Hurray! You found the Bigfoot cryptid cache in Van Raalte Park!
History of Bigfoot:
Bigfoot is a large, mysterious humanoid creature who is covered in fur, like a gorilla. Bigfoots live in the American Pacific Northwest and Southwestern territories of Canada. Robert E. Walls, a professor American Studies at the University of Notre Dame, states that “they are generally characterized as nonaggressive animals, whose shyness and humanlike intelligence make them elusive and thus rarely seen, though some wilderness travelers claim to have smelled their stench or heard their screams and whistles.” (Oregon Encyclopedia). Several Native American cultures in the Pacific Northwest also have legends of wild men in the forest that have been associated with the folklore of Bigfoot. In some of these indigenous cultures, these creatures are seen as protectors of the forests and encounters with them have been described as deeply spiritual or dream-like.
Modern day:
In popular culture, Bigfoot has is often used as a mascot by sports teams, is a staple in nature iconography, and has entire cryptozoological reality shows dedicated to him. Bigfoots have also been playfully promoted in state legislation and celebrations. From books and movies to TV commercials for Jack Link’s beef jerky, Bigfoot’s presence has left a mark on a variety of media platforms.
Fun facts about Bigfoot:
- Folklorists categorize Bigfoot as a tall tale "fearsome critter," alongside other mythical creatures of the North American wilderness like the hoop snake and the fur-bearing trout.
- Bigfoot is also known as "Sasquatch," an Anglicization of the name Sasq’ets, from the Halq’emeylem language spoken by First Nations peoples in southwestern British Columbia.
- Footprints attributed to Bigfoot have measured up to 24 inches (60 centimeters) in length and 8 inches (20 centimeters) in width.
- The British explorer David Thompson is sometimes credited with the first discovery of Bigfoot footprints in 1811. He made note of large unidentified footprints in a journal he kept while exploring present-day Alberta, Canada, for the North West Company.
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