Bohemia area - Lane County, OR photo by A. Williams

>> Editor's Note:

November brings a whole new look to the Oregonbigfoot.com newsletter. We've added all kinds of great features, from research equipment information, Bigfoot news links, information about site updates, featured books and DVDs, featured articles, fiction and more. We hope you enjoy the added content! Is there something you'd like to see? Let us know!

I'm continually amazed by the number of emails I get on a weekly basis from people who have either had an encounter or simply have an interest in the Bigfoot phenomenon. Unfortunately, the mass media treats the subject with a mostly tongue-in-cheek sensationalism that much of the public absorbs and reflects this perspective. Many people never realize that there are serious-minded individuals like myself who, after careful scrutiny, find enough validity in this subject to devote YEARS of their lives to its study.

When I confess my life's passion to people ("I do Bigfoot research..."), I generally get one of three responses:

Eyebrows raised: "Um, I'm sorry... you do WHAT? I thought you said 'Bigfoot'..."

Laughing hysterically: "You know, my uncle's really hairy and he lives up in the woods. Maybe you're really looking for him and didn't know it. Would you like me to introduce you?"

Looks around furtively, leans in and says quietly: "You know, it's interesting that you say that. My brother and I were out elk hunting one day and he swore to me that he saw this big, hairy guy..."

It's all about perspective. :)

Autumn Williams
Oregonbigfoot.com
Your comments are always welcome.

>> Michael Nave is a 39-year-old married father of 3 who has been interested in the unexplained for many years. For the last 5 years he has independently followed up on Bigfoot sightings in his local area, taking it upon himself to make excursions into sighting areas during the nighttime and early morning hours, blasting calls as well as seeking tracks and other evidence. Mike has studied the Bigfoot phenomenon for several years and feels certain that the evidence points to an elusive bipedal hominid, which exists deep within wilderness areas around the world. Mike feels that in order to be successful, we must study the ways of this creature and learn how to live in harmony with it.

Mike's a fun guy with a great sense of humor and a sharp mind. As Research Coordinator, he'll help follow-up on recent sighting reports, contribute to the newsletter and provide some much-needed help with site administration. Welcome aboard, Mike!

>> Oregonbigfoot.com unveils the Bigfoot Art Gallery, featuring artwork from premeire artists all over the country. If you are an artist and would like to show your work, please contact us. In many cases, frameable prints are available by emailing info@oregonbigfoot.com.

This month's Featured Artist is Scott Davis.

>> Ever since Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin stumbled across a lone Bigfoot in the forest outside of Bluff Creek in 1967, people have been curious and fascinated by this unknown creature. What many people do not know is that Bigfoot-like creatures have existed in Native American folklore, legends, and oral history for centuries. Many Native American tribes, from diverse geographic regions, have some form of Bigfoot or similar creature laced within their cultural lore; some refer to them as spiritual beings, other tribes see them as minor gods, others saw them as flesh and blood animals, while some tribes view these creatures as any combination of the three. >> more...

>> A Fictional Halloween Story:

(Editor's note: Although it's a bit past Halloween, I thought I'd throw this in here for fun. Hoaxers might have more to worry about than being shot at...)

The waning moon was a sharp splinter, pricking pinholes of light in the night sky. A full moon would be too cliche on this, the darkest of nights, but I would have been glad for the light. I fumbled with my car keys, trying to draw them out of my purse with as much precision as a barely opposable thumb and rubbery forefinger could muster. The keys in fell the mud. Crap. At this rate I'll be more than fashionably late, I thought.

Trying to keep the mask from slipping while I bent over in the dark was an equally futile affair. The eyeholes kept moving around and it was getting unbelievably hot and humid inside. Unfortunately, it was attached to the rest of the costume so I didn't have much choice. Sure, I could take it off, drive to the party and then put it on before I went up near the house, but what if one of the guests saw me as they arrived? My months of planning would be ruined. So I sweated it out. After all, it was only a five-mile drive. That is, once I got the key in out of the mud, unlocked the door, managed to paw it into the ignition, and somehow drove a manual transmission five miles in the rain on a winding road in a Sasquatch suit. >> more...

Want to contribute an article, photograph, story, etc.? Email it to us!

>> An idea is NOT a belief.

Many people have steadfast beliefs about what Bigfoot might be: A North American ape, a missing link, a throwback to Gigantopithecus, or something even stranger... I guess it's safe to say that I don't really "believe" anything about what Bigfoot is or isn't, because to believe is to commit to one idea and to be resistant to others. I find that it narrows the mind to a degree that I'm not comfortable with. A scientist with a subjective agenda is something akin to a fanatic... not a scientist. Ask yourself... are you comfortable with the idea that Bigfoot may be something other than what you "believe" it is? True scientific study challenges ideas and remains objective until all of the evidence has been pondered, scrutinized and replication is successful.

Bigfoot IS whatever it is. I don't CARE if it's one thing or the other. I'd simply like to KNOW what it is.

Successful research in any field starts with a truly objective perspective.