcher should be aware that usually a print is not able to be lifted again, once it has been compromised by the tape. Additionally, if there is more than one print lifted from the same location, each print will receive a different tag number, however only one specimen collection form is needed, but do include all the tag numbers from all samples on that form. All tag numbers should also be entered into your journal entry.

Certain Telltale signs precede a Bigfoot Encounter

Courtesy of the MABRC

Thom Powell wrote an excellent checklist that gives multiple items that can be used to gauge Bigfoot activity in your area. It is one of the tenets of the MABRC, and is placed here for our researchers to review. If you want to read Thom’s book, it’s entitled “The Locals” and you can buy it through Amazon.com.

Pages 245-246

The checklist provided below can be used exclusively as an indication that Sasquatch are in the immediate area although no one item alone will prove that they are in the vicinity when utilized individually, but when several of these items in the Telltale signs of Bigfoot list are combined and experienced then the chances that a Sasquatch or even several are nearby increases dramatically. 

Damage To Property

* Bent and twisted trees along roads and trails. 

* Electric fence wire torn down.

* Camping gear and cookware thrown about 

* Barn tools that have been strewn about 

* Damage to homes 

* Bent gates with no obvious vehicle damage 

* Trees that have had tops bent, twisted or broken off some 7 feet or higher above the ground 

Items Found

* Outdoor freezer doors left open with food missing 

* Large piles of animal scat found in nearby woods or on property 

* Dead animals that have been skinned by hand or without benefit of tools 

* Piles of Feathers and/or bones neatly placed nearby 

* Big Footprints found in the mud or near a horse corral if you dwell in an urban area 

* Dead animals found in a tree high over the ground 

* Dead animals and livestock found on property or in nearby wooded area 

Items Missing

* Food from a camping cooler 

* Missing garden vegetables or fruit from ripening fruit trees 

* Missing livestock 

* Livestock cages that have been opened and had the animals removed 

* Missing Horse Grain 

* Missing Milk: A milk cow that occasionally has no milk to give when it should 

* Missing smoked meat and/or fish from a smokehouse

Things Smelled, Heard, or Felt

* Unusual howls or screams, very loud oftentimes that are heard in the distance or in nearby woods 

* Agitated nighttime behavior by dogs 

* Lots of barking by dogs on surrounding property 

* Fearful after dark reactions by dogs that are otherwise aggressive in nature 

* Agitated horses that may escape from the pen at night 

* An agitated and distracted horse while riding in the woods 

* The sound of knocking or rocks being struck together emanating from nearby woods 

* Noises around the house at night such as knocking, pounding or scratching 

* Stones hitting the house or roof at night 

* Children complaining that something is looking in their windows at night 

* Children claiming that something is watching them while they are playing 

* The feeling that someone or something is watching you while doing farm chores, tending stock, or walking/being in the woods 

* The sound of footfalls that parallel your direction of travel as you walk in the woods 

* The sound of breaking twigs, sticks and branches by an unseen as it is heard to be moving loudly through the woods 

* A strong odor that resembles a dead animal or wet dog, rotting garbage, eggs or sulphur which can be strong enough to make an individual nauseous or ill 

* A suddenly quiet wooded area absent of bird, animal, or bug sound 

* The sound of something moving outside your window at night 

* A feeling that something is nearby that may awaken you abruptly from your sleep

While this list is by no means a complete list, it does give the beginning researcher some ideas of what could be Bigfoot activity at a locations.

Procedures for Shelter Evaluation

Courtesy of the MABRC

When locating what you suspect as being a shelter it is important to follow some very basic steps that will assist you in classifying it. These procedures are also important in proper documentation, which will help your research credibility and overall understanding.
We will be dealing primarily with shelters at this point but most of the procedures are true for all constructs you find in the woods.

First and most importantly, when you find one, DO NOT start walking all over, jumping up and down, pulling material off or generally messing up any possible evidence that may be present.
Stay at least 10 feet away from the structure, you can even take a branch or use your foot to draw a rough circle around it as a reference point and no intrude zone (for the time being).
Make note in your field journal of location, date, time and initial observations, include GPS if you have that available. Also, note any ground conditions present at the location, is the ground covered in leaf litter, is it grassy, or dirt. How, thick is the vegetation, trees, brush etc.

Now, take pictures of the structure from all angles possible, without entering the 10 foot circle. You cannot take too many photos. If the structure is particularly interesting I would even suggest picking a point, take a photo and step sideways take another picture, continuing to do so until you have circled the entire structure.

The majority of the time the ground will be covered in leaf litter, which really can assist your investigation greatly.

Pick a location, preferable in front of any opening and start removing the leaf litter within the circle. Take your time and pay close attention to the ground under the leaves. If the construct is human there is a very good chance you will find shoe or boot tracks under the leaves. If this is the case, do not stop your investigation, because you can still learn a great deal from doing it. Also, this does not automatically negate a bf possibility. Obviously, you are also looking for possible bf prints under the leaves. However, finding human tracks at the location, you will have to pay closer attention to any possible bf tracks to insure they are not distorted human tracks.
Any tracks you find, make sure you photograph, even the human ones.

The next tracks to look for under the leaves are deer and bear. The reason being that both animals are opportunistic with shelters and will use human constructs in the woods. Also, document these tracks.

Your next step is to sketch the structure in your field journal, sketch it from the four cardinal points. Now, carefully measure the structure, noting your measurements on your sketches, including opening size.

Now move to the interior of the structure, look and see if there are any compression areas within. This is especially important if you can ascertain it is a relatively new construct. (It wasn't there last week.) All animals including humans will leave compression areas if it was used for a shelter. If you find a compression area, measure and photograph it. If you are leaning toward it being a bf shelter, remove the contents, especially those in the compression area and secure them in bags, taking care not to contaminate them. You will go through the material at a later time in a clean environment to ascertain if there is any hair etc. in it.

Now examine the construct itself in detail, how old is the material, is there any cut marks, is there any weaving of material and if so how intricate. Any larger limbs or tree material, was it carried or dragged to the location (if dragged you should see the scuff marks on the ground when you removed the leaf litter.). 

Make sure you note everything in your journal and take photos!

There are a few basic types of human constructs made in the woods by, survivalists, hunters, boy scouts, kids and photographers. In some areas these can be plentiful, especially if any Boy Scout or survival classes were taught in the area. Take a little time and familiarize yourself with these. I will give a basic inscription on some of them; it is by no means extensive, complete or definitive.

Debris Shelter: Primarily a survival shelter for protection from cold weather (even when it is cold outside you can be very warm in one)

Common construction: One end of a large limb or tree is placed in the crotch of a tree, stump rocks or other such to support the end 3-4 feet off the ground. The other end is left on the ground. Smaller limbs and brush are leaned against this to form an inverted "V". They are placed in sufficient number to support the cover. The cover is forest litter, creating an insulating blank of leaves etc. Very, very seldom with there be any cut marks on this type of shelter as it is make completely from available forest materials.

Tee Pee Shelter: Similar to a debris shelter, constructed when no notch or other suitable location is available. Both free standing and using an existing tree for support. These are more often made by boy scouts and kids, as they are much less efficient, less stable and more energy intensive to construct. Branches with leave material still attached is the prefer method of insulation as the angle of the structure is not great for holding leaf litter. (Note: look for cut areas on the insulating branches, knife, saw etc. a good indicator of scouts and kids.)

Wikiups: These are domed structures, where brush is pulled to a center location from still rooted plants, secured and covered. If planned the blank or what ever will have been removed.
They may also be made by driving saplings into the ground. The frame work will usually be interwoven with horizontal brush. Not a survivalist structure, but is made by kids, scouts, native re-creationists.

Blinds: Used by hunters and photographers, these are often only two or three sided. Consisting of loosely woven branches, with enough openings to allow for good views. Often times they are very loose weaves as the intent is as much to break up the human outline as it is to completely hide them. They can be found with or without foliage woven or stuck into them.

Comparison Photos

 Courtesy of the MABRC

When you post a picture that you think may contain a Bigfoot in it, be prepared to be asked for comparison photos of the same location from different times. Too many people fall under the matrixing issue, believing that they have a Bigfoot, yet if they would take the time to review comparison pictures, they would either realize that they are seeing shadows or even leaves creating the impression of a face. If the same view is there a day later, then claiming it was a Bigfoot in the first place only erodes any credibility you hoped to of gained from the original picture. The MABRC requires any picture turned into them for evaluation to be accompanied by comparison photos, and other groups should always have that requirement too, for anything turned into them. You should never give anyone a free pass without the accompanying comparison photos to evaluate.

It is also MABRC policy to always ask for comparison photos whenever a photo is submitted to us for evaluation.

The following photo illustrates the need for comparison photos.  The lady who sent this in, thought a Bigfoot was standing at the end of her driveway, and she took the photo.  Upon on-site analysis and taking the comparison photos, it was discovered to be dark leaves in a brush pile that resembled a humanoid type figure.

Using a BB Gun

Or a paintball gun.

Seen a post today about using a paintball gun, and it made me think about a seldom used technique by MABRC researchers that don't have thermals can use while researching.

If you think you have a Bigfoot standing in the underbrush, but don't want to approach it.  Take a BB gun and simply shoot into the shadow where you think it is standing.  If it moves, then you know it was a Bigfoot, if it doesn't, then it wasn't nothing more than a shadow.  A paintball gun has the same effect.  The Bigfoot more than likely will only react to it like a bug bite, but will move.

Many will claim that this will infuriate the Bigfoot and make it attack, I have used this technique before, and I still have all my arms and legs.  I have seen two shadows move after being hit with the BB gun.

OSSIE Database

Check it out at the MABRC Forums

In 2006, D.W. “Darkwing” Lee began working on a Bigfoot Researcher Database, that could be used by a researcher to record their research into, including pictures, video, reports, audio, etc.. When it was first mentioned on the Bigfoot Forums (BFF), several names were tossed about for the database, and eventually, Paul Vella came up with the Open Source, Sightings, Incidents and Encounters Database, or by the acronym, OSSIE.

The database was written in Microsoft Access 2003 format, and was released to the general Bigfoot Community in early 2007. A second version of the database was started on, incorporating more features, however, with the beginning of the MABRC Forums, the decision was made to create an OSSIE database area on the forum instead.

The online version of OSSIE, contains the following items.

* Cryptozoology Encyclopedia.
* 8 library wings with a combined 2400 articles, documents and papers contained in them.
* An audio section.
* A map room.
* The entire collection of the Track Record.
* The National Sightings Database, of sighting reports from all websites including the International Bigfoot Society, which closed it’s doors several years ago.
* Famous and Infamous Bigfoot incidents, from the PGF, Honobia Ridge Walker Video, Hoaxes and others.
* The Wide World of Cryptozoology, a section that contains other crypto mysteries, like Loch Ness and Mothman.
* The Movie Theater, where interesting videos related to Bigfoot are displayed.
* Archived Websites, a location where older websites that were archived in the past before they shut down are available for viewing.


You may have to join the forum as a forum member to be able to view the entire OSSIE database.  Forum membership does not mean MABRC Organizational Membership, just that you are able to view the forums as a member of the forum.

MABRC Cast Exchange Program

The MABRC has initiated a Bigfoot/Sasquatch cast exchange program under the direction of Jim “Biggjimm” Whitehead, MABRC Western Oklahoma State Co-Director. Under this program, individuals and groups can contact the MABRC or Biggjimm, and inquire about a trade of copies of the casts.  Or you can use the contact form at the bottom of this Blog and someone will contact you.

The MABRC will trade a copy of any cast in their collection with a copy of one that the person contacting us either cast themselves, or acquired from another source.

No original casts will be traded, only copies. 

The party sending the cast will be responsible for their own shipping, while the MABRC will be responsible for shipping of their copy. All casts will be cataloged, accredited to the original discoverer and the donator if they wish. 

The purpose of the program is to build a collection of casts from all over North America in this region that ALL Researchers from ALL groups that research in the region will have access to for comparison purposes.

In the future, the MABRC will photograph the casts in the collection along with measurements and post them in the OSSIE Database.

This will allow researchers to also view important details online, instead of having to travel long distances to examine the casts.

Planning and Executing a MABRC Expedition

D.W. "Darkwing" Lee has been asked by a lot of folks how he goes about planning expeditions for the MABRC, so that they can have an idea how to plan their own, for themselves or other groups.  This is the template that is used for planning each expedition the MABRC conducts.

The Mid-America Bigfoot Research Center has a long history of field expeditions throughout the country and has established protocols and procedures that must be observed for any MABRC-sponsored field expedition.

To begin with, the MABRC member who wants to hold the expedition must be aware that they will be the expedition leader unless they request specifically for someone else to assume that position. In this event, if they have not underwent the MABRC Leadership training course, they will need to complete this before leading the expedition.

Once the member decides they want to hold an expedition, they need to post in the MABRC Members area in the Expedition Planning section, This will be to see if there is enough general interest in other members who can attend the expedition.

Once this is established, the member must begin putting together the necessary Expedition Briefing Summary that will provide the following information for participants.

* Summary of the area

* Summary of the objective

* Sunrise/set data

* Moonrise/set data

* Moon phase data

* Weather outlook, must be updated starting 10 days prior to the expedition from weather.com and must be posted on the forum thread for the expedition planning.

* Site selection

* Background information for area, including any suspected Bigfoot activity.

* Topo maps/aerial photos of the target area.

* Primary objectives

* Secondary objectives

* Standby objectives

* Personnel requirements/skill sets needed along with role determinations for participants.

* Equipment requirements

* Expedition rules/land-owner rules.

Once this briefing is prepared, copies should be forwarded to the State Director (if the state has one) or the Regional Director (if there is one) or the Executive Director. This is to keep the Advisory Council in the loop.

The Advisory Council will then review the Expedition Briefing Summary and make recommendations if needed.

The thread will be maintained in the MABRC Members area for the planning and distribution of information for participants, and as the plans are finalized, contact information, meeting places and other detailed information will then be disseminated through to the members of the expedition through this thread. 

Weather updates should begin being posted a minimum of ten (10) days before the expedition start.

Costs such as camping fees, food fees, access fees, etc. should also be noted ahead of time so that attending members can be prepared to absorb any costs associated with the expedition.
During the expedition, two key positions must be assigned. The expedition leader and the assistant expedition leader. Both will be designated to speak to local authorities, local residents and the media should they present themselves onsite at the expedition location.

Once the expedition is in gear, the expedition leader needs to insure that members follow the expedition rules and procedures while in the field. The leader will also be responsible for the well being of his expedition team. The main creed for the MABRC during an expedition should always be “Never leave a man behind.”

Upon the completion of the MABRC Expedition, an Expedition Debriefing thread will be established in the MABRC Members area of the forum in which the participants can post their thoughts, experiences, evidence and other related information pertaining to the expedition. After this is completed, the information may be sanitized for location, and other relevant information and the report posted on the public side of the forum. This is to insure that the location is not given away to individuals who may attempt to disrupt further research in that area in the future.

All evidence collected by MABRC Researchers belong to them, however, it is requested that the MABRC Members as a whole have a chance to view the evidence too.

Protocol and Procedures for Hair, Scat, Bone, Blood/Tissue

Courtesy of the MABRC

This is an older set of protocols that the MABRC were using, they have some new updated protocols that are being wrote up by their Evidence Review Board, but they agreed to let us post these older ones.

MABRC is concerned in providing scientific data that will assist in proving the existence of a North American bipedal creature that is reported to inhabit rural and remote areas of the North American continent.

In having said that, the MABRC guide will provide guidance to members on how to collect various types of biological specimens that the researcher may encounter while in the field. Such specimens may include blood, hair, latent prints, and foot or handprint castings.

The primary concern in collecting samples will be to AVOID cross contamination of the sample when it is collected.
Researchers will take all possible precautions to prevent cross contamination, prior to attempting to collect the sample. 

This will include the use of powder free specimen gloves, (i.e. latex or Nitrile gloves), sterilized tweezers or forceps (as needed), some sort of hair net or ball cap to prevent human hair from falling into the specimen, and a garment which covers the arms if they are exposed.

The researcher should take either video or still photos of the sample before collection. Included in the photo should be some sort of scale (ruler, coin etc.) however ensure it does not contaminate the sample. Make a note in your research journal of the sample, and annotate a tag number that will be used for the specimen label, the specimen collection report, and your expedition log.

BLOOD SAMPLES 

The most common example of a blood sample that the researcher will come across will be the splashing of blood against the ground, or other similar biological material. If the researcher believes that the blood observed could well be a sample from a Sasquatch, the following procedure is to be used: 

1. The researcher will observe all cross contamination procedures. 

2. The researcher will either use a Q-Tip, or piece of filter paper (CLEAN paper coffee filter will work) and lightly dab the blood specimen. 

3. If using a Q-Tip, ensure that the entire tip is covered, but not soaked, so as to result in a dripping of blood from the tip. If using filter paper, place the edge of the filter paper against the sample, and allow it to absorb into the paper. A sample roughly the size of a quarter is needed. 

4. Once the specimen has been collected, allow it to air dry completely, and avoid any contact with the ground, or the researcher. DO NOT blow on the sample to aid in drying. 

5. Once the specimen has completely dried, place it into a paper envelope, which is then placed into a specimen envelope. 

6. Label the outside of the specimen envelope with a computer label that contains the tag number of the specimen. 

7. Fill out the specimen collection report now; do not wait till later. 

Should the researcher run into a blood sample that has dried and is believed to be that of a Sasquatch, the following procedure will be used. 

1. The researcher will follow all preventive cross contamination procedures and photographic documentation. 

2. If the object is small enough to fit into specimen collection envelope, then it should be left intact, ensuring the sample is completely dry, place it into the envelope.

3. The envelope should then be labeled and provided a tag number. 

4. The specimen collection report should then be filled out, to include the tag number, and appropriate entry into the researcher's journal.

If the sample is to large to place into a collection envelope, then after following all cross contamination and photographic procedures, the research should use a sterilized blade (knife, scalpel, etc.) and lightly scrape the sample onto a piece of clean filter paper. The researcher should attempt to collect as much of the sample as practical without jeopardizing the integrity of the sample. The researcher should then gently fold the filter paper, so that the specimen is contained inside the filter paper, such as a pouch. This specimen should then be placed into a collection envelope, then into the specimen envelope with appropriate, labeling, tagging, reporting, and journal entry.

HAIR SAMPLES

Hair samples are collected similarly to blood samples. The researcher should follow all photographic documentation and cross contamination procedures prior to collecting the sample.

Hair samples can be expected to be found in places such as tree breaks or twists, barbed wire fences, and possibly automobiles if the researcher is investigating a report of a vehicular strike against a Sasquatch.

In all of these possible collection locations, patience will be the watch word for the researcher. Evidence and reports have shown that it is extremely difficult to obtain DNA from a hair fiber, though it may be used for hair comparison against known hair types. DNA, or mDNA is most readily available in the hair follicle or skin tag at the base of hair, therefore, the researcher needs to act delicately in order to attempt to collect follicle with the hair strand if it exists.

In hair that is observed on barbed wire fences, a pair of heavy pliers can be the researchers best friend, as long hair as a tendency to wrapped between and around the barbs. The researcher should follow the following steps if hair is wrapped around barbed wire. 

1. Again, the researcher should use photographic documentation and cross contamination procedures. 

2. The researcher should then disinfect the head and jaws of the pliers, and the collection tweezers, or forceps. 

3. If the hair will not slip from the fencing when gently pulled, the researcher can use the pliers to loosen the barbs. 

4. The researcher should grasp the two opposing barbs and gently squeeze, which will cause the barb to open on the fence. The researcher may need to do the same on the second barb. 

5. The researcher should then be able to gently remove the hair. Again, diligence and delicacy are required to maximize success. 

6. The hair should then be placed in a collection envelope. 

7. The collection envelop should then be placed in a specimen envelope, tagged, report completed, and a journal entry made.

The same procedure should be followed if attempting to remove a hair follicle from a tree break or twist, however, due to the fibrous content of forest material, and the hair follicle cannot be removed from the tree, the researcher should give consideration to cutting the area of the hair, leaving it embedded in the tree. The sample hair should be left in place, and the tree should be cut down to the smallest possible collection in order to simplify it's collection in specimen envelopes, or bags.

The if the researcher is examining a vehicle which has been reported to have struck a vehicle, the collection procedure is much like that of barbed fence or tree twist collection, however the researcher needs to also pay particular attention to the presence of blood samples as well. The researcher should also observe the undercarriage of the vehicle for additional samples.

When collecting any type of sample, whether blood or hair, only one specimen shall be collected and recorded per tag number. For instance, the researcher comes upon five drops of blood that are fresh; this would be 5 separate specimens collected, five separate tag numbers, five separate specimen envelopes. This ensure no cross contamination between samples. The only exception to this would be if the researcher happened upon a tuft of hair, or multiple strands. As that all of this strands have already been touching, they should be collected as ONE specimen, and documented as such.

BONE/TEETH SAMPLES

If the researcher is to happen across a bone, or tooth of a suspected Sasquatch, it is imperative that the research follow all the documentation, photographic, and cross contamination procedures.

Collection of such sample will more than likely be tedious do to the amount of work that will be required for search the area, removal, and collection of the specimen.

If such a sample is found, the researcher will follow the following procedures:

1. STOP!

2. Look down at your feet and ensure that you are not standing on another sample. This sample could very well be hair, tissue, blood, bone, or many other things.

3. If you are sure you are not standing on anything, take photographs and video of the item, as well as the surrounding area. Do not approach the sample at this point. It is necessary that you thoroughly document the area around the sample.

4. Attempt to contact the Regional Director for your area if at all possible.

5. If you cannot contact anyone, the researcher's first step will be to set up a grid system covering the discovery site. If you do not have twine, rope, or other items, sticks will serve as to set up a makeshift grid. The grid should look something similar to a checkerboard square if viewed from above.

6. The researcher should start in the outer most grid quadrants, first observing, then slowly moving overgrowth, or ground debris for the presence of other samples. If a sample is observed, it should slowly be removed. If it is caked in mud, dirt, or similar material, the sample should be collected with this intact. It is best to allow the sample to dry before collection, however if the weather is not practical for this, collect it as is and bag it in paper. The sample should be tagged with the quadrant number and tag number. The specimen collection report should be filled out, and journal entry should be made. It is important that your journal, and the collection report both have a sketch of the over all grid, and the quadrant in which it was found.

7. The research should continue working towards the primary sample found, working from the outside of the quadrant inwards. All subsequent finds should follow this protocol.

8. If an item is partially buried, care and dedication must be used is removing it. DO NOT pull on the sample, twist, or otherwise manipulate while still in the ground. 

9. The researcher will carefully dig around the sample using small tools, and ensuring damage is not done to the sample. (Picture yourself as an archaeologist)

10. Immediately notify your Regional Coordinator if you have not already done so.

ALL SPECIMENS SHOULD BE RECORDED WITH GPS COORDINATES IF PRACTICAL

Listening

Courtesy of the MABRC

Listen to your surroundings, learn the difference between quad-pedal and bi-pedal walking and learn all the known animals in your area and their vocalizations.

Different sounds can be heard in the woods, recently two Junior Researchers, Splatter and Squish discovered two trees rubbing together that created a whistling sound. At first they thought something or one was whistling at them from the woods, but as they investigated, they discovered the trees were rubbing each other and making the sound.

Learning the difference between quad-pedal and bi-pedal walking can be done by using a parabolic listening device and having a friend or family member walk through an area multiple times while you listen. Then have them walk a dog through the area, listen to the difference in sounds. Continue doing this until you can differentiate between the two.

The researcher should learn to recognize all the local animal vocalizations that they will encounter in their research area. 

The MABRC maintains a large collection of vocalizations in the audio library on the forum. Becoming familiar with these sounds will aid the researcher in distinguishing known animal vocalizations with those usually associated with Bigfoot.

While Bigfoot does have the capability to mimic other animal vocalizations, to be able to determine actual animal vocalizations to that say, of an 800 pound owl or dove making a vocalization is pretty important to the researcher.

Learning the difference between sticks breaking on the ground compared to sticks breaking off trees are also important. Overall, learn the sounds around you, making sure what you are hearing and what is causing it is paramount to conducting legitimate research that is hard to dispute.

Case in point, an armadillo uses it’s snout to sweep back and forth through the foliage and leaf litter looking for insects, grubs and other morsels of food. The sound this creates can be quite unnerving to many in the dark. 

When this occurs to you, it will sound like a Bigfoot walking upon you, and can quite literally send you into a panic if you do not keep your cool.

Diversions

Courtesy of the MABRC

When researching Bigfoot, the Researcher should be aware of the capability that is employed of diversion.

In the illustration shown above, a hiker spots a juvenile Bigfoot along the trail. As she stands there watching it, momma Bigfoot begins shaking trees and branches to divert the hikers attention and allow the juvenile to scamper away from view. 

If this does not work, the Bigfoot may resort to vocalizations, rock throwing and even appearing in the open itself to make the distraction for the juvenile to escape.

This has been witnessed on numerous occasions by MABRC Researchers in the field.

One such incident happened on an expedition in Oklahoma where two researchers were watching a Bigfoot crawl across a field towards the base camp. When they used their infrared lighting on their night scopes to paint the Bigfoot, it was for all intents and purposes trapped in that spot by them.

From behind them on the opposite side of camp, vocalizations began occurring that began as one animal, slurred into a second animal call, and then proceeded to imitate at least 5 different animals to create a diversion for the Bigfoot that was laying in the field.

When the researchers finally looked away, the Bigfoot in the field was able to belly crawl away from the base camp and into the woods surrounding the field.

Bigfoot will create diversions in order to help each other escape situations such as this.

Armchair Researchers = Analysts

A novel approach by the MABRC to include Armchair Researchers into their organization, they have been doing this now for well over a decade.  

The MABRC was the first Bigfoot Research Organization to recognize the potential of having armchair researchers within it’s ranks, even giving them an appropriate title, Analysts.

Other groups have followed in the MABRC’s leadership in this, and once again, the MABRC is changing the way Bigfoot research is being conducted.

Analysts perform a wide range of duties that frees up the Field Researchers to spend more time in the field, not behind a computer or watching video on a screen for hours at a time.

Analysts fulfill duties such as analyzing photos, video, audio recordings, posting sighting reports, articles and papers on the forum.

They also help in the writing of research protocols and policies that can give the Field Researchers guidance in the field to being back their evidence in a manner that can withstand scientific scrutiny.

Currently, many of the major research projects being conducted by the MABRC, from biome/food information to sighting report analysis is being conducted by the MABRC Analysts. A recent camera project produced over 10,000 hours of combined footage that require extensive time to review, thanks to MABRC Analysts, that time taken to review it has been cut down considerably.

Many individuals have applied to other organizations and have been turned down due to physical limitations or health factors, the MABRC does not turn those folks away. In the MABRC, our Analysts provide a great support system for those in the field, and are considered just as important as the field researchers that are out beating the bushes for Bigfoot.

Anyone wanting to join the MABRC as an Analyst is more than welcome with in the organization, and feel as much a part of the MABRC family as any other member.

Search for Bigfoot Blog - Endorsed Site

Melissa Hovey has had her fair share of controversy over the years, just like most of the old timers have.  But her site has a lot of information for newbies and old timers alike, with some great interviews from the past, as well as some great insight on issues that have affected the Bigfoot Community. 

To check out her site, go to the link here.

Bluff Creek Project - BFG Endorsed Site

The Bigfoot Field Guide would like to announce another addition to our endorsed sites.  The Bluff Creek Project is a trail camera project that is at Bluff Creek, the location of the famous Patterson-Gimlin film.  Not only are the cameras looking to catch Bigfoot on film, but also endangered species that may be in the area.

It's a great project and everyone should check it out and support the project.

The Beast of Boggy Creek

The Bigfoot Field Guide staff would like to introduce the newest addition to our BFG Endorsed sites, The Beast of Boggy Creek. 

This is the official site of the Book written by Lyle Blackburn.

And of course, the book is highly recommended by the BFG staff, as it contains information that the movie wasn't able to show as well as other historical information that Lyle has compiled.

We highly recommend going to check out Lyle's site, you won't be disappointed.

National Sighting Report Database

Courtesy of the MABRC

One little known feature that the MABRC has maintained for quite a few years is their National Sightings Database, in which they have taken sighting reports from all the sources that they can locate, and placed them in an easy to use format, with search capability.  Some of the main locations that reports were pulled from include but not limited to:

(BFRO) Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization
(GCBRO) Gulf Coast Bigfoot Research Organization
(TBRC) Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy
(NAWAC) North American Woodape Conservancy
(OBF) Oregon Bigfoot 
(IBS) International Bigfoot Society
(BFE) Bigfoot Encounters

Books like the Bigfoot Casebook are also searched for sighting reports and placed on the forums in the database.  And the late John Green's sighting reports database is being added too.  The MABRC also has a presentation that explains the need for folks to turn in sighting reports, and they were generous enough to give us permission to post it here.

A Bigfoot Cabal??

This is an editorial, the Bigfoot Field Guide attempts our best to stay apolitical in the Bigfoot Community, but sometimes, we just can't.

Ryan Reading recently posted a YouTube video (A link is at the bottom of the page for anyone wanting to waste about 8 minutes of your life, we link it because we don't really want to give Ryan a lot of hits for embedding it.) where he basically proclaimed that a super secret Bigfoot Cabal exists.  For those who don't know who Ryan Reading is, Ryan come onto the Bigfoot Community scene back in January of this year, with a photo taken in New York with a trailcam.

Description of Cabal -

A cabal is a group of people united in some close design together, usually to promote their private views or interests in a church, state, or other community, often by intrigue, usually unbeknown to persons outside their group.

The vast majority of the Community quickly deemed the photo to be of a cross country skier, analysis further backed up this assessment.  Ryan became increasingly hostile towards everyone during this period, and made a lot of people bitter towards anything coming from him.

He recently approached other well-known Bigfoot community members and asked to bury the hatchet.  Myself, I outlined about 6 steps that if he wanted to get credibility with others in the community and at first I thought he would take that advice to heart.  For those interested in what those steps were, I post them here for you to read.

For the love of pete Ryan, you can't be respected until you completely change your ways. You have alienated nearly every influential bigfooter in the community. You have saddled up with some of the worst in the community and that alone has lost you any respect that you think you deserve. You burst on the scene just around 6 months ago and proclaimed yourself an expert, that alone alienates the people that could either make or break you in this community. You need to be humble, you need to show some humility. You do not have the skills, people or technical skills to be telling people about their evidence. You want to be respected? First off, be respectful to those in the community that have been doing this a heck of a lot longer than you have. Melissa Hovey has been doing field research as long as I have, and she has respect for what she has done. People look at you just starting, proclaiming yourself to be an expert after just being on the scene of the Bigfoot Community for about 6 months. That alone doesn't endear you to anybody.

Second, you need to pull away from idiots like Kanney, Benoit, Dyer and anyone else that has a bad reputation. You get a reputation from those you hang with, and right now, your reputation is the same as theirs.

Third, you need to apologize to the whole Bigfoot Community for being so hateful and attacking everyone like you did. You need to show humbleness to the community before you can even start to get respect.

Fourth, stop trying to be the savior of the Bigfoot Community, too many people have tried in the past and it may be talked about for years by all kinds of so-called saviors, and guess what, it won't happen because everyone wants to be the big dogs. Your best bet is to just let it go, worry about yourself and not others. If it will ever happen, it will be because people with name recognition in the community will make it happen.

Fifth, get rid of all the attack videos you have ever posted, and proclaim that you are turning over a new leaf, and want to learn.

Maybe if you listen to people, you will find yourself starting to build up being respected because you listen, not putting people down.

Now Ryan thinks that a Secret Bigfoot Cabal exists that is keeping him from telling the truth about Bigfoot.  Folks, I have been in the Bigfoot Research Community for many years, and I can honestly say, those in the Bigfoot Community that Ryan would like for you to believe is in on this conspiracy, are not members of some secret society preventing the truth from being told about Bigfoot.  What there is, is a large number of people who have being doing this for years, seeing all the new folks coming into the Community with wild ideas and tales, to just do their own research, not make wild stories up, and show the evidence to back things up.  

The Bigfoot Field Guide staff firmly believes in the following mantra:

Many new folks coming into the Community do not do their own research.  Too many times, I see people posting items from the past that was proven to be hoaxes by the old timers in the community.  When told it was proven to be a hoax, instead of Googling the information for themselves, many will demand that the old timer provide the links to them instead.  Or they come up with what they think is an original idea, that has been tried over and over again by the old timers in the community with little success, and when told this, think that the old timers are holding them down.

Folks, if an old timer is telling you something, chances are, we are just trying to lead you in the right direction of learning.  It's not some secret Bigfoot Cabal trying to hold you down, chances are, what you are talking about or posting has been around so many years, that the old timers know all about it.

When the new folks start getting rambunctious with the old timers, that is usually where the friction starts.  The old timers have really gotten to the point where their patience is really limited with people.  This is where Ryan seems to think that the Cabal comes into play, as the old timers tend to circle the wagons with each other, defending each other from attacks from new folks who really have no clue about the history of Bigfooting, or who some of the old timers really are.

I've been doing this for decades, out of 4,000 times plus in the woods my entire lifetime, I have had 26 encounters where I can honestly say, it was a Bigfoot encounter.  That is a .004% of the time average of me having an encounter in the woods.  

Does this make me an expert?  No it doesn't, but I have still tried just about every tactic ever attempted, in some very highly active areas and can say what the results were.  I also know my Bigfoot History, as well as investigated every hoax that has come along since I started researching.  Does that make me an expert?  No, but it makes me well-informed, well-educated in the field of Bigfooting.

I also know most of the old timers in the Bigfoot Community as I have basically grew up with them in the field and online exchanges with them.  While I haven't met a lot of them in person, I still consider them friends, and while we may disagree on things at times, they stand like I do, we simply want people to do their research appropriately, and to present factual evidence.  And like me, their patience sometimes wears thin with people who demand links and other information that they themselves could Google and get the answers.  We all also have thick skins, we learned in the early days of online Bigfooting groups/forums, that you better have a thick skin, there were no "safe" places to hide like many seem to think they deserve.  If we said something stupid, the old timers then would put us in our place, and we learned from the experience.

So for Ryan Reading who wants to proclaim there is a super-secret Bigfooting Cabal that is holding him down, Ryan is ultimately responsible for his own downfall.  If he would listen to those who have been there before him, be respectful, learn from others mistakes, and stop with all the attack videos he has done about how everyone is against him.  

If you want to learn, the old timers will be more than glad to help you, but if you treat them like you know it all, and then act shocked that they get combative with you, it's all about respect, you don't show them respect, so they won't show you respect.  A two way street really.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1LyfIU7OHo