Bigfoot Lore by Val Zavala

I am posting a face book page dedicated to my personal friend and fellow researcher. His name is Val and he posts daily reports of Bigfoot activity from all over. He has had a Bigfoot sighting himself a few years back. And when I interviewed him he had mentioned that this sighting was a ” Life changing event”. So let me introduce my friend.
This post was kindly sent into me by a gentleman named Thomas Phelps, who has a back ground in history. I appreciate his contribution.
A book by Andrew Blackbird titled, History of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan (first published in 1887, but available on Scribd), has a legend story in Chapter 3 of the “earliest possible history” of Mackinaw Island and its inhabitants. As the story goes, the Ottawa (Odawa) came upon the island already occupied by a small band of Indians, who in turn consolidated with the Ottawa. A subsequent fight with Seneca (Iroquois) left only two ‘Ottawa’ survivors, a man and a woman, who escaped into the deepest wild and raised children, shunning civilization. It is believed:
“That is, they can be seen and unseen just as they see fit to be; and sometimes they simply manifest themselves as being present by throwing a club or a stone at a person walking in solitude, or by striking a dog belonging to the person walking; and sometimes by throwing a club at the lodge, night and day, or hearing their footsteps walking around the wigwam when the Indians would be camping out in an unsettled part of the country, and the dogs would bark, just as they would at any strange person approaching the door. And sometimes they would be tracked on snow by hunters, and if followed on their track, however recently passed, they could never be overtaken. Sometimes when an Indian would be hunting or walking in solitude, he would suddenly be seized with an unearthly fright, terribly awe stricken, apprehending some great evil. He feels very peculiar sensation from head to foot–the hair on his head stand and feeling like stiff porcupine quill. He feels benumbed with fright, and yet does not know what it is; and looking in every direction to see something, but nothing to be seen which might cause sensation of terror.”
The Ottawa call it “Paw-gwa-tchaw-nish-nah-boy,” or “wild roaming supernatural being.” This story caught my attention for the description contained within, which happens to be very similar to reports of Sasquatch behaviors experienced during encounters. I have never seen Blackbird’s accounting of Ottawa legend mentioned as a possible historical Sasquatch tale, but I think by the description it should be included.
Another great report from my friend Gumshoe.
Michigan has a long and rich history of Sasquatches. In fact, the earliest mention of this strangely beast goes back to 1631 long before the French traders would ply the land and missionaries navigated through the settled waters of the Detroit River. Michigan became the 26th state when it gained its statehood more t
Michigan has a long and rich history of Sasquatches. In fact, the earliest mention of this strangely beast goes back to 1631 long before the French traders would ply the land and missionaries navigated through the settled waters of the Detroit River. Michigan became the 26th state when it gained its statehood more than a dozen years after the War of 1612.
Missionaries, fur traders and British and American combatants both wrote about encounters and sightings too. Nearly each since the state became settled there had been singular reports of Sasquatches around the state and in each county.
Most years passed with ‘no’ reports, or a single or two reports in a single year but all of that changed in 1950 when six separate reports and recorded. The lowly precedent all changed in 1962 when twelve Bigfoot reports taken that year. In the next three years, there would of sorts and 41 reports would and the public would have their first real awareness of the strange and illusive animal spotted around the region leaving the public and authorities to deal with the mystery.
The next greatest leap in reported activity occurred in 1978 when there were 46 reports that year surpassing the previous four-year jump that 41 reports over a four-year time period.
In 2006, 28 years later the number of reported Sasquatch (Bigfoot) nearly doubled at 87.
Today there are 1,376 Michigan reports to date.
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Other information gleaned from the data:
There were 92 reports of encounters close enough to detail eye color. The overwhelming majority of colors mentioned were red, closely followed by yellow eyes.
There were 28 instances of extraordinarily tall, “Extreme Height” Bigfoots 10 feet or taller.
17 at 10 feet
5 at 11 feet
5 at 12 feet
1 at 16 feet
Colors of Sasquatch ranged from Black, Brown, Blonde, Grey, and White and all variation thereof.
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The most active time period are the hours between 7:00PM and 12:00AM midnight.
In springtime May is the peak time of year. July is the most active month of the year during summer months. During the “fall” season from the autumnal equinox period forward November is most active and February is the busiest wintertime month of the season in Michigan.
Of all four seasons the two most active are Summer and Fall, respectively.
To recap, the dawning age of Bigfoot’s march into Michigan’s long history began during the early to mid-1960s and steadily grew and peaked in 2006.
MAIN ACTIVITY GROUPS:
Boaters 29
Camping 215
Farming 141
Fishing 41
Hiking 443
Hunting 260
Motorist 247
Residence 383
1. SUB-GROUPINGS:
Abandoned Houses, Barns, Vehicles 24
Bridges 20
Caves 6
Cemeteries 9
Ditches 18
Going Bathroom 6
Swamps 252
2. SUB-GROUPINGS:
All Fours 38
Tree Breaks 207
Tree and Car Shaking 28
Watching Kids 60
Wearing Clothes 4
Window Peeping 56
3. SUB-GROUPINGS:
Extreme Heights 10 ft. or greater 28
Multiple Animals 76
4. SUB-GROUPINGS:
BF Nest 14
BF Poop 12
Odor 140
Stick Formation 35
Tracks 214
Vocals 450
Wood Knocks 64
5. SUB-GROUPINGS:
LEO 140
Military 12
Other Govt. Agency 57
7. SUB-GROUPINGS:
Aggression 184
Chasing 47
Climbing Trees or Roofs 20
Damage Property 41
Gunfire 20
House Pounding 42
Stalking 54
Stolen Food 26
Stolen Property
Throwing Objects 65
han a dozen years after the War of 1612.
Missionaries, fur traders and British and American combatants both wrote about encounters and sightings too. Nearly each since the state became settled there had been singular reports of Sasquatches around the state and in each county.
Most years passed with ‘no’ reports, or a single or two reports in a single year but all of that changed in 1950 when six separate reports and recorded. The lowly precedent all changed in 1962 when twelve Bigfoot reports taken that year. In the next three years, there would of sorts and 41 reports would and the public would have their first real awareness of the strange and illusive animal spotted around the region leaving the public and authorities to deal with the mystery.
The next greatest leap in reported activity occurred in 1978 when there were 46 reports that year surpassing the previous four-year jump that 41 reports over a four-year time period.
In 2006, 28 years later the number of reported Sasquatch (Bigfoot) nearly doubled at 87.
Today there are 1,376 Michigan reports to date.
———————————————————————————————-
Other information gleaned from the data:
There were 92 reports of encounters close enough to detail eye color. The overwhelming majority of colors mentioned were red, closely followed by yellow eyes.
There were 28 instances of extraordinarily tall, “Extreme Height” Bigfoots 10 feet or taller.
17 at 10 feet
5 at 11 feet
5 at 12 feet
1 at 16 feet
Colors of Sasquatch ranged from Black, Brown, Blonde, Grey, and White and all variation thereof.
————————————————————————————————
The most active time period are the hours between 7:00PM and 12:00AM midnight.
In springtime May is the peak time of year. July is the most active month of the year during summer months. During the “fall” season from the autumnal equinox period forward November is most active and February is the busiest wintertime month of the season in Michigan.
Of all four seasons the two most active are Summer and Fall, respectively.
To recap, the dawning age of Bigfoot’s march into Michigan’s long history began during the early to mid-1960s and steadily grew and peaked in 2006.
MAIN ACTIVITY GROUPS:
Boaters 29
Camping 215
Farming 141
Fishing 41
Hiking 443
Hunting 260
Motorist 247
Residence 383
1. SUB-GROUPINGS:
Abandoned Houses, Barns, Vehicles 24
Bridges 20
Caves 6
Cemeteries 9
Ditches 18
Going Bathroom 6
Swamps 252
2. SUB-GROUPINGS:
All Fours 38
Tree Breaks 207
Tree and Car Shaking 28
Watching Kids 60
Wearing Clothes 4
Window Peeping 56
3. SUB-GROUPINGS:
Extreme Heights 10 ft. or greater 28
Multiple Animals 76
4. SUB-GROUPINGS:
BF Nest 14
BF Poop 12
Odor 140
Stick Formation 35
Tracks 214
Vocals 450
Wood Knocks 64
5. SUB-GROUPINGS:
LEO 140
Military 12
Other Govt. Agency 57
7. SUB-GROUPINGS:
Aggression 184
Chasing 47
Climbing Trees or Roofs 20
Damage Property 41
Gunfire 20
House Pounding 42
Stalking 54
Stolen Food 26
Stolen Property
Throwing Objects 65
From Gum shoe guy:
Urban, Suburban and Rural Bigfoot
Think of it like wheel with and hub, and spokes that reach out in all directions around the center of Detroit. There are roughly 4.75 – 5. 75 million in the greater metropolitan Detroit area of southeast Michigan consisting of six primary and four secondary counties making up a region referred to as southeast Michigan according to (MSA) Michigan statistical areas studies.
Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, St. Clair and Lapeer
Washtenaw, Lenawee, Genesee and Monroe
Together in all, the ten immediate counties are identified as making up the most populated Detroit metropolitan areas in southeast Michigan had 244 Bigfoot sightings or encounters – is the same area where between 4.75 and 5. 75 million people call home or half of the state’s 10 million people live. If Sasquatches were not comfortable around people per se how does one explain that?
The obvious answer is that Bigfoot live and thrive on the peripherals or fringes of human society and development and you don’t even know it.
Jake and the Bigfoot
Lookup
In the big darkened woods on a warm moonlit night
He ran behind trees and dodged all the light
The sounds of the night sent chills up his spine
What could he be hearing? What would he find?
The silence was broken by twigs under foot
He hid in the darkness. Should he dare look?
Something approached as he lifted his head
Wide eyed and mouth open, Jake’s heart filled with dread
He fought six year old fear and six year old pride
As he stood toe to toe and swore not to cry
Feet bigger than dad’s and wearing no clothes
Hairy all over, he looked down his nose
At a six year old boy with widened blue eyes
Looking up at this creature. Jake soon realized
This was a Big Foot! It wasn’t a man!
He wasn’t afraid, He took his big hand
He stared in his eyes for what seemed like days
Although never speaking, he shared Big Foot ways.
He could hear in his mind, all the things Big Foot thought
Revealing what he was…….and what he was NOT!
This gentle creation that held Jake’s small hand
Told of his family and how they lived off the land
The experiences, work and games that they played
His home and the forest and friends he had made
Appearing before certain people at times
That understand Mother Nature and God’s awesome signs
The chosen humanity are different than most
The others never see us. Never allowed too close
You’re soft hearted, caring, considerate boy
Brimming with love with a heart full of joy
Jake felt his six year old heart swell with love
For his big footed friend who towered above
He led him past trees where the others awaited
Jake couldn’t believe what God had created
Now running and playing and laughing so free
Experiencing wondrous infinite beauty
But as time passed, they wandered away
Having so much to do, they were done with their play
His big footed friend led him back the spot
Where thanked him for sharing all he was taught
Jake let go of his hand and hugged him so tight
Squeezing his neck with all of his might
He felt love and kindness in the embrace of his friend
As tears filled his eyes he knew it was the end
The beautiful Big Foot cupped his six year old face
And in the silence he felt his heart start to race
He saw beauty and colors and love and lots more
Magnificent things he’d never noticed before
He knew he’d see him again as he walked slowly away
Knowing tomorrow would be a wonderful new day
Bigfoot Encounter in Michigan Upper Peninsula
“First time I saw one was in (outside) Toledo, Ohio in 1964. One walked right in front of the bay window that was 5-6 feet off the ground (it was a tall monster). I saw another one in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, that was a close one. I was fishing in a small boat close to the shore when one came close and freaked me out for a long time. I still don’t camp anymore in the woods.
I was about 15, I think, when I went on a camping trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I’m from Toledo, Ohio and have lived close to trees and the woods all my life. Well, I went with an aunt and uncle with the pop up camper (not too safe). It was an okay trip to the campgrounds on some lake in the middle of BFE. The night we got there something took the bag of food my uncle put on a super high tree branch. It was gone in the morning, I knew something was out there. The light brought us out of the camper and we saw the bag was gone (spooky already). Later on in the morning, I wanted to go fishing (in a row boat) of all things. I was probably rowing for a half an hour to get to the other side of the lake and found a cove. So I went in the cove and tossed a line in the water (fishing) it wasn’t but a short time and I heard thunder. That was enough to get me ready to leave as storms are not fun when its cold. As soon as I reeled in the line, I noticed a doe that was standing near the water and getting a drink. She turned to run and froze in her tracks. I looked at the top of the little hill that had a path on it and saw a real live Bigfoot. It was standing up and moving back and forth. I was already in third gear when I saw that. I’ve heard that some of them like human food (me). I don’t know what happened to that baby doe but I’m sure it was caught.” WE
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