Oregonbigfoot.com
Newsletter
OCTOBER 2007

Issue: Oct Year: 2007
Editor: Autumn Williams
© 2007
Oregonbigfoot.com
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IN THIS ISSUE
>> EDITOR'S NOTE
>> WEBSITE UPDATES
>> BIGFOOT IN THE NEWS
>> INFRASOUND AND ITS IMPLICATIONS
IN SASQUATCH RESEARCH
by Autumn Williams
>> AN INTERVIEW WITH
MATTHEW SCOTT HANSEN
Author of: The Shadowkiller
by Scott Davis
>> DOCUMENTARY STILL AVAILABLE
FOR A LIMITED TIME
For Your Collection:

Meet the Sasquatch
Chris Murphy, with the help of John Green and Thomas Steenburg, as well as many others, may have produced the best Sasquatch/Bigfoot book since Green's "Sasquatch: the Apes Among Us" in 1978.

This book is deceptively thin, but holds within over 640 pictures, some of which have never been published before.


Walking With the Great Apes: Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, Birute Galdikas

In this study of three great female primatologists, science journalist Montgomery moves beyond biography into ethnology, taking a step that goes well beyond even her subjects' research. Goodall, Fossey and Galdikas each made a similar leap, the author contends, moving from observers and recorders to an almost shamanistic quest to enter the world of the apes they studied.


Rowan Fae @ 10 months

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

>> Editor's Note:

Whew! Geez... Wow. That's about all I can say. It's been a year since the last newsletter. I've taken a hiatus due to the birth of Rowan, our little girl. She just passed the 10-month mark, and... what a ride. Before she was born, Mom told me, "Your whole life is going to change." That was the understatement of the year. *grin* My time is definitely not my own anymore, and it flies by fast.

Case in point: we recently received word from a witness that he'd found tracks nearby. He sent photos the same night he found them. The area where they were found was on a steep, rocky riverbank, too far in and too dangerous to take the baby along. Monday night, Skye rushed home from work while I was busy arranging for the neighbor girl to watch Rowan, packing up her diaper bag, grabbing the camera and casting kit. We rushed out to pick up the witness and drove an hour to the location. It was quite a hike in to where the tracks were, but the opportunity to cast fresh tracks in Oregon is a relatively rare occurance - our forest floors are just too messy for clean tracks to present themselves regularly. As we pull alongside the road and grab the gear, it's getting dark. We look at one another as we bail out of the truck. "Did anyone bring flashlights?"

"I didn't. Did you?"

Well, I sure as heck hadn't. As far as I knew, it was still light at 9 p.m. Then it dawned on me that summer had come and gone while I was elbow-deep in dirty diapers. It was 7 o'clock, and daylight was scarce. The three of us got about 30 yards off the road and down the riverbank with a tiny LED light, twisting ankles and stumbling like drunken sailors... and wisely gave up.

The deluge that poured out of the sky the following day washed away any hopes of returning in time.


Autumn Williams
Oregonbigfoot.com
info@oregonbigfoot.com

I haven't given up hope that I can be a mom and still be a researcher. Skye and I are working on finding property in the woods outside of Eugene in an area where sightings are frequent. It's my dream to be able to open a full-time research facility on-site.

For now, we get out when we can. My days are spent nurturing our child, watching her grow and sharing the world with her. I take her for walks and revel in her wonder at things she's never experienced before: the color of a maple leaf in the fall, the texture of tree bark, tiny ants marching along the ground... While I miss being able to pack up and go at a moment's notice, I cherish these days with our tiny hominid. They don't last long. And it won't be long before I can begin to teach her about things that go bump in the night and the big, hairy folks that live in the Oregon woods.

Autumn Williams
Oregonbigfoot.com
Your comments are always welcome.

The legend lives

 

WEBSITE UPDATES:
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MEMBERS ONLY UPDATES
RECENT REPORTS SECTION UPDATED

36 new reports have been added to the database.

BE A PART OF OREGONBIGFOOT.COM!

We are accepting submissions for new artists in the Bigfoot art gallery. To submit your work for consideration, please email 3-5 pieces of Bigfoot-related artwork (maximum size 640X480 pixels), a photo of yourself and a brief biography. Email me.

We welcome single pieces of artwork as well for our new Miscellaneous Artists page. Your artwork, if chosen, will usually be uploaded around the beginning of the following month.

(Please have a look at the gallery before submitting for examples of biography)

WRITERS AND RESEARCHERS: Would you like to have your work read by over 6500 Bigfoot enthusiasts in our monthly newsletter? Submit an inquiry to info@oregonbigfoot.com

DID YOU KNOW? Some survey programs are scams. This one's the real deal...$$$
You could make enough every month to pay for your membership to Oregonbigfoot.com!

A member, Dan M, wrote me about this:

"I have an inquiry about the paid surveys...what's involved in that?... I've seen those ads before but always figured there was a catch like buying something first etc..."

My response to Dan:

"Nope, there's no catch with this one. You sign up for free, they send you surveys and if you qualify (the right age, sex, whatever) and complete them, you get paid. Usually about $3 each, though I've done ones that paid $20. Also, if your friends or family sign up, for every survey THEY do, you make $2, and if they encourage others to sign up, you get paid $1 on every survey those folks do. I guess it's cheaper than paying people minimum wage to take part in focus groups. This is the best program I've found out there... there's no payout minimum and you can request a check whenever you like. I use it to help generate a little income to help cover the costs of running the website. :)"

Click here to help support OregonBigfoot.com, AND make $$$ for yourself in the process! :)

These are a few of the many new files uploaded to the members' section. For a complete list, click here

Video research Journal Updated: On July 24th, we received an excited call from Mike Nave, our research partner. Driving home from Eugene, he and his son sighted something in a field near Brownsville. See Mike describe the encounter and watch the follow-up investigation here.

Member Nancy tells of a recent encounter while camped at Basin Gulch. View the story and photos here. Also, it seems that Nancy's encounter sparked the interest of one of our other members, Bill, who shares with us his own encounter in that area.

Also inside, you'll find The Orting Files: Inside the Valley of the Skookum. It's a behind-the-scenes look, through journals, letters and photographs, at the events surrounding my family's encounters in the late 1970's. There are over 62 pages of documents, as well as 38 photos.

The book, Valley of the Skookum, is available here

The members' forum is a favorite. Intended to be a place where witnesses can share their stories in a supportive environment and enthusiasts can examine the subject in depth, you won't find a friendlier forum anywhere!

Plus dozens of articles, research tools and other great stuff!

Subscription to the Oregonbigfoot.com Members Only section is $4.95 per month. Your monthly subscription fee helps support Oregonbigfoot.com!

DID YOU KNOW? You can find great deals on Bigfoot/Sasquatch stuff on eBay. Many one-of-a-kind and hard to find items!

BIGFOOT IN THE NEWS

The 2007 Texas Bigfoot Conference
Hosted by: The Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy
The conference will be held in Jefferson, Texas Saturday, November 10, 10:00 am at the Jefferson High School in the commons area. General Admission $15.00 at the door.

Bigfoot or Big Story?
DEER RIVER, MN — Robert Olson said he and others have discovered plenty of large footprints in Northeastern Minnesota’s forests.

In Search of Bigfoot
FRESNO, Calif. - What's David Raygoza's idea of a good time? A full tank of gas in his Jeep, fresh batteries for his video camera and a bag of apples for bait.

Bigfoot Believers Back
That rustling in the underbrush might be Bigfoot. Or it might not.
But one Bigfoot hunter, a structural engineer from Portland who refused to be identified except by his first name, Neil, thought that it probably was one of the elusive creatures Saturday night as he traveled logging roads above Longbow Organizational Camp on the Sweet Home Ranger District.

Hot on the trail of the elusive Big Foot
'My people believe in Sasquatch. We do not require proof because we know he exists'

Sasquatch exhibit starts run at state Capital Museum
OLYMPIA, WA - The exhibit includes never-before-displayed artifacts and artwork, such as reproductions of footprints and an ape-like stone head found in the Columbia Basin. There also is information about stories and sightings by tribes worldwide.

 



INFRASOUND AND ITS IMPLICATIONS IN SASQUATCH RESEARCH
by Autumn Williams

"It was May 1984. Two friends and I were up in the hills NW of Yamhill, OR, late in the evening, around 10:30 pm. We heard the scream, a VERY low, very long howl. Not a coyote, bear or cougar. Have heard all of them before. This was nothing like anything I have ever heard. I still remember thinking to myself, "How in the hell can something make such a low howl?" It scared us at first, but is sounded like it was far away, like maybe a mile or so. We were drinking a little beer, so after awhile we relaxed and forgot about it. It must have been about a half hour later when we heard it again. I swear that it had to be within 30 yards of us. Same loud, low howl, but MUCH closer. And it sounded pissed. I could feel the sound vibrations bouncing off the back of my neck. The hair stood up on the back of all of our necks. All of us turned white as hell, and our jaws dropped past our knees. The howl seemed to say "GET OUT!" Which is EXACTLY what we did."

Infrasound is "sound with a frequency too low to be detected by the human ear... from the lower limit of human hearing (about 16 or 17 hertz) down to 0.001 hertz." (Wikipedia)

For several years now, I and other researchers have pondered whether Sasquatches may have the ability to produce and receive infrasound. While the idea has been tossed around endlessly on message boards, little has been done to examine whether there is any scientific basis to support this theory, so I began to research the subject thoroughly. This article is the culmination, thus far, of that research.

Infrasound in the wild kingdom

To begin with, I turned to the internet to familiarize myself with infrasound in the animal world. I found the following information on Wikipedia's infrasound information page:

Several animal species are capable of generating infrasound. "Whales, elephants, rhinoceros, giraffes, okapi, and alligators are known to use infrasound to communicate over varying distances of up to many miles as in the case of the whale, for instance." (Wikipedia)

Elephants regularly use infrasound for communication: "It has been discovered that elephants can communicate over long distances by producing and receiving low frequency infrasound, a sub-sonic rumbling which can travel through the ground farther than sound travels in the air. This can be felt by the sensitive skin of an elephant's feet and trunk, which pick up the resonant vibrations in much the same way as the flat skin on the head of a drum. To listen attentively, the whole herd will lift one foreleg from the ground, and face the source of the sound, or often lay their trunks on the ground - the lifting presumably increases the ground contact and sensitivity of the remaining legs. This ability is thought to also aid their navigation by utilizing external sources of infrasound. Discovery of this new aspect of elephant social communication and perception is due to breakthroughs in audio technology, which can pick up frequencies outside the range of the human ear. Pioneering research in elephant infrasound communication was done by Katy Payne of the Elephant Listening Project,[9] and is detailed in her book Silent Thunder. Though this research is still in its infancy, it is helping to solve many prior mysteries such as how elephants can find distant potential mates, and how social groups are able to coordinate their movements over an extensive territory range." (Wikipedia)

(I find it interesting that an elephant's ability to receive infrasonic communication is due, in part, to their large feet!)

Although the theory that Sasquatches might use infrasound for any number of purposes is an interesting one, it seemed presumptuous not to consider whether DISCOVERED large primates were, or were not, known to use infrasound. Though I searched far and wide, I was unable to find any references to gorillas or any other large primates using infrasound as a communication tool - in fact, it didn't appear that anyone had done any studies at all on primates and infrasound. And it didn't appear that many Bigfoot researchers, if any, had even posed the question!

First, I put in a call to the Dian Fossey Fund and spoke with one of the primatologists there. She said she was unaware of any infrasound studies done on any primates. (Not surprisingly, she showed little interest in the subject of Sasquatch.) Then I called my good friend, Craig Woolheater, over at TexasBigfoot.com to pick his brain... he said he hadn't heard anything about it either. We searched the web for infrasound experts and came upon Liz Mugenthaler.

I gave her a call and we hit it off like old school chums. I found her to be very knowledgable and open to the subject of cryptozoology (which was a pleasant surprise, since most scientists don't look past their noses when it comes to this subject, unless it's to look DOWN their noses at it…).

In the following interview, conducted via email with infrasound expert Liz Mugenthaler, we take a close look at what infrasound is, how it is represented in the wild, Liz's own pioneering research in the field and how this understanding might be used to further the research of unknown animals… including our elusive barefoot friends.

(Editor's note: I originally conducted this interview several months ago, but with the colicky baby, I've had a difficult time pulling everything together in some semblance of order! - Autumn)

Autumn: Liz, thanks so much for taking the time - and having the guts! - to do this interview. Please give a brief (or not so brief, if you like) history of how you got started in animal infrasound studies. What is your educational/professional background?

Liz: As an undergraduate, I had my first published paper on animal infrasound "Infrasound from the rhinocerotidae." This was the first paper on animal infrasound in the scientific world other than elephants and whales. To produce this study I worked closely and borrowed equipment from NASA Langley's Advanced Test and Measurement Division, who are the world's authorities on infrasound and vibration work. After graduation, I applied to several graduate programs, but then met a professor by the name of Melvin Kreithen. I was on my way to the American Association for the Advancement of Science student award competition, where I was a finalist, and I stopped at the University of Pittsburgh to meet Dr. Kreithen and ask him about birds and infrasound for migration… the pioneering research he was famous for. He read my papers on rhinos, and (by then) Okapi, and asked me where I had applied to graduate school. I told him Cornell and Duke. He then took his glasses off, dangled them on his knee and said, "Dear, do you think you will have $30,000 after graduate school?"

"Of course not! I'll be in debt $90,000!" I exclaimed.

Dr. Kretithen placed his glasses on the table, laughed, then said, "Then don't go because you will need that $30,000 for therapy because every graduate student and half of the faculty will try and take credit for your work, and you will be stuck studying ant farms or some such for your first two years!"

I took Dr. Kreithen's words to heart and spent my savings on starting a company that could study what it wanted, using a multi-disciplinary approach which is largely foreign in most universities.

(Editor's note: Boy, can I relate! This is precisely why I decided to forego a traditional education as well. There simply isn't a degree program available at any accredited university in the field of cryptozoology. So I ended up spending all of my money on field research instead. *GRIN* - Autumn)

Autumn: What is the main focus of your research? What questions do you hope to answer?

Liz: I focus on endangered species and vocalizations outside the range of human hearing. I think if humans recognized that most if not all other animals hear and vocalize far beyond our abilities, humans would be less narcissistic. Additionally, perhaps if we can bridge the communication gap, we would learn far more about our planet and perhaps even our universe, and ourselves then we can on our own. To take a quote from Douglas Vakoch of SETI: "Perhaps the ultimate benefit of making contact with (extra-terrestrial) civilizations is not what we learn about them, but what we learn about ourselves in the process...We are guaranteed to gain something more powerful: a more humble, more realistic, and yet paradoxically more complete and more extensive understanding of our own place in the universe."

(Editor's note: Interestingly, Liz's thoughts here about her research again mirror my own. I've often thought that when we look for Bigfoot, we find ourselves… - Autumn)

Autumn: Which animals are known to communicate through infrasound? Are there differences in the ways in which they do so? For what purposes do they use infrasound?

Liz: Most large mammals use infrasound, too numerous to mention. We have discovered Rhino, Okapi, Giraffe, Hippo, Tiger, Lion, etc. Infrasound production in some animals is sometimes difficult to discern, but we do know that it is Helmholtz resonance in Giraffe and Okapi, in which an enclosed volume of air (lungs) is coupled to the outside (neck) by one degree of freedom (larynx, or nose). Measurements of the entire resonator system are taken into account, but basically the length of the neck dictates the frequency of the sound. The longer, the lower. Remember the Ricola cough ads…? Where the guy is with that 8 ft horn in the Alps? Same theory.

In the case of other animals it may be internal resonance such as sinuses in the skull, neck skin flap, or body cavity resonance.

Autumn: How and where do you conduct your research?

Liz: We conduct our research at major zoos and in the field throughout the world.

Autumn: What equipment do you use?

Liz: The equipment we use is varied depending whether the research being conducted is atmospheric (air), underwater, or seismic in nature. For atmospheric we use DAT recorders. We have pulled from the test and measurement, music, car audio, defense, and engineering industries to create quite an array of equipment. Please see our website for more detailed equipment. http://www.animalvoice.com/

Autumn: What are some of the surprising things you've found?

Liz: Everything we find is a surprise! That is what unbiased science should be about!

(Editor's note: THANK YOU, Liz, for this wonderfully refreshing answer!!! --Autumn)

Autumn: I understand that you've already undertaken one study on infrasound to attempt to study a creature undiscovered by science. Please describe your studies at Lake Champlain and your findings there.

Liz: Using 4 laptop computers, two with sound analysis software, Digital audio recorders, data-loggers, GPS software on computer, 2 portable analyzers, amplifiers, 2 vector sensors (which measure vibration) and two hydrophones (underwater microphones) and other equipment we visited sites on the lake where the "CHAMP" creature has purportedly been seen. Due to thermoclines, sometimes we could hear several miles away. (In lakes usually there is a warm layer of water and a cooler layer. Where these layers meet is called a thermocline. The depth and thickness of the thermocline can vary with the season or time of day).

It was vitally important that we search using passive means (receiving a signal), so we could not use sonar (which is active or sending a signal). The premise is that any large predator that is searching for food in a deep and murky lake would probably need to be using their own type of echolocation. Searching for an animal such as this is purported to be, using sonar, unless it is highly specialized form, would be not be valid protocol from an animal behavior standpoint. The creature could hear the boat's sonar or fish-finder and it would be scared away, especially if it is thought to be timid or cautious. Sort of like hunting with a boom-box blasting out AC/DC. Not a good idea.

We would watch the signal scrolling across our computer and analyzer screens and record onto hard-drive and Digital audio recorder. Most of the time we could hear fish, crayfish, and the occasional turtle, and boat engines. We once even heard music coming from a boat moored several hundred meters away. Ironically, it was the song "When the levee breaks" by Led Zeppelin. We also could hear the "plop" made by fisherman's lures as they hit the water, even 500-600 hundred feet away. That should tell you how sensitive the vector sensors are. Whales and dolphin search for food using a high frequency sonar signal called echolocation, or "bio-sonar." The only other known aquatic animals that echolocate are dolphins and whales (marine, although there are freshwater dolphin in China, India, Pakistan, and Brazil.) Echolocation (biosonar) is a high frequency signal mostly above our hearing range that bounces off objects. The animal can hear the return signal and thereby know what it is. Some call it perfect underwater sight. Average echolocation signals vary, but go up to 200,000 Hertz (cycles per second) or expressed differently, 200 kilohertz (kHz). The human ear can only hear to 20,000 Hertz or 20 kHz. Man-made sonar or fish-finders send out a signal that is very regular, and entirely different then biologically produced sonar.

At three different sites, on the 3rd, 4th and the 10th we picked up an echolocation signal. We picked this up on Digital audio recorders or DAT (7 Hz to 44.1 kHz ) and computer analysis data-loggers (DC to 240 kHz) which stores onto hard-drive. The PCMCIA card that allowed us to data log was donated by National Instruments, and is the very latest in technology. It allows us to analyze sounds 20 times higher then the human range of hearing. The data on Digital audio recorder has been analyzed, and the data-logging sent to a member of our software team at National Instruments. We captured the echolocation signal on our hard-drive, analyzed it as it was happening, and the signal goes up to 140,000 Hertz, or 140 kHz. The echolocation signal under analysis is similar to Beluga whale and killer echolocation, yet different enough so that we can not make a positive identification. Methods such as cross-correlation, where one compares the properties of one sound to another, can usually tell us what type of creature it is, but not in this case. It is significantly different from both whale and dolphin, but it is echolocation.

Dolphin and whale have extremely advanced auditory and sound production capabilities. Very specialized, that is what makes our finding so interesting. Whatever was in the water in Lake Champlain has to have the same type of advanced faculties to produce the signal we got. The signal could not have been produced by anything other than an underwater animal, swimming.

"I feel that the effort was a technical success as we were able to conduct far reaching, low-noise sound measurements and, indeed, were able to detect signals the nature of which suggests the presence of some interesting, unexpected phenomena." Dr. Joseph Gregory, a former member of our team who was a professor of sound and vibration engineering at North Carolina State University. Joe passed away November 2003.

Fauna Communications presented their scientific findings at an Acoustical Society of America (American Institute of Physics) conference fall 2003. The paper largely talks about the technology we used, and is not a speculation about whether champ exists. What we can say, is that there is a creature in the lake that produces bio-sonar, and we have no idea what it is. Proving or disproving the existence of Champ would require a massive and non-invasive search using acoustics, optics, etc. Most importantly, animal behavior research requires a great deal of patience, so it would be a long term study. To see more about the study go to http://www.animalvoice.com/lakechamplain.htm

Autumn: To your knowledge, has anyone ever conducted a study of infrasound in large primates, like gorillas?

Liz: NO

(Editor's note: Liz's very succinct answer here, in my opinion, says it all. Research into the infrasound capabilities of even KNOWN animals is still somewhat in its infancy. - Autumn)

Autumn: Is it possible that gorillas might use infrasound for communication? (Compared to other animals you've studied that use infrasound, are there - to your knowledge - the proper biomechanics in place for a gorilla to do so?)

Liz: Any large mammal has the potential to generate infrasound.

Autumn: What have you discovered about HUMAN physical response to animal-generated infrasound?

Liz: Infrasound, at certain frequencies, (18-21 Hz) generates certain physical effects in humans, including causing ones hair to stand on end, feelings of fear or terror, your eyeballs to shake or see mirages, and other effects. Tiger infrasound can temporarily paralyze you, which is all the time a tiger needs! Bodily infrasound effects are a well documented phenomenon, first discovered by NASA and Russian space sciences in the 1960's.

Autumn: For years, Bigfoot researchers have surmised that Sasquatch may use infrasound as a deterrent to humans; also, as a means of confusing or disabling prey. Are there instances in your research which show animals using infrasound for these purposes?

Liz: As is shown by tiger research, it is certainly possible for an animal to use infrasound either as a deterrent or a hunting technique.

Autumn: What are your thoughts on the existence of unknown bipedal primates?

Liz: While I have never had an experience, nor have I read any scientific journal on this creature, I think it is certainly plausible that it exists. More importantly, based upon the number of sightings, and based upon other instances of purported evidence, it is a scientific question that should be answered in an unbiased fashion, without fear of condemnation. Science should be neither positively biased in which a researcher wants it to be true, nor negatively biased in which a researcher does not think it is true, or is afraid to confront it because it is novel, or fearful of peer review. For instance, for 100's of years it was reported that there was a small black rhino in the forests of Java. Naturalists in the 1830's mention its existence. But it was 1998 before a picture (head shot) of one was taken by a trip camera. If you can't find a 3500 lb rhino in the small forests of Java, how is one supposed to find a 600 lb, and apparently intelligent, humanoid in thousands of square miles of pristine forest? I truly believe that if science took this seriously, it would be a credit not only to those naturalists (witnesses) that have reported it, but to the science of biology/zoology itself. To prove finally that biology and zoology is genuinely unbiased. As it stands, the fact that no biologist/zoologist(s) from a (some) major universities have ever attempted a full, funded, genuine scientific expedition is an embarrassment to rest of the scientific community. Bias and pressure from peers is apparent in all sciences, and one has to be strong personally and professionally to avoid it. The biological/zoological community should be focused on clearing their name, so they are not accused of being unscientific. Shame on you!

(Editor's note: AMEN to that! - Autumn)

Autumn: If a researcher wished to conduct an experiment to determine whether Sasquatch uses infrasound, how would one best go about this?

Liz: In order to really study the question of infrasound usage, an array of microphones would be needed. If triangulated, this would give the researcher accurate positions. However, infrasound in the field is very tricky, and it would be very expensive. The best approach would be to purchase a DAT recorder, not MP3 (which compresses a signal) and set it up to record continuously without human intervention. Additionally masking the scent, pheromonal intervention, would be extremely important. Otherwise you are hunting deer with a boom-box.

Autumn: What uses might the proper infrasound frequency have in FACILITATING an interaction with these creatures?

Liz: In essence you could be "speaking" in terms that they understand or that which is familiar to them.

Autumn: Finally, what are the DANGERS in experimenting with infrasound?

Liz: Infrasound can cause physical and emotional harm at the right frequencies and amplitudes, and can be used to scare away an animal as well as attract it.

A FEW FINAL THOUGHTS ON SASQUATCH AND INFRASOUND

Unexplained Terror

Forward-thinking Sasquatch researchers first began examining this phenomenon as a means to explain feelings of "dread or terror" in eyewitnesses. Woods-savvy hunters - big men with big guns who have hunted an area for years - will suddenly report feeling overcome with fear and an urge to run... sometimes even before any visual, audio or olfactory sign of a Sasquatch is present. Infrasound, at certain frequencies, is capable of producing a fear response in humans and is thought to magnify existing emotions as well.

A Hair-Raising Experience

Eyewitnesses commonly specify "feeling the hair stand up on the back of my neck" during an encounter with a Bigfoot. Infrasound is one plausible explanation for this as well. According to Liz Mugenthaler, certain frequencies emitted by tigers cause the hair to stand up on one's neck.

A Powerful Hunting Tool?

Some animals use infrasound to disable their prey. This was something I had not originally considered when exploring the idea that Sasquatches might use infrasound - but it certainly would be a handy application. The thought that infrasound is capable of producing a "disabling" effect - even to the point of knocking a human unconscious - could also explain those reports in which a witness inexplicably "falls asleep". I have noticed a prevalence of this in reports for years and, in fact, I programmed the database specifically with a field to flag the report for these reports.

Disappearing Sasquatches?

Liz Mugenthaler told me during our lengthy conversation that the infrasound produced by a tiger can cause VISION disturbances in humans, making the eyes vibrate and causing a loss of visual acuity. I was excited when she told me this... I thought, perhaps, not only might it explain eyewitness claims of "camouflaged" or "disappearing" creatures, but it might explain some of my own firsthand experiences in the field as well. Several times, when there were indications that a Bigfoot was near, I have experienced strangely blurred vision and an inability to focus on the spot where I could clearly hear a bipedal creature in the brush. I made a mental note of this at the time, and always explained it to others as an "inability to focus properly", though I never had an explanation for what might have caused it. Could infrasound explain it?

A HUGE thanks to Liz Mugenthaler for her time, pioneering spirit and dedication to the true meaning of science: The exploration of things we don't yet understand, and the attempt to explain the UNEXPLAINED.

NOTE: LIZ WILL BE FEATURED ON THE HISTORY CHANNEL'S "MonsterQuest : America's Loch Ness Monster" TONIGHT. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS or visit the website.

I will continue to research this subject and share my findings here in the Oregonbigfoot.com newsletter. Please feel free to email me your thoughts and feedback.

Autumn Williams
October 2007

AN INTERVIEW WITH MATTHEW SCOTT HANSEN
Author of: The Shadowkiller
by Scott Davis

Click here to Order
The Shadowkiller:
A Novel

Matthew Scott Hansen's new novel, "The Shadowkiller," quickly got my attention from the very beginning of the story. It's a quick paced, riveting thriller that ultimately will have the reader wondering not if Bigfoot exists but "just how intelligent is it?" His debut into fiction impresses me very much, not only as a reader of books, but also as a Bigfoot researcher. I was so impressed with the novel that I contacted Matt to see if he'd be interested in doing an interview for the Oregonbigfoot.com Newsletter subscribers. Much to my delight, he enthusiastically agreed. So without further ado, I'm pleased to introduce author Matthew Scott Hansen.

SD: Hi Matt, welcome to Oregonbigfoot.com. We're quite thrilled to have you here!

MSH: Thank you, Scott. I really appreciate your enthusiasm and hospitality.

SD: Let's open the interview with a little info about yourself for our readers. I understand you're originally an Oregonian and you got your love of storytelling from your father when he would tell tales to entertain you on long weekend drives. Could you tell us a little about your childhood in Eugene?

MSH: Yeah, I grew up in Eugene in the era of Ozzie and Harriet. My dad was from Detroit and when he moved to Eugene after the War he wanted to spend as much time as he could in the outdoors with his family. My mom grew up on a ranch in southern Oregon so she also knew the outdoors. My dad is also a very literate guy and used to regale me and my sister with stories as we drove to and from the mountains. None of this slap the kids in the back of the 'Sclade with a DVD of Shrek. He was pretty hands on and kept us on our toes, not to mention very entertained. Dad's the only person I know who's read Caesar's Commentaries in the original Latin. Anyway, I had a great childhood and have pleasant memories of Eugene. We also lived in Portland for while, before that, Longview, Washington for about two years, then the family eventually moved to Mercer Island, in the middle of Lake Washington in Seattle.

SD: I read on your website that the kids in your 8th grade creative writing class would lobby the teacher to let you to read your stories aloud. That must have given a budding young writer such as yourself a great deal of encouragement and confidence. Did that lead you to sense that you were on the right path in your young life in terms of what you wanted to do with your future?

MSH: (laughs) I wish. What I got from that class was that here was something I could do that got me attention. I was the class clown and yet writing gave me a chance to express myself in a non-verbal way. My papers were different enough that they got the other kids' attention. By the time I'd gotten into college I found I could actually make money with my abilities as a writer. I wrote commercials for a couple of local radio stations in Pullman, Washington, where I went to school. The station manager and the owner even offered me a job when I graduated--as the full time production manager for their small chain--but I just couldn't stay in Pullman any longer and had to turn them down.

SD: After college you later spent 3 years in Alaska then you ended up in Seattle running a radio production company and it was there that during a search for voice talent you met a man who would later become your writing partner, Bill Fitzhugh. You two then worked together for 15 years doing radio comedy then ultimately decided to take the plunge and go to Los Angeles to make it in big time show biz. You had some brief stints for Carsey-Werner Productions, Fox Television, Norman Lear, and others and worked on writing and rewriting screenplays. I imagine that must have been a very interesting and exciting time for you both, and a great learning experience as well?

MSH: It was very, very tough because, as a writer, it takes quite a while to develop something before you can even attempt to sell it. I calculated once that, even for the spec projects that we did manage to sell, they took an average of five and a half years from inception to sale. Any other industry with such putrid odds, other than say, the defense industry, and you'd be on your ass on the street. There were some very lean times. Oddly, one of the jobs Bill and I had that gave us amazing writing experience was writing deposition summaries for attorneys. I got thrown into that with 45 minutes training and all of our lawyers said we did better summaries than they did. I must have summarized at least 20,000 pages over a 3 or 4 year span. As a writer, I likened it to doing jumping jacks. Great exercise. You learned to boil everything down to its essence.

SD: Do you think that working on screenplays has helped you as a writer to visualize scenes in your mind, perhaps in the same way a director would, and if so, do you think that might give you an edge when writing a fiction novel over authors who maybe haven't had that work background?

MSH: Yeah, I think screenplays force you to see your creation visually, that is, within the confines of the frame. Screenplays, at least for me, were a good exercise toward becoming a novelist. I started out writing commercials, thirty or sixty seconds, then radio sketches of a few minutes or so, then sitcoms, then features, then books. The fun of novels--unlike screenplays where you're writing for another medium--is that you're not only the writer, but also the director, the producer, and even the actors. It's fun. Harder, but more fun. I don't know if my background gave me a leg up over people that didn't follow the same path. I can only speak for myself.

SD: Let's move on to The Shadowkiller now. You mentioned that you've always had an interest in Bigfoot and researched them. At what age did you first develop your interest, and what led to it?

MSH: I guess I was probably five or six when I first heard the accounts coming out of northern California. That hooked me. The fact it was relatively close to where we lived, and my cousins lived in Fortuna--not that far from where most of the sightings were coming from--all that added up to creating a fascination in the subject. By high school I had a full blown interest in Bigfoot, and that was also around the time of the Patterson/Gimlin film, so Bigfoot was everywhere in the news. By the time I entered college I knew quite a bit about Bigfoot. I even wrote a 30 page paper for a freshman anthro class and wrote a letter to Roger Patterson, asking him some questions. He graciously answered me. I was sad to hear he died the next year .

SD: Did Roger seem pleased that you'd written him, to know that his film had effected you so much, and did he offer any words of encouragement for you?

MSH: Honestly, I don't recall. Knowing me I probably still have his note somewhere, but it would be in a box, possibly in my garage, possibly still in a box at my folks' house. It's been nearly 36 years. At that time he did not have the mythic proportions he does now. He was just a guy in Yakima who had taken "the movie" of Bigfoot. But the fact he even wrote me back dazzled me as an 18 year old kid. I say his response was gracious because he probably did have some encouragement, probably something as simple as "good luck." I still remember the tone but by no means the exact words. If I ever find the time to go through all my boxes and happen to find the note I will certainly share that with you.

SD: Thank you, I would be thrilled to read that! Your Sasquatch is imbued with many traits and characteristics that researchers have speculated they may actually possess. To me this was particularly impressive because it created a great sense of realism that no previous Bigfoot fiction story has had. Was this done to make the creature more fascinating to the general reader or did you include these traits with the idea that your book would indeed be read by Bigfoot researchers and it would be appealing to them?

MSH: First and foremost, I gave him those abilities because I thought it was not such a stretch. Over the years I'd heard enough stories where people had felt a creeping feeling such as the one described in the book. My parents even experienced it one time when we were on an outing in the Oregon Cascades. There's so much that we don't know about the world we live in. What exactly is ESP? How does it work? My thesis was that such a high order life form could have particular qualities that enable it to survive. Sharks can smell or taste blood in the water over surprisingly large distances. It's been said that whales can communicate over hundreds, perhaps thousands of miles using whale song. Some living organisms can exist next to undersea volcanic vents that superheat the water to 600 degrees. Is Bigfoot's ability to feel or read the feelings of other animals any more bizarre than that? Back to your question, did I think those traits would make him more interesting as an antagonist? Absolutely. Did I hope Bigfoot researchers would appreciate those qualities and the depth of my own research? Yes, but I wasn't sure. That the Bigfoot community seems to be embracing my book is extremely satisfying because I'm really one of you.

SD: Many people describe encounters with Bigfoot in which the creatures appear almost shy, trying to avoid contact with humans. I think a lot of people have been led to believe that they are all like that in general. In my opinion, the most frightening aspect of your book is that the scenario in your story seems entirely within the realm of possibility under the right circumstances (depending on how one feels about the level of Bigfoot's intelligence). Do you think maybe the book will make some folks hunting them remember that despite the fact that these creatures appear mostly benign, we must always be cognizant that they are large predators, capable of extreme physical power, which if provoked, can lead to serious harm and or death?

MSH: First, yes, I also believe they are primarily shy. I think they're just too smart to want to have anything to do with us. And can you blame them? But to your point, yes, I agree this is a very large, powerful being, and one shouldn't approach any encounter as if it were a cuddly Wookie. I would imagine we appear a bit chaotic and unpredictable to them. We're noisy, we have no forest manners, and we're foreigners on their turf. On the other hand, people who live near their environs for a while seem to be able coexist with them, according to everything I've read and heard. But to answer your question, if I encountered one I would not strut up and try to shake it's hand. As with people, I would imagine there are good ones, and there are not so good ones.

SD: Your Bigfoot grows bolder with each kill and each new thing he learns about humans. He begins to derive pleasure induced from the fear he creates before he dispatches his victims and needs to feel it more and more. It seems as if you gradually developed his mindset to that of the serial killer the police in the story think they are tracking. Is that precisely what you wanted him to turn into?

MSH: Sure. I wanted him to get a taste of killing and then have it sort of snowball, as I think happens with a human serial killer. At first his revenge killings have a righteousness to them--avenging his tribe's annihilation. But then it becomes personal, obsessive even. There's a lot of obsession in this book, both non-human and human.

SD: I've noticed the book has a lot of references to addiction. There are Ty's problems with prescription meds & alcohol, and his obsession with the Sasquatch, Ben's former smoking habit, Kris's chain smoking, Mac's addiction to Kris, the Bigfoot's addiction to the rush he gets from the fear he creates and the killing. I'm wondering if the story could also be seen as a metaphor to the dangers of addiction, and if so, was this something that you intentionally incorporated into it?

MSH: Oh yeah. (laughs) I feel that such obsessions or addictions throw people--or even Bigfoot--off balance. It creates conflict and since conflict is the engine of such a story, the more the better. Ty is handicapped by his fixation on booze, pills and finding Bigfoot. It informs every move he makes...it makes him a single minded zombie in a way. It takes him away from the things that are really important in his life. Is it a statement on the dangers of addiction? Yes. Not that one needs to read a book about a rampaging Bigfoot to be warned that addictions are bad, but it makes for wonderful, flawed characters.

SD: Regarding these characters, I find it particularly interesting that you brought together such a diverse group of people. It is actually quite reflective of Bigfoot Researchers in that we come from many different and sometimes unique backgrounds. Were you perhaps thinking of that when you created the characters in your story, or did you just want a group of people who were entirely different from each other just to make the story more interesting?

MSH: As a writer you try to create a mix of characters that do not duplicate each other. You want diversity which gives you different points of view which helps create conflict. Now within that you certainly can build in personality and behavioral traits in characters that parallel or mirror each other. For example, I have a very close friend who is politically so far from me as to be from some sort of parallel bizarro universe, however we have many, many other things in common. Enough so to be very good friends. As with my characters, among Bigfoot researchers I've observed huge diversity.

SD: I was very impressed with the diverse players you brought together in the story and their unique personalities. The character Kris for example, she was such an overdriven, powerful persona and it seemed to me that with her you were making an indictment of the ratings obsessed news media of today. Was that the case?

MSH: Kris, as they say, has issues. Personally, she's very damaged and has created her amoral, man-eater persona as a form of armor. That she's in a business that also has issues is no coincidence. I've watched television news devolve in the last 40 years from Huntley/Brinkley and Cronkite to what it's become today. There's still good reporting, but you have to look hard for it. The problem is the public's obsession with sensationalism, the media's abandonment of many of it's founding principles, and the explosion of outlets that cause institutions like the big networks to indirectly compete with the likes of You-Tube and TMZ. It's a battlefield. Kris is just one of the new generation of news warriors that will go out and get the story at any cost.

SD: Also in regard to Kris. There were times to me that it almost seems as if you were drawing parallels between Kris's conquests in the news room, and those of the Sasquatch. As Kris's ego grew so did the Bigfoot's, almost as if they were competing without even being aware of each other, then when they finally do meet it was if it was a final confrontation, with the "Boss of the Woods" showing why he has that title. Was there a conscious effort on your part with this competitive parallel or is it something that just happened on its own as the story developed?

MSH: I'm really pleased you noticed that. Kris and The Shadowkiller are kind of peas in a pod. They're both total badasses in their own 'hoods. When they meet, well, we see who is the baddest. But yes, I created them to sort of mirror each other, in terms of their conquests and their rise to power, so to speak. It was then necessary to get them together for an old fashioned throw-down. That sequence of scenes was loads of fun to write.

SD: Native Americans have long been aware of, respected, and in many cases, both revered and feared Bigfoot. Is that why you decided to include Ben in the book, so he could provide some of that perspective, and did it also provide you with a character who could be provide a challenge perhaps to the metaphysical skills displayed by the Sasquatch?

MSH: No question about it. Native Americans met him and named him first so I felt it was essential to have a Native American character as one of the co-leads. I also made Ben older, which makes him more venerated with the added quality of experience and wisdom. There are elements of mythology here, really less so with Bigfoot than that of the bigger stage, the classic clash of the weaker forces of good and the stronger forces of darkness. That Ben's last name is Campbell, as in Joseph, is not a coincidence either, given he's Native American and represents an archetype of mythology. Ben, like all the others, has his shortcomings, but you love his honesty and guts. Yes, and it also gave the Shadowkiller a worthy human nemesis, who could meet him, to some extent, on his own ground. This is something that surprises the Shadowkiller, and frankly, pisses him off. He does not expect a small two leg to be able to play his game. That also gave me an opening, or weakness, in his character that would allow him to become inadvertently vulnerable.

SD: With Mac you created an intriguing character. It seemed he was attracted to Kris because he knew she was dangerous. He couldn't resist her and it led to his downfall. Later on though, when he first approaches Ty and Ben, he is hell bent at being the one to get the Bigfoot. We then learn that he wants to do so primarily to save his own career, which some would see as a rather selfish notion. In a way it's as if his exposure to Kris brought out the worst qualities in Mac. Was this done to show even more just how rotten a character Kris was and the bad influence she projected even toward others?

MSH: I think Kris has Mac all turned around. Mac drops his guard and his life suddenly goes bad. His fixation on Kris, against his better judgment, is something we've all probably experienced. There are some people who just bring out the worst in us. Lots of women go after the bad boys, and in Mac's case, it's the bad girl. I think everything Kris touches goes bad because she is coming from a bad, dark place. Her motives are selfish and she's relatively uncaring of others. Mac is a good man, but he doesn't have the strength of character of Ben or Ty. But Mac does have courage, and in the end, he does what he thinks is best even when it endangers him.

SD: With Ty, I found it interesting that in the end that it was his family that was his driving force to get him through the final showdown with the Bigfoot. In yet another kind of eerie parallel it was what happened to the Bigfoot's family that turned him into the monster he became. The Bigfoot could not save his loved ones but Ty does, kind of a strange scenario, both dichotomy and connection as well. In a way they were fueled by the same thing but for different reasons. Do you think maybe Ty could be considered a human version of what the Bigfoot could have been but for the tragedy that befell him?

MSH: I'm fascinated that you saw that. I put that in for my own gratification, hoping such threads would make for a more interesting story--give it layers. When I began outlining the story, I realized the parallels that Ty had with the Bigfoot. And yes, they were both motivated by the same reasons: obsession and family. Bigfoot's family was gone, dead by the hand of man, and he sought revenge, and Ty's family was threatened, at first by Ty, as he sought his big answer, and then in the end, when they were literally threatened by this powerful outside force. Yes, so both Bigfoot and Ty, being obsessive characters, had surprisingly similar traits. But if you reversed their roles, could Ty have sunk to that primal level? Maybe so.

SD: You employed one of the best tactics in story writing in that you allow the reader to see into the mind of the antagonist but keep the characters in the dark. Was that because you felt that would be the best formula to create the appropriate level of suspense and drama for the readers?

MSH: I went with the omniscient point of view for all the characters, as opposed to just the protagonist, as is more often used. I knew from the start I wanted the reader to know almost everything that was going on, but leave the characters in the dark. I took a lesson from horror films when you, as the viewer, know the killer is in the house, and yet the hapless babysitter goes on about making a smoothie while he lurks somewhere in the shadows. That makes for good tension.

SD: You mentioned in your Afterward Section a couple of possible encounters you had. Did those encounters serve to strengthen your interest in Bigfoot?

MSH: The first encounter, when I was kid, involved my folks and they didn't tell me about it until I was in my 20s. That was creepy, if not scary. The possible encounter I had while camping in 1975 didn't scare me but made me curious. By then I was already hooked on my interest in Bigfoot, so it merely served to fuel the fires.

SD: In the Afterward you also talk about a lot of the up to date evidence supporting the existence of Sasquatch. Did you do that to help raise awareness to the general public that these creatures should not be taken as myth but more as fact?

MSH: Absolutely. Healthy skepticism is one thing, but unqualified disbelief in light of such massive evidence is fatuous. I often tell people that the question is not "does Bigfoot exist?" but rather "does Bigfoot STILL exist?" then I describe Gigantopithecus and explain that he once walked the earth. I think he still does. I also think the Patterson/Gimlin film is the single greatest piece of evidence we have. And it's been under our noses for 40 years. How anyone can watch that and see zippers and seams is mind blowing to me.

SD: Well, much like your Sasquatch’s disposition, there is a dark side to Bigfoot Research that most people aren't aware of. There is a lot of competitive jealousy among researchers. Quite a bit of backstabbing goes on that the general public never sees, and they would probably be amazed if they knew how far some in the Bigfoot community will go to "one-up" the next person. I think it's mostly driven by greed for the possibly huge payday that will come in for whoever proves Bigfoot exists. So, I think some people try to debunk the Patterson/Gimlin film because deep down inside they know Roger & Bob already really did prove Bigfoot exists, and some of these people just don't want to admit it. Does it surprise you to hear stories of jealousy and backstabbing among the researchers and do you think the community will ever be able to unite and work together to try to answer the existence debate?

MSH: I have seen this over the years, not only in books I read before the Internet existed, but certainly now that people can register their opinions instantly and for all to see. I think the Bigfoot community is no different than other such groups. Whenever you get a diverse group of people together, even when they seem to have a common goal, there is often strife. Look at homeowner's associations, churches, civic groups, all organizations with ostensibly a common goal in mind, but you often find internal conflict that sets people at each others' throats. With the Bigfoot community I do see one major difference: the stakes are higher in that the very thing they are promoting, that is the existence of Bigfoot, is doubted by many outside their group, so with some there is an automatic defensiveness. Early on I encountered that trying to sell this book. With the Bigfoot researchers I have seen the backstabbing in message boards and even editorial sniping. I also think that the world of Bigfoot also draws certain strong personalities, and given that there will be clashes no matter the subject. As to the possible big payday, I mention that in my epilogue but I never thought about the greed aspect in terms of the real people looking for Bigfoot. That's interesting. Will they be able to work together? I don't know, but if you look around at the world and how people interact, sadly, I tend to doubt it.

SD: I find it odd that many are still willing to dismiss the possible reality of Bigfoot so easily with the vast amount of circumstantial evidence available. People have been sent to prison on less evidence in our judicial system. Indeed if the existence of Bigfoot were on trial in a court of law, Bigfoot would have been found guilty long ago. Would you tend to agree with that analogy?

MSH: I live in LA. Bigfoot is a celebrity. He'd never get convicted here no matter how much evidence you have.

SD: During our correspondence leading up to this interview you and I spoke of our love of modern CGI (computer generated imagery) special effects used in films like Peter Jackson's The Lord Of The Rings trilogy and King Kong. We both discussed how we'd love to see your Sasquatch brought to life on film through the magic of CGI. Do you have any plans to adapt The Shadowkiller into a screenplay and market it to the motion picture industry? If you could get whoever you wanted which director, special effects house, etc. would make up your "Dream Team" to do your Big Guy justice?

MSH: First of all, CGI has gotten so good I think it has no limitations any more. When I first saw the "living" dinosaurs in Jurassic Park, the fly around shot of the Titanic, or the flyover of the Coliseum in Gladiator, they all took my breath away. And those were what, ten years ago? I wanted to be a DP, a cinematographer, as a career and majored in film in college. I was a professional photographer for 18 years until my writing started selling. So the visual elements are extremely important to me. I think the Shadowkiller would have to be done with state-of-the-art CGI. My agent, Nick Ellison, is currently shopping my book to the film industry. Having sold some films--which haven't been made yet--I can tell you that selling a property is an unpredictable process. Getting a film set-up, or green-lit, is even tougher. I have given him a list of directors I like but I'd rather not share that because if some other director likes it, then he's my new favorite director. There are a number of terrific effects houses that could knock this film out of the park. I just don't think a guy in suit will cut it anymore, and be taken seriously. Unless, of course, they can find a ten foot tall actor.

SD: Do you have any other Bigfoot related projects in the works for the future?

MSH: No, I'm focusing on my next novel as well as some other projects, an historical film project I've been lugging around for too long, and a TV project with a couple friends who are exec producers of sitcoms.

SD: I asked a couple of our Member's who have read your book if there were any questions they'd like to ask you. This first one is from "Rhett": Can you tell us about your writing process? For example, your novel has several interesting subplots going on underneath that all tie together by the end of the story. Did you have an idea, before you started writing, what direction those were going to take, or did you decide as you developed the story?

MSH: Some people can just start writing and God bless 'em if they can create a story with no outline. I cannot. I had a very detailed outline before I wrote the book. Of course, that said, the book still went through a number of incarnations. I hired a pro story analyst and he gave me notes. I also got notes from friends who read various drafts. Then I had a terrific editor at Simon & Schuster, Amanda Murray, who helped me focus the story and characters. It was a very long process.

SD: Again from Rhett: I would also be interested in knowing your process of reaching a decision to give the Bigfoot human characteristics, e.g., cognitive thinking/reasoning, emotions, rationalization, etc., rather than more instinctive characteristics. Did this arise from your personal belief about BF or more from just telling the story?

MSH: I wanted him to be a worthy adversary and I felt that, as an upper primate, he would have some pretty sophisticated thought processes, as well as some special capabilities. I do think it makes the story more interesting because you need your protagonist to be up against a foe who is superior, which makes your hero's victory, or even survival, a doubtful situation. But the qualities of advanced intellect and extra sensory abilities were organic to the character of the Shadowkiller and were not forced or created out of whole cloth to make him more worthy. I honestly felt he would be that way. That also made him easier to write--because I truly believed he had these abilities.

SD: Here is one from Rick, a.k.a "sasquatchhunter62": What caused Mr. Hansen to go with a fire set by campers in claiming the Bigfoot's families lives, thus causing it to go on a rampage and kill people, instead of the usual group of hunters who decide to go on a "kill mission" and bring in a Bigfoot as proof of it's existence?

MSH: I think you hit the nail on the head, Rick, when you said the "usual group of hunters." Actually, I came up with the premise for this book years ago, probably long before most of these other books and films out there. But I felt that the fire, set probably unintentionally by human beings, was a commentary on our poor stewardship of the wilds as well as the bad things that can happen when stupid actions couple with the cascade effect of causality. While I think there's been great work protecting the wilderness by conservancy groups and even the government in some cases, I think back to when I was a kid and went into the wilds and we'd see garbage left in the most pristine and remote little mountain lakes. My folks would rant about that, and as I got older, so did I. I remember the TV commercial years ago of the Indian paddling his canoe and finding the floating garbage in the river and the tear rolling down his cheek. I used the fire to make a statement about how the unthinking and careless actions of people can set terrible events in motion.

SD: One more from Rick: Do you see a possibility for any kind of a sequel to the story?

MSH: Well, you never discount the possibility of a sequel. Just in case, I do have a sequel in mind. I've got the setting and a rough premise and, if somebody made me a good enough offer, I'd make it work.

SD: That’s fascinating to hear, I truly hope to see a sequel someday. I’d love to see how you would handle that storyline! In closing, I'd like to thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview Matt. I know your schedule is probably quite busy these days so your willingness to answer our questions is very much appreciated. Are there any final thoughts you'd like to pass along to our readers?

MSH: I want to say how much I appreciate your very thoughtful analysis of my book, your excellent questions, and perhaps most of all your glowing praise, which would make any author swell with pride. Thank you. I also want to say that I have mixed feelings about what I think may be the imminent discovery of our big hairy friend. With the advances in technology, from forward looking infrared cameras, to night vision, to photoelectric tripping cameras, etcetera, someday--and I think sooner than later--we're going to have incontrovertible proof that we have a new cousin. While I have been waiting for that day for many years, and would be tremendously thrilled, a part of me would also be sad that one more goose bump raising mystery had been solved, that we'd have yet another life form to exploit, and that our world would, once again, have shrunk just a bit more.

[Editor's note: Many thanks to Scott, for conducting this insightful interview, and to Matt, for taking the time to share his book with us.

I, too, really enjoyed the book. I found the characters wholly believable, and was so impressed with the way Matt could truly bring a character to life in such a short period of time. The book offers voyeuristic snapshots into the lives of "real" people who encounter something terrifying. And the fact that the Bigfoot's rage is not gratuitious in nature, but rather is understandable in light of the books' events, makes it that much more creepy. I definitely recommend The Shadowkiller. It's a fun, well-written read! - Autumn]


DOCUMENTARY ON DVD: Oregon Bigfoot: Search for a Living Legend Volume I
artwork and cover design by Scott Davis

The documentary DVD - Oregon Bigfoot: Search for a Living Legend Volume I is still available for a limited time. To order the DVD, or for more information, click here.

You may order through PayPal (you can still use a credit card just like normal even if you don't have a PayPal account) or use the printable order form to snail mail a check or money order. (If you choose snail mail, please email me and let me know so I can be on the lookout for you in the mailbox.)

The documentary will be released in a two-part series. Volume I, available now, is approximately 113 minutes total running time. There's over an hour of the movie itself, plus a half-hour of my presentation at the Bellingham Sasquatch Research Conference: Women in Sasquatch Research. Also, tech videos and a fun blooper reel.

View the Trailer | Read Reviews | Order the DVD