Squatch-A-Pedia
Common Terms 101
Below is a list of Commonly used terms in the Bigfoot field. Most of them you may know if you are already an enthusiast. However to the casual viewer hopping to lean more about the subject. You may just lean something new. Enjoy.
Bipedal: The term referring to humans and animals using only two legs for walking or running. Bigfoot are know for their bipedal locomotion however they are often seen runner on all fours.
Blob-Squatch: Is a whimsical term given to a unclear photo in which it is so fuzzy the figure can not be determined exactly what you are seeing. These are often accompanied by the dreaded red circle.
Cloaking: Is to hide, cover, or disguise something. This is a much debated topic in the world of Bigfoot with many different thoughts and views. Many feel that the creatures hair has reflective abilities that makes it easier to blend into it surroundings. This is due to the fact that in many of the hair samples that have be collected there is an absence of the central core, called the Medulla. Others feel, much like many Native Americans tribes that they are Interdimensional beings. The most common thought is that they use their great speed and power to simply drop to the ground, climb trees or use near by foliage to stay camouflaged.
Conical Head: Bigfoot's head much like a adult male gorillas' heads is said to look conical due to the large bony crests on the top and back of the skull. These crests anchor the massive muscles used to support and operate their large jaws and teeth. Although the cone sharped head is the most commonly reported type. A rounded more human style is also reported by many eyewitnesses.
Eye Shine or Glow: As seen in the eyes of many nocturnal animals, eye shine is nothing new.
If a light source runs across a deer's eyes you can see a yellowish, greenish or even reddish reflection. This is also said to be the same in Bigfoot. However, the twist to this easily explained characteristic is that in many eyewitness encounters there is said to be no reflecting light source. Witnesses claim to see a reddish glow coming from the eyes. This has been soar spot with many researchers.
Gifting: In the field of Bigfoot "gifting" refers to leaving an item or items for the creatures in order to better track their movements, lean habits or to build a trusted relationship. Gifts could be foods, rocks, toys or anything that may peak their interest. Many times the offering can be reciprocate by the creature itself. Some notable gifts form the creatures have been rocks, sticks, pine cones and feathers to name a few.
Gigantopithecus or Gigantopithecus Blacki: Is an extinct genus of ape that lived roughly 2 million to 350,000 years ago during the early to middle Pleistocene era of China. Many Bigfoot researchers past and present, feel the origins of the modern Bigfoot come from this giant ape.
Gugwe: A creature thought to be a type of Bigfoot said to have a snout much like a Baboon or
canine. They have be report throughout the United States and Canada are are said to be on the aggressive side.
Habituation: Is the act of familiarising or the conditioning of something (in this case a creature) to make it seem normal. This act has been reported by many eyewitnesses, sometimes spanning decades. Some stories tell of leaving food for them and building relationships. However this is not a recommended practice.
Infrasound: also referred to as low frequency sound, describes sound waves with a frequency below the lower limits of human audibility. Many animals like- whales, elephants, giraffes, and big cats can use infrasound. Many people that have had encounters with Bigfoot describe being hit with these low frequency waves which can disorient or sicken the individual. This feeling is often referred to as being "zapped" in the research field.
Midtarsal Break: the ability of non-human primates to lift their heel independently of the rest of the foot. This ability is believed to be one of the reasons that bigfoot is described to have a smooth gliding motion to its walk. Many of the hundreds of casted foot print have shown this midtarsal break.
Mimic: It has often been reported that the Bigfoot creature can mimic other wildlife sounds and calls such as owls, deer, moose and more. There have even been reports of them call out names that they have heard. In most reports the witness describes the calls being much louder then the natural call or sound.
Mind Speak: Is another controversial topic in the Bigfoot world. Many eyewitnesses have experienced an internal voice in their head speaking to them that they say was not their own thoughts. Voices telling them messages or giving commands. Considered to be in the "Woo" category most people widely dismissed this until noted survivalist Les Stroud revealed that he had experienced it during his own encounter with the beast.
Nephilim: Are mysterious beings or people in the Hebrew Bible who are described as being large and strong. These giants are often described to have red hair an are interpreted to be a kind of a hybrid offspring of fallen angels. One theory is that this could be the possible origin of what we know today as Bigfoot.
Orbs or Lights: In a field that is already filled with questions and unknowns we can add Orbs or lights to the mix. Folklore of floating lights like Willo the Wisp are told throughout history. However orbs of light have been widely reported before and after Bigfoot sightings.
Paranthropus: is a genus of extinct hominin sometimes considered to be synonymous with Australopithecus. They lived between approximately 2.9 and 1.2 million years ago from the end of the Pliocene to the Middle Pleistocene. Many researchers feel that this hominin fits the origins of the Bigfoot better the the theory of Gigantopithecus.
Pareidolia: Is the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern or the human ability to see shapes or make pictures out of randomness. In the Bigfoot field this term often refers to the seeing a creature or creatures hiding in landscapes and photos.
Samurai Chatter: Is the most widely used term by witnesses and researchers to describe the creatures vocalizations or believed use of communications. You may listen to the sierra sounds video on our site for an example.
Seeahtiks: Were said to be a tribe of eight to ten feet tall hairy creatures that lived around the Mount St. Helens area of Washington state. Clallam indian tribes of the northwest, tell stories of this race of people who they both respected and feared. Seeahtiks were said to be able to kill their prey by stunning them first with some kind of hypnotic power. Many think the Seeahtiks may be at the root of the Bigfoot legend and sightings known across North American to this day.
Skunk Ape: The commonly given name to Bigfoot like creatures living in Florida and many other swampy regions of the southeastern United States. Named for the musky smell, these creatures are reported to have a smaller 6-8 foot in stature.
Spider Crawl: If the thought that a 7 to 10 foot tall creature running around in the woods of North America wasn't strange enough, then think about them crawling. Many witnesses have seen just that. The term was coined to described this incredibly unnatural looking mode of locomotion used to sneak up on
pray or used in hiding.
Tightrope Walk: Is the term used to describe the walking pattern of the Bigfoot creature. Seen most commonly by leaving a track way with one foot in line in front of the other. This characteristic along with the large distance between the strides is unlike those created by man.
Tree Breaks: Are thought to be some type of marker or sign to others. Many feel that these are used a boundary markers, some feel they are left for directions like to a water source. Another theory is that they are used in hunting much like a fence to funnel pray into an ambush spot. Often the breaks are described as being 8 to 10 feet off the ground in healthy green trees. Some are simply twisted while others are snapped off.
Tree Knocks: Many eyewitnesses have reported hearing loud knocking sounds in the woods both before, during and after encounters with these creatures. Thought to be some kind of communications between each other by hitting a stick or hand against a tree. It is almost commonplace for researchers to knock trees trying to get a response yet many researchers air on the side of caution, noting you don't what you may be communicating.
Tree Structures: Much like tree breaks, tree structures are dismissed by researcher however many of the structures are made of massive interwoven trees which were carried from elsewhere and hoisted into place. The even stranger wooden structure to explain is the upside down trees. These are made from trees being ripped out of the ground and then pushed back into the hole leaving the roots standing up in the air. Both of these style structures are considered to be a form of territorial marker.
Woo: If one term could be anymore controversial, Woo would be it. This term is given for the more paranormal or supernatural side of Bigfoot lore. The Woo side of things are often dismissed by many researchers as to far out in the fringe to be real. But these strange characteristics are reported frequently. Things like Cloaking, Interdimensional Travel, Mind Speak and Eye Glow are examples of Woo.