(Eastern) Bigfoot Ambush Tactics

http://voices.yahoo.com/bigfoot-ambush-tactics-8927213.html?cat=58

[This pair of articles does have some good illustrations, although I put no stock in the photograph the second illustration is based on. The second one reminds me of Dr. Seuss's Lorax somewhat-DD]

Bigfoot Ambush Tactics

Sasquatch or Bigfoot Use Unique Strategies to Obtain Their Food Sources

David Claerr, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Aug 7, 2011 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

Sasquatch, or Bigfoot as they are variously known, are well established in the state of Texas. The cinematic version of Texas is a land of tallgrasss prairie or parched desert and tumbleweeds, but that terrain is only found in the western portion of the vast Texas acreage. In northeast, eastern and central Texas are extensive forests and woodlands that support an astonishing variety of wildlife, including the mighty forest hominins. On two notable occasions within the last two years, I had the opportunity to investigate scenes where Bigfoot displayed intelligent and cunning tactics to harvest their prey. The Sasquatch, or Bigfoot are omnivorous hunter-gatherers. They are opportunistic and inventive, and employ strategies that require long-term memory, planning and perceptive imagination. They are not brutish apes that rely on instinct. As the new genetic tests reveal, they are very close relatives to humans, and are as complex and diverse across the world as are all members of the genus Homo, past and present.
In recent years, Texas, like most of the continental United States has been experiencing extremes of weather, from torrential rains to severe drought. Both the rains and drought have forced the Bigfoot to expand out of their normal habitats and range, often bringing them to the periphery of human settlements. By nature, Bigfoot are primarily nocturnal, and their range is in the forested bottom-lands along rivers, creeks, lakes and watersheds.
The unprecedented extremes of weather has disrupted their normal life cycle, with high floodwaters forcing them out of many of their subterranean dwellings and dense lowland thickets. The current severe drought has dried up many of the creeks, and even rivers and lakes have extremely low water levels. A large portion of the Bigfoot diet in Texas is normally fish and aquatic creatures. They also consume large quantities of fruit and edible tubers, roots and vegetation. All of these sources have been diminished considerably in recent years.
However, the intelligent and adaptable Sasquatch or Bigfoot have devised many other survival strategies. They are keenly observant and can even use man-made structures and articles to their advantage. The following are the two examples of sites that I investigated that illustrate this point.
The first instance occurred during the widespread flooding in 2009. The location was in North Texas, in the general area of Paris, Texas. I was investigating along the shore of a large lake, where the normal shoreline was submerged in about 10 feet of water. I stopped at a public-access port that had a boat ramp also submerged) and a small parking lot that was on the hillside, elevated above the swollen waterline. Adjacent to the parking lot was a picnic area that had tables, a water spigot and also, a large steel dumpster. The picnic area is sometimes used as a weekend party spot by rowdy revelers because it is somewhat remote and generally not patrolled by law enforcement. The area was strewn with trash, watermelon rinds, chicken bones, biscuits and corncobs. There was also an immediately discernible odor that I associate with Sasquatch.
The odor is complex and difficult to describe. In fact, the Bigfoot have devised a strategy to mask their natural scent- they use the scent from skunk glands to camouflage their own. At the picnic area, there was a strong smell of skunk, but underlying it was the smell of Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, in action. The smell has elements that would be familiar to anyone who has spent time in the locker rooms of professional athletes at halftime. Adrenaline, testosterone and pheromones mix in a strong, pungent odor that is easy to recognize after a few exposures to it. The pervasive odor immediately drew my attention to the picnic area. A few yards from the dumpster I found the remains of a large feral hog. (There has been a population explosion of feral hogs in Texas- some cross-breeding with wild boars that produce enormous offspring.)
As I examined the area, I found evidence of an ambush and struggle. On the ground were traceable tracks of the hog. It was apparent that it entered the picnic area and was browsing on the picnic scraps. It drew near to the dumpster as it foraged. Unbeknownst to the hog, a Bigfoot was patiently waiting atop the dumpster, in a relaxed crouch, ready to spring into action. Hand- and foot prints on the dumpster, and the scuff marks, prints and drag-marks told the tale. The Bigfoot had pounced down, grappling the hog bear-hug style, breaking its fall in a sideways roll. The hog, probably at 250 lbs. or more kicked and struggled. At one point it nearly broke loose but was quickly recaptured and summarily dispatched. (Sasquatch have tremendous strength and normally make a fast and merciful harvest by breaking the neck of their prey.)
The second instance occurred in 2011, during the most severe drought in Texas since records were begun in the 1800's. Acting on a tip from locals who reported sightings at a roadside picnic area, I performed an investigation that had surprising results. I believe that, in this case, due to the extremity of the drought, the Bigfoot were taking advantage of an available situation that was normally outside of their traditional habitat.
The roadside stop was one typical of the many small picnic areas that are interspersed along the vast network of highways in Texas. It had a narrow gravel drive and parking lot, two picnic tables, no restrooms or water. The location again was fairly remote, within a wilderness area where the only traffic was the secondary highway that cut across it. The general location was in the Hill Country of Texas. The picnic spot was set in a grassy natural meadow that spread beneath a small grove of huge Live Oak trees. The trees have massive trunks that support thick, sprawling branches thrusting horizontally out in a wide reach. In the drought, the soil, thick with clay, was baked hard. The grass was dry and withered already in July.
As I began to look for activity, I first noticed the obvious black trash bags strewn about, their sides ripped open and the contents emptied out beneath the oaks. Some of the picnic scraps were fresh and untouched. Near the tables was a gleaming new trash can, with a unique design engineered to keep out bears. The can was fashioned from an oil drum that was set into a circular metal frame. the frame was set in a block of cement and had broad bands of steel welded around the sides. The lid of the barrel was also new and unique. It was fashioned from 3/4 inch thick high-grade aluminum. It lay flat atop the drum and had a piano-style hinge at about one-third of its cross-section. There was no handle, and to open it, it was necessary to lift the lid by reaching one's fingertips under the narrow lip that overlapped the edge of the drum. This design would be a barrier to most animals, but no challenge whatsoever to the dexterous Sasquatch.
Searching the area, I found some rather surprising evidence of Bigfoot's successful forays. Only a few yards from the picnic tables and in an area roughly parallel to the road, were numerous animal pelts lying in the grass. The pelts were nearly the whole skin and fur of the animal, as though stripped in one swift, fluid and very powerful motion. The pelts were from deer, possum, raccoon, skunk, dog, cat, jackrabbit, and even a cow! There were some pelts that were not easily identifiable and also a few scattered skeletal remains, mostly limbs of the larger animals or rib-cages of the smaller ones. (There were no skulls of any kind.) One pelt appeared to be that of a cougar. In many years of wilderness travel, this was by far the largest collection of animal remains that I have ever found in one spot. The hard earth and broken or uprooted grass showed obvious signs of scuffles, and impressions of impacts from very large and heavy creatures.
I examined the tree trunks and limbs. There were worn areas on the bark where evidently the Bigfoot had grasped or placed hands and feet while clambering up, and similarly worn areas on the horizontal limbs where they apparently had perched. There was also the faint but pervasive odor of skunk and Sasquatch.
From this evidence, I arrived at the logical premise that the Bigfoot or Sasquatch had developed a strategy of raiding the trash can, mainly to use the picnic scraps as bait. The bags were ripped apart, and the contents scattered below the trees. At night, the primarily nocturnal Bigfoot lay in wait on the overhanging tree limbs. They would then pounce on whatever animal arrived, attracted by the bait they had set out. Again, this strategy requires an inventive imagination, planning, patience and a long-term memory that approaches the capacity of humans. Recognition of these sophisticated abilities should result in renewed respect and appreciation of these intelligent and creative beings that share the natural world with us.

 http://voices.yahoo.com/bigfoot-sighted-near-ft-worth-texas-2928087.html?cat=3

Bigfoot Sighted Near Ft. Worth, Texas The Lake Worth Monster or Greer Island Goat-Man

David Claerr, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Mar 23, 2009
"Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here

Among all the reported sightings and contacts between humans and the legendary Sasquatch, also called Bigfoot, one of the most fascinating and lively documented cases occurred in the community of Lake Worth, just to the northwest of Fort Worth, Texas. Not only did over a hundred people report seeing the creature, in some cases there were up to forty people who saw it at the same time and place, and among them were police officers who noted the episodes in their official reports.
The intriguing story, with all the elements of drama and high-camp that are the standard ingredients of a B-grade movie thriller, took place over a few months time, beginning in the summer of 1969. Complete with bizarre descriptions and incredible events, the tale could be dismissed by hard-boiled skeptics as the product of hysteria or hoaxsters. However, to the open mind, there may be something of substance in the records, which include a unique Polaroid photograph. The picture, when analyzed with modern digital image-rectifying techniques, reveals characteristics that are in accord with other, more recent photographic evidence.
But first, on with the tale. In the pre-dawn hours of a summer's day, six terrified citizens burst into the local police station. John Reichert and his wife, along with two other couples, related that they had been at the park along the lake after in the middle of the night, enjoying the balmy weather and moonlight on the lake. Suddenly, crashing down through the trees above, and landing with a tremendous slam on the hood of the car, was a huge, hideous creature. It reached out for Mrs. Reichart, trying to grab her. John started the car and slammed it into gear. At the roar of the engine and the with the car jerking into motion, the creature bounded off into the woods, having left an eighteen-inch scratch on the side of the car. And here's where the story grew stranger: they described the creature as something resembling a cross between a man and a goat that not only had fur -but also fish-like scales!
The police, impressed by the agitated state and the agreement of all six witnesses, took them seriously. In fact, there had been reports in the previous two months of strange beings lurking in the deep, thick forests to the north of town, that bordered the lake. Four patrol cars were dispatched to the scene. The story generated such interest that it made the second page of the Fort Worth Star Telegram on July 10th. "Fishy Man-Goat Terrifies couples Parked at Lake Worth", read the headline of the article.
But the by the next day it was front-page news. Within twenty-four hours of the first sighting, the creature made an even more dramatic appearance before a crowd of some thirty to forty people. The first article in the Star Telegram, and broadcasts by local radio stations giving breaking reports of sightings, had people flocking to the area along what is now Shoreline Drive. One of the witnesses interviewed by the Telegram was Jack Harris, who spotted the Bigfoot as it crossed the road that around, and tried to take two pictures, but the camera's flash bulb failed. Pursuing the creature, along with dozens of other motorists, he followed it into a field bordered by limestone bluffs. The Bigfoot was seen clambering up, down and about the terraced slopes, uttering loud wails and guttural growls, in obvious distress from the mob of people below, some of whom were armed for the hunt.
The witnesses had parked their cars and rushed into the field below the bluffs, shining their flashlights on the figure scrambling along the embankments. Local sheriffs had arrived at the scene and were among the crowd. The vigilantes in the group were working up the gumption to have at the Bigfoot, and, just when one of the rifle-toting good ole boys crowed "Let's go get 'im!" the creature made his move. With a piercing howl, it sprung down from a ledge about twenty feet high to the field below. Then, in an incredible feat of strength, it picked up an old car tire, still on the heavy steel rim, and hurled it 300 feet or more straight at the crowd.
The sudden and astonishing gambit by the Bigfoot created pandemonium amongst its pursuers. The crowd fled in a panic to their cars. One of them, Ronny Armstrong, smashed up his car by backing into a tree in his haste to escape. The Sheriff's men were as terrified as everyone else and departed the scene just as swiftly.
"Police, Residents Observe, But Can't Identify Monster," the next day's Star Telegram's first page headline blared. Included in the issue was a photo with Jack Harris and Ronny Armstrong, who were interviewed for the article. Ronny has the car tire propped up against his leg as he points to the bluff the creature leapt from. A dashed line drawn on the picture traces the path of the Bigfoot's leap, and a big black "X" marks the spot where he landed. Ronny is standing in the foreground, where the tire came to rest, having bounced and rolled through the field after hitting the ground.
More headlines and stories were posted throughout the following days: "Witnesses Watch Monster Cavort," "Loch Worth Monster Reportedly Furry, Scaly" and "Ghosts Seen on Greer Island." The reports describe the Bigfoot as being seven feet tall and up to 300 pounds, with grayish-white fur. Over 100 people examined tracks found in a field. The prints measured about sixteen inches long by eight inches wide, with a shape similar to that of a human foot. During that time period, a Polaroid picture was taken by Allen Plaster, who owned a fashion boutique in Ft. Worth. The Bigfoot is seen wading through the tall grass and weeds of a field. The grainy exposure, taken at night with a flash, is overexposed, and the light fur stands out in high contrast to the inky darkness of the background. The blurred view of the creature extends from below the waist to above the nose, and is cropped off at the top.
However with a series of sophisticated digital image rectifying techniques, more intriguing details emerge. The first is the anatomy of the arm, which is partially discernible even in the original photo. In enhanced images, the structure of underlying muscle and tendon is plainly visible, and correctly placed for a homoniod primate. The area above and below the elbow show these features most plainly. (Link to Image in Rescources below)
The second convincing element is the pattern of marking on the fur of the Bigfoot. Ranging from dark grey to nearly white, the markings are consistent with more recent photographic evidence and eyewitness observations. There is a band of darker fur (or hair) that runs across the chest back across the shoulder. The fur on the back is
considerably darker, deepening in shade as it approaches the spine, which makes the contour of the back very difficult to see in the original exposure. The fur on the scalp also darkens toward the back and top of the conical skull. And the creature's goat-like beard is dark, approaching black, in the middle.
Enhancement also shows the shape of the Bigfoot's body. Much like a pro power weigh-lifter, the creature has massive thighs and gluteal muscles, and a pronounced abdomen that could be mistaken for a pot-belly. The shoulders are broad, and the creature has a massive barrel chest. The combination of anatomical features and
patterning of the fur or hair closely resemble the type of Sasquatch, or Bigfoot photographed in Moyie Springs Idaho. (refer to the links to images in the Resource section below.)
One of the puzzling aspects encountered in the research of Bigfoot or Saquatch is the sometimes markedly different appearance of the creatures from different geographical areas. The answer to the apparent contradiction is that the Bigfoot are genetically diverse, as are humans and canines. Picture an English Sheepdog next to a Hairless Chihuahua. Or a seven foot tall Watusi Warrior alongside a petite Japanese Geishia. In addition to differing lengths and texture of body hair or fur, many Bigfoot have recessive genetic traits, sometimes expressed as partial or full albinism, ranging through the full gamut of colors as seen in humans: black, brown, auburn, red, blond and white, in variegated shades, mixes and patterns.
The curious descriptions of the creature variously known as "Lake Worth Monster", "Greer Island Goat-Man" or "Manny Goat" requires more discussion. Much like the Moyie Springs Sasquatch, the Lake Worth Bigfoot has a long goatee on a somewhat recessive chin. The lips are wide and large in proportion to the face, due in part to the large, robust span of teeth in its forward-jutting mouth. Another feature that mimics a goat's muzzle is the long span below the broad, high-set pug nose and upper lip, which is covered in a long, bushy mustache. The eyes are deeply set under a beetling brow and high forehead that slopes upward to a conical cranium. The resulting impression could easily trigger an association with the appearance of a goat. ( In a more comical aside: when working on the digital enhancements, the visage that emerged seemed oddly familiar in some aspects, like some famous personage. At last I made the connection- the creature reminded me of none other than... Charles Darwin!)
Another bizarre aspect in the reports is the description of fish-like scales, although it appears mainly in the Reichert episode. Let's examine this claim more closely. Though the insistence on this feature seems fantastical, there may be a more logical, though mundane explanation for the phenomenon. It is likely that what the Reichert party saw actually were fish scales. Research over the years by the author, and many others, indicate that the primary habitat of the Bigfoot, especially in the southern US, is the woodlands bordering major watersheds: along rivers, creeks and lakes. A major portion of the Bigfoot diet is often fish, clams, crayfish and turtles, which are obtained by foraging in the shallows of the waterways. Skeletons, shells and other remains are sometimes found in piles on hilltops or wedged in the limbs of trees. It is possible that the Reicherts had parked their car beneath a tree where the Bigfoot was eating a large fish such as a carp or alligator gar. The abundant scales, removed by the creature's sharp nails and teeth were likely clinging to its chest and belly fur, adhered by the sticky mucus secretions of the fish. Grizzly bears, coated with salmon scales in a similar fashion, are often observed.
In the following weeks and months, more reports surfaced, with various trackers and hunting parties reporting evidence in the form of sightings, footprints, vocalizations and even pungent remnant odors. Sheep carcases were found half-eaten, with broken necks and backs, the bodies rent asunder. One group of five hunters reported shooting the creature, and then following a trail that led from a large pool of blood, down into the water of the lake, opposite Greer Island. Three friends, driving around looking for the Bigfoot in a car, asserted that it jumped down on the vehicle. The driver, Jim Stephens of Bluemound, claimed that the creature clung to the hood of his car. He swerved the car from side to side, rocking it to shake the Bigfoot off. Only when Jim accidentally rammed the car into a tree did the creature release his grip and flee. The last high-profile sighting in 1969 occurred on November 7th, when Charles Buchanan claimed that, as he slept in the back of his pickup truck, a Bigfoot lifted up his sleeping bag (with him inside). Charles, thinking fast, then shoved a sack of fried chicken in the Bigfoot's face. The Bigfoot grasped the sack in his mouth and shambled off into the lake, once again swimming to Greer Island.
Eventually the reports diminished. Perhaps the Bigfoot moved on to less hazardous areas, or kept a low profile after suffering some gunshot wounds. There is also the possibility that it died shortly thereafter. However, the Bigfoot are often accompanied in their nocturnal nomadic foraging by related family members; therefore, the Lake Worth region may still be part of the range of the enigmatic creatures.
Sources: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Thursday, July 10 1969. By Jim Marris
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Friday, July 11 1969. By Jim Marris
"The Lake Worth Monster" Fate Magazine. October, 1992. By Mark Chorvinsky
"The Lake Worth Monster of Greer Island, Ft. Worth, Texas" 1969. By Sallie Ann Clarke
Rescources:
Clipping from Star Telegram: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tySlO8_CVnA/R3U2kRxpGEI/AAAAAAAAADc/NNC1WJo1Tc4/s1600-h/startel71169.jpg
Allen Plaster's Polaroid Picture:
http://www.ufodigest.com/images/lakeworth.jpg
Moyie Springs Bigfoot Picture:
http://ccn1.net/POTD3/big-foot.jpg
As fatr as I am concerned the two photos are hoaxes but I'll post them anway in case any readers do not know what the references are to: