Signs of the Giant

A roundup of the physical markers signifying you might be trailing a bigfoot.

From Newsweek's Special Edition Magazine - "BIGFOOT: The Science, Sightings, and Search for America's Elusive Legend" - Purchase here!   

Footprints 
The most common piece of evidence Bigfoot searchers find in the wild are footprints. A Sasquatch footprint usually averages around 15.6 inches, according to the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, but can be larger or smaller depending on gender and age of the Bigfoot. The creatures also take very long strides, so the footprints will be several feet apart. Many researchers have taken casts of the prints with cement to analyze, as a host of information can be gleaned from a string of footprints. According to Bigfooters such as Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum, the toes are visible in most footprints because Sasquatches might have flexible midtarsal joints, causing the animals to put more weight on the front of their feet.

Hair
Sasquatches will sometimes leave behind multiple strands of hair in trees. They are similar to gorillas in the sense that they are covered with hair rather than fur. This explains why hair samples are rare
and coveted among the Bigfoot community. Fur falls out and sheds in large quantities while hair comes out several strands at a time. A Bigfoot's hair generally ranges in color from reddish brown to black, but as the creatures age, their hair can turn gray.

Broken Tree Limbs
 Sasquatches will often leave broken tree branches in their wake. One reason why they do this could be to mark their territory to ward off other Bigfoots and large mammals. Others believe the animals eat leaves, and break the branches in order to get their dinner. Sasquatch searchers tend to find freshly broken branches after snowfall, but the reason remains a mystery to the Bigfooters.

Scat 
Although these samples can be rare, Sasquatch feces can sometimes be found near their footprints. The stool is much larger than other animals' samples, according to Dr. W. Henner Fahrenbach, who found a Sasquatch stool 2 feet long.

From Newsweek's Special Edition Magazine - "BIGFOOT: The Science, Sightings, and Search for America's Elusive Legend" - Purchase here!