Henry.May08
10-15-2008, 07:20 PM
NORTH AMERICA'S GREAT APE:
the SASQUATCH
By Dr. John Bindernagel
A wildlife biologist looks at the continent's most
misunderstood large mammal
In 1998 I published North America's Great Ape: the Sasquatch to summarize the evidence on which my sasquatch research was based. It had become clear to me that most people did not realize just how much information we already had regarding the anatomy, behavior and ecology of this controversial wildlife species. In the introductory chapters of the book I briefly addressed some of the problems of belief and knowledge regarding the idea of the sasquatch as a real animal. I felt such a discussion was necessary for us to understand the widespread resistance--approaching denial-- to accepting the sasquatch as real. I continued on to challenge two commonly held ideas that sasquatch sightings can be accounted for by (1) hoaxes, or (2) misidentified bears. My main goal in the book was to provide readers with a more complete picture of sasquatch appearance, anatomy, food habits, and ecology based on existing, but not readily available, reports. Most of the book is devoted to bringing us up to date on what is "known," or at least reported, for the sasquatch regarding its appearance, anatomical details, gait, sign, food habits, and behavior. The last few chapters develop the hypothesis, first suggested by the appearance and anatomy reported for the animal, that the sasquatch is a great ape, similar in many ways to the great apes of Africa (chimpanzees and gorillas) and Asia (orangutans). The most significant differences from these better-known great apes are, of course, (1) the habitual bipedal (two-footed) gait of the sasquatch, compared with the normal quadrupedal (four-footed) gait of other apes, and, (2) the humanlike foot of the sasquatch in which all five toes are aligned alongside each other rather than having an opposable big-toe as in the more arboreal African and Asian apes.
It should be acknowledged that author John Green has been referring to the sasquatch as an ape since the 1960s, based on the many descriptions of the sasquatch appearance as "gorillalike", and "apelike." (See his book: The Apes Among Us). And Grover Krantz (in his book Big Footprints) discusses details of ape anatomy which help us understand several details of reported sasquatch anatomy. In my own case it was the writing of these two men and the presentatons of Dr. Henner Fahrenbach, Beaverton, Oregon, and Dr. Jeff Meldrum, Idaho State University, at the 1996 Sasquatch Forum held in Harrison Hot Springs, B. C., that provided the impetus for me to publish the results of my research in an easily-readable format. While writing the book, additional study led me into what I consider the most interesting aspect of sasquatch biology--its behavior, and especially its intimidation behavior in reponse to human presence.
For years some reports of truly bizarre behavior were attributed to sasquatches. Whereas the normal response of a sasquatch to human presence is withdrawal, there are numerous reports of throwing stones, and even more aggressive behavior in the form of shaking vehicles, slapping and shoving dwellings, throwing large rocks and chunks of wood, and chasing people. Loud, resonant calls (including "unearthly" screams), and overwhelming (even "eye-watering") odor have also been reported.
To find other examples of this behavior in the animal world, we must go to the primates: monkeys, apes, and humans. In the writing of Jane Goodall and her co-workers and colleagues (The Chimpanzees of Gombe) we find numerous examples of chimpanzees throwing rocks both large and small. From Dian Fossey (Gorillas in the Mist) we learn that gorillas occasionally produce a "gagging" odor. From John MacKinnon (In Search of the Red Ape) and Birute Galdikas (Reflections of Eden) we learn of orangutans dropping branches on people and pushing snags toward them. And from George Schaller (The Mountain Gorilla) we learn about primate displays in which both apes and humans release tension by throwing things, beating on things, stamping their feet, etc. Essentially all the remarkable behavior we have heard in sasquatch reports is present in the better-studied great apes of Africa and Asia. But whereas we accept the reports of well-known primatologists concerning animals in exotic places, we have been much more reluctant to accept reports of an apelike animal which behaves in a similar way, but much closer to home. Readers with an open mind may wish to accompany me as I review the highlights of some 150 sasquatch reports and compare them with similar reports from Africa and Asia. They may conclude, as I have, that the sasquatch is indeed North America's great ape.
NORTH AMERICA'S GREAT APE: the SASQUATCH
A wildlife biologist looks at the continent's most misunderstood large mammal
Published by Beachcomber Books and available from the publisher. Orders may be placed by mail, e-mail, or by phone through a toll-free order line. The price is US$ 25.00 postpaid. Payment can be made by money order, VISA, or through PayPal (click on button below).
ISBN 0-9682887-0-7
270 pages including 9 appendixes, 5 tables, 560 supporting endnotes, and a glossary.
24 pages of illustrations including 27 photographs and 10 drawings.
5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches, perfect bound.
Beachcomber Books
PO Box 3286
Courtenay, BC
Canada, V9N 5N4
beachcom@island.net
(250) 338-8767 Toll Free Order Number: 1-800-487-1494
the SASQUATCH
By Dr. John Bindernagel
A wildlife biologist looks at the continent's most
misunderstood large mammal
In 1998 I published North America's Great Ape: the Sasquatch to summarize the evidence on which my sasquatch research was based. It had become clear to me that most people did not realize just how much information we already had regarding the anatomy, behavior and ecology of this controversial wildlife species. In the introductory chapters of the book I briefly addressed some of the problems of belief and knowledge regarding the idea of the sasquatch as a real animal. I felt such a discussion was necessary for us to understand the widespread resistance--approaching denial-- to accepting the sasquatch as real. I continued on to challenge two commonly held ideas that sasquatch sightings can be accounted for by (1) hoaxes, or (2) misidentified bears. My main goal in the book was to provide readers with a more complete picture of sasquatch appearance, anatomy, food habits, and ecology based on existing, but not readily available, reports. Most of the book is devoted to bringing us up to date on what is "known," or at least reported, for the sasquatch regarding its appearance, anatomical details, gait, sign, food habits, and behavior. The last few chapters develop the hypothesis, first suggested by the appearance and anatomy reported for the animal, that the sasquatch is a great ape, similar in many ways to the great apes of Africa (chimpanzees and gorillas) and Asia (orangutans). The most significant differences from these better-known great apes are, of course, (1) the habitual bipedal (two-footed) gait of the sasquatch, compared with the normal quadrupedal (four-footed) gait of other apes, and, (2) the humanlike foot of the sasquatch in which all five toes are aligned alongside each other rather than having an opposable big-toe as in the more arboreal African and Asian apes.
It should be acknowledged that author John Green has been referring to the sasquatch as an ape since the 1960s, based on the many descriptions of the sasquatch appearance as "gorillalike", and "apelike." (See his book: The Apes Among Us). And Grover Krantz (in his book Big Footprints) discusses details of ape anatomy which help us understand several details of reported sasquatch anatomy. In my own case it was the writing of these two men and the presentatons of Dr. Henner Fahrenbach, Beaverton, Oregon, and Dr. Jeff Meldrum, Idaho State University, at the 1996 Sasquatch Forum held in Harrison Hot Springs, B. C., that provided the impetus for me to publish the results of my research in an easily-readable format. While writing the book, additional study led me into what I consider the most interesting aspect of sasquatch biology--its behavior, and especially its intimidation behavior in reponse to human presence.
For years some reports of truly bizarre behavior were attributed to sasquatches. Whereas the normal response of a sasquatch to human presence is withdrawal, there are numerous reports of throwing stones, and even more aggressive behavior in the form of shaking vehicles, slapping and shoving dwellings, throwing large rocks and chunks of wood, and chasing people. Loud, resonant calls (including "unearthly" screams), and overwhelming (even "eye-watering") odor have also been reported.
To find other examples of this behavior in the animal world, we must go to the primates: monkeys, apes, and humans. In the writing of Jane Goodall and her co-workers and colleagues (The Chimpanzees of Gombe) we find numerous examples of chimpanzees throwing rocks both large and small. From Dian Fossey (Gorillas in the Mist) we learn that gorillas occasionally produce a "gagging" odor. From John MacKinnon (In Search of the Red Ape) and Birute Galdikas (Reflections of Eden) we learn of orangutans dropping branches on people and pushing snags toward them. And from George Schaller (The Mountain Gorilla) we learn about primate displays in which both apes and humans release tension by throwing things, beating on things, stamping their feet, etc. Essentially all the remarkable behavior we have heard in sasquatch reports is present in the better-studied great apes of Africa and Asia. But whereas we accept the reports of well-known primatologists concerning animals in exotic places, we have been much more reluctant to accept reports of an apelike animal which behaves in a similar way, but much closer to home. Readers with an open mind may wish to accompany me as I review the highlights of some 150 sasquatch reports and compare them with similar reports from Africa and Asia. They may conclude, as I have, that the sasquatch is indeed North America's great ape.
NORTH AMERICA'S GREAT APE: the SASQUATCH
A wildlife biologist looks at the continent's most misunderstood large mammal
Published by Beachcomber Books and available from the publisher. Orders may be placed by mail, e-mail, or by phone through a toll-free order line. The price is US$ 25.00 postpaid. Payment can be made by money order, VISA, or through PayPal (click on button below).
ISBN 0-9682887-0-7
270 pages including 9 appendixes, 5 tables, 560 supporting endnotes, and a glossary.
24 pages of illustrations including 27 photographs and 10 drawings.
5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches, perfect bound.
Beachcomber Books
PO Box 3286
Courtenay, BC
Canada, V9N 5N4
beachcom@island.net
(250) 338-8767 Toll Free Order Number: 1-800-487-1494