Bigfoot mystery ‘finally solved’ after thousands of ‘big hairy beast’ sightings

One scientist reckons they've finally cracked the mystery behind hundreds of Bigfoot sightings.

Reports of supposed Sasquatches make headlines every week, with hairy figures captured on everything from trail cameras to Google Earth.

However, hard proof has thus far eluded Bigfoot believers. Sceptics often point to bears or humans as much more likely explanations for the spooky sightings.

READ MORE: Hunter discovers 'Bigfoot tracks' with monster footprints '8ft apart' in deep snow

Data scientist Floe Foxon has now calculated the likelihood that these reports are actually just black or brown bears.

In a preprint scientific paper, Foxon analysed sightings in both the US and Canada and found that they "were statistically significantly associated with bear populations such that, on the average, one 'sighting' is expected for every 900 bears".

"Based on statistical considerations, it is likely that many supposed Sasquatch are really misidentified known forms. If Bigfoot is there, it may be many bears," Foxon wrote.

The scientist came to the conclusion using a "mixed-effects model", using data from Bigfoot sightings against near populations while also adjusting for human population and land area.

Although descriptions vary, Bigfoot is said to stand anywhere between 9ft to 15ft and are often described as having dark brown or black fur, although auburn creatures have also been reported.

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There have been over 10,000 reported Bigfoot sightings in the US over the past 50 years.

Robert Young, a professor of wildlife conservation at the University of Salford, agrees with the conclusions of Foxon's work.

He told Newsweek: "I think all wildlife researchers would take the view that these sightings are of bears, most likely, black bears — it is an example that many academics use with our undergraduate students.

"The most plausible and simplest explanation is black bears (following Occam's razor). It is important to remember that because of our cuddly toys we have a distorted image of bears being very fat with stubby limbs.

"And bears are very capable of standing bipedally and even walking that way to a limited extent (think about the abhorrent practice of dancing bears."

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