Skookum Cast
Encyclopedia
The Skookum cast is a plaster cast
often claimed to be an imprint of the body of Bigfoot
, although it is more typically regarded as that of an elk
.
(BFRO) expedition to the Skookum Meadows area of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest
in Washington state , during filming of the now-cancelled Animal-X television show.
The cast, which measures 3.5 by 5 ft (1.1 by 1.5 ) and weighs approximately 400 pounds (181.4 kg), is of a partial body imprint left in roadside mud. Impressions of hair are evident on the cast. The body dimensions of the cast are reportedly 40 to 50 percent larger than that of a six-foot tall human. On the same expedition of the BFRO there was evidence of 17 inch footprints that may have belonged to a Sasquatch as well. Many individuals, including the co-founder of the BFRO, Ron Schaffner, recognized several anatomical features that led them to conclude it was made by a resting elk
. The cast apparently reveals landmarks that can be recognized as the hindlegs, hip, chest, and wrists of a reclining elk. Cleaning the cast revealed finer details, including "extensive impressions of hair on the buttock and thigh surfaces", and what appears to be longer hair along the forearm. Alternatively, it has been said by some Bigfoot enthusiasts to show the imprint of a forearm, hip, thigh, heel and ankle, and Achilles tendon
of a reclining Sasquatch. Impressions of hair are evident on the buttocks and thigh surfaces of the cast, as well as much longer fringes of hair on the forearm region. Dermal ridges appear on the heel, with many of the same characteristics consistently found on other purported Sasquatch samples. Dermal ridges have been alleged to occur on a "heel," but these have been interpreted as hair impressions from the wrist of an elk. A number of elk hoof imprints and coyote
paw prints are also present.
Elk and bear
hair was found in the cast. Henner Fahrenbach, a retired biomedical researcher from Beaverton, Oregon
, analyzed some hairs and claims to have identified a single specimen, which he believes belongs to a Sasquatch, although he admits this identification is very tentative and impossible to test.
There are multiple interpretations as to what the cast represents. Impressions of the elk's wrists were studied by anthropologist Jeffrey Meldrum
of Idaho State University
, and his interpretation of their anatomy matches his hypothetical models of a Sasquatch foot. Others note a much stronger similarity between the imprints and an elk's wrist and metacarpal impression. This perspective received support through the lack of "Bigfoot footprints" in the immediate vicinity.
The cast has been examined by several Sasquatch enthusiasts, including journalist John Willison Green, John Bindernagel
, and Meldrum, who believe the cast to be authentic, and solid evidence of the existence of Sasquatch. Anthropologist Grover Krantz
has gone on record as saying that he had no idea what the cast represented. Ron Schaffner, the co-founder of the BFRO, and others within the group, recognized several unique characteristics of an ungulate
lay, indicating to them the imprint was made by an elk.
On March 3, 2001, Marc Hume wrote an article for the National Post
of Canada in which he recognized the clear tracks of an elk and described: "imprints left that would match perfectly with an elk's legs." In his opinion, the cast was "if anything, a cast of the impression made by the hindquarters of an elk.
Plaster cast
A plaster cast is a copy made in plaster of another 3-dimensional form. The original from which the cast is taken may be a sculpture, building, a face, a fossil or other remains such as fresh or fossilised footprints – particularly in palaeontology .Sometimes a...
often claimed to be an imprint of the body of Bigfoot
Bigfoot
Bigfoot, also known as sasquatch, is an ape-like cryptid that purportedly inhabits forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid...
, although it is more typically regarded as that of an elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
.
Description
The cast was taken on September 22, 2000, during a Bigfoot Field Researchers OrganizationBigfoot Field Researchers Organization
Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization is a research organization that gathers and distributes data about the cryptid Bigfoot. The organization was founded in 1995 by Matt Moneymaker, a Sasquatch researcher. BFRO has thirty curators who investigate sightings and interview witnesses. Another...
(BFRO) expedition to the Skookum Meadows area of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Gifford Pinchot National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in southern Washington, USA. With an area of 1.37 million acres , it extends 116 km along the western slopes of Cascade Range from Mount Rainier National Park to the Columbia River. It includes the 110,000 acre Mount St....
in Washington state , during filming of the now-cancelled Animal-X television show.
The cast, which measures 3.5 by 5 ft (1.1 by 1.5 ) and weighs approximately 400 pounds (181.4 kg), is of a partial body imprint left in roadside mud. Impressions of hair are evident on the cast. The body dimensions of the cast are reportedly 40 to 50 percent larger than that of a six-foot tall human. On the same expedition of the BFRO there was evidence of 17 inch footprints that may have belonged to a Sasquatch as well. Many individuals, including the co-founder of the BFRO, Ron Schaffner, recognized several anatomical features that led them to conclude it was made by a resting elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
. The cast apparently reveals landmarks that can be recognized as the hindlegs, hip, chest, and wrists of a reclining elk. Cleaning the cast revealed finer details, including "extensive impressions of hair on the buttock and thigh surfaces", and what appears to be longer hair along the forearm. Alternatively, it has been said by some Bigfoot enthusiasts to show the imprint of a forearm, hip, thigh, heel and ankle, and Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
of a reclining Sasquatch. Impressions of hair are evident on the buttocks and thigh surfaces of the cast, as well as much longer fringes of hair on the forearm region. Dermal ridges appear on the heel, with many of the same characteristics consistently found on other purported Sasquatch samples. Dermal ridges have been alleged to occur on a "heel," but these have been interpreted as hair impressions from the wrist of an elk. A number of elk hoof imprints and coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
paw prints are also present.
Elk and bear
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
hair was found in the cast. Henner Fahrenbach, a retired biomedical researcher from Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton, Oregon
Beaverton is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley.As of the 2010 census, the population is 90,267. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon's sixth-largest city...
, analyzed some hairs and claims to have identified a single specimen, which he believes belongs to a Sasquatch, although he admits this identification is very tentative and impossible to test.
There are multiple interpretations as to what the cast represents. Impressions of the elk's wrists were studied by anthropologist Jeffrey Meldrum
Jeffrey Meldrum
D. Jeffrey Meldrum is an Associate Professor of Anatomy and Anthropology and Adjunct Associate Professor of the Department of Anthropology at Idaho State University...
of Idaho State University
Idaho State University
Idaho State University is a public university located in Pocatello, Idaho. It has outreach programs in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Boise, and Twin Falls....
, and his interpretation of their anatomy matches his hypothetical models of a Sasquatch foot. Others note a much stronger similarity between the imprints and an elk's wrist and metacarpal impression. This perspective received support through the lack of "Bigfoot footprints" in the immediate vicinity.
The cast has been examined by several Sasquatch enthusiasts, including journalist John Willison Green, John Bindernagel
John Bindernagel
John A. Bindernagel is a wildlife biologist who has sought evidence for Bigfoot since 1963. He published a book in 1998 entitled North America's Great Ape: the Sasquatch ....
, and Meldrum, who believe the cast to be authentic, and solid evidence of the existence of Sasquatch. Anthropologist Grover Krantz
Grover Krantz
Grover Sanders Krantz was a professor of physical anthropology at Washington State University, perhaps most famous to the general public as one of the few scientists not only to research Bigfoot, but also to express his belief in the cryptid's existence...
has gone on record as saying that he had no idea what the cast represented. Ron Schaffner, the co-founder of the BFRO, and others within the group, recognized several unique characteristics of an ungulate
Ungulate
Ungulates are several groups of mammals, most of which use the tips of their toes, usually hoofed, to sustain their whole body weight while moving. They make up several orders of mammals, of which six to eight survive...
lay, indicating to them the imprint was made by an elk.
On March 3, 2001, Marc Hume wrote an article for the National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
of Canada in which he recognized the clear tracks of an elk and described: "imprints left that would match perfectly with an elk's legs." In his opinion, the cast was "if anything, a cast of the impression made by the hindquarters of an elk.
Skepticism
The Committee for Skeptical Inquiry have put forward the suggestion that the initial identification as a Bigfoot cast is problematic, as it was done by a Bigfoot researcher looking for evidence of Bigfoot, while his fellows only concurred after this identification was suggested to them and thereby validating the original identification.Further reading
- The Skookum Cast - Details from the BFRO.