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| At
the turn of the season when the first cool snap moves in, and the Pineywoods are
speckled with red and gold autumn leaves, east Texans begin to notice it is getting
dark earlier. The dense pine trees cast a shadow that make the darkest night darker,
every surrounding sound seem louder, and the hair on the back of one’s neck stand
straight up. |
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East
Texas is home to many creatures of the night that humans fear, and occasionally
claim to encounter. East Texas has
given way to Bigfoot sightings, alien encounters, and close calls with blood–sucking
creatures. Individuals claiming to have come in contact with numerous unexplainable
creatures all share one thing in common, and that is a certain look engraved in
their faces, that can only be made by fear of the unknown.
East
Texas is known for its legendary, hairy, apelike creatures said to dwell deep
in the pineywoods. The bi-pedal creatures have been spotted all along the Texas-Louisiana
border, making little known towns famous. What Houston and Anderson County creature
seekers may not realize, is these woolyboogers have been reported in the area
on a somewhat regular basis. |
| "The
Neches and Trinity rivers produce regular sightings of the creature. Hunters camping
on the banks have made numerous claims of encounters with large, hairy creatures."
TE Photo |
| Bigfoot,
otherwise known as Sasquatch, the Forest Giant, or the wild man of the woods,
has been a topic of discussion for over 400 years. Sighting of the illusive creature
have reached the thousands, and many of those reports have come from East Texans.
Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s Bigfoot made headlines in East
Texas by way of local newspapers. The pineywoods are said to provide the perfect
conditions and plentiful food sources that would allow the creature to not only
survive, but thrive in the area. |
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Many of the individuals
who have claimed to encounter the hairy legend wandering about East
Texas describe the first impression as undeniably human-like. Bigfoot is said
to have 10 fingers and 10 toes, human-like facial features and expressions, and
capable of walking upright.
Those who cross the hairy creature almost
immediately notice a profound difference in size to that of a human. The overall
massiveness of the creature, which is hard for witness to put in proportion, makes
up the powerful build that many witnesses report. Others report a malodorous smell
permeating in the air.
According
to the Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy (TBRC) many witnesses who spot
the up-right walking creature hesitate to share their stories of the strange animal.
Though each sighting that does get reported varies in some form or another, the
details of the creature are always similar, if not the same.
The Neches
and Trinity rivers produce regular sightings of the creature. Hunters camping
on the banks have made numerous claims of encounters with large, hairy creatures.
The Davy Crockett National Forest is also said to be home to Bigfoot, and
has produced several sightings in recent years. Anderson and Houston County
also have a history, nearly a half century long, of sightings coming from within
county lines. |
In
2004, a hunter filed a report with TBRC concerning a sighting in the Davy Crockett
National Forest of not just one, but two sasquatches, one male and one female.
The observation made by the hunter was a lengthy encounter, during which he claimed
to have witnessed the pair moving about the brush and feeding, at approximately
8 a.m.
The witness reported to TBRC Investigator, Mike Hall, that he heard
mewling, guttural noises, accompanied by whistling and clicking noises coming
from the animals. He believed the two creatures were mates and communicating with
one another through the various noises.
Hall interviewed the witness extensively,
and referred to the encounter as “compelling.” Hall also recorded in his in depth
report and analysis that he could find nothing that lead him to believe the witness
was fabricating the story.
Just north of Houston County, along the outskirts
of Palestine, area residents
have laid claim to encounters with the creature said to roam the area. |
 |
In
1998, during the cold winter months of February, two young men, approximately
16 years old, were rendered speechless after encountering, what they claim, could
have only been a Bigfoot. While on a camping trip, on family owned property, near
the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area, the two teens allegedly got
a look at massive upright creature from roughly 20 yards away.
At approximately
2 a.m. the young men were spotlighting for rabbits. The two teens were slowly
fanning the spotlight when they saw something much larger than a rabbit. Just
ahead of the light they noticed something big, allegedly eight feet tall, and
moving quickly trying to avoid the light. The boys said the creature appeared
to have grayish-brown hair covering its body, and long arms.
The creature
allegedly crossed a five-strand barbed wire fence with no hesitation and great
ease. The witnesses reported hearing no sound in the event of the crossing.
This
report was published after the two boys’ parents saw a special report with Jonna
Fitzgerald on NBC Channel 56 of Tyler
and Longview, about the TBRC
and Bigfoot sightings in East Texas.
Parents of the two teens contacted the TBRC and put the boys in touch with researcher
and investigator, Craig Woolheater.
Woolheater’s report said after the
sighting the two young witnesses’ encounter they sat “in stunned silence” for
a few moments before leaving the area as quickly as possible.
Hunters
regularly claim to encounter the wild man in East
Texas, due to the amount of time they spend in the woods. Hunters are outdoors
in remote areas, significantly more than the average person, seeking the perfect
hunting spot. Though hunter’s reports of Bigfoot encounters are perhaps more lengthy
than others, they are certainly not the only people encountering the creature.
According
the TBRC, in Oct. of 1998, another report was made near the South-East Houston
and Anderson County border. The report did not come from a hunter, but rather
a local man that had to pull his vehicle over in order to relieve himself.
The
man allegedly stepped from his truck over to the edge of the woods, approximately
20 yards away, and began to take care of business. The witness said he began to
hear leaves crunching, under what sounded like heavy footsteps. The nervous and
quickly headed back towards his truck and away from the woods.
According
to the report made to the TBRC, as the witness made his way back to his vehicle
he noticed that when he stopped walking, so would the footsteps of the unknown
stalker that were coming from within the darkness of the woods. Suddenly the heavy
footsteps that had been stalling began to gain speed.
The frightened witness
bolted for his truck. He jumped into his truck and fled the area. The man claims
that as he was speeding off he looked into his review mirror and saw “something
big and black, standing on two legs” in the road behind him.
The witness’s
report to TBRC, researcher and investigator, Daryl Coyler, claimed the “wide and
thick” creature was within 10 yards of his tailgate at one point. The Anderson
County witness could not discern further details, due to making such a quick getaway. |
 |
East
Texas Tales of the legendary Bigfoot have captivated and haunted locals for
many years. The deep dark Pineywoods are capable of implanting fears in those
who enter their piney domain, and instilling skeptics with new found beliefs of
the creature’s existence. Though there is no hard proof that Bigfoot inhabits
the Pineywoods, those who claim to have come face-to-face with the legend are
convinced the creature lives among us, and is watching us.
The TBRC is
funded by membership dues, fundraisers, and the annual Texas Bigfoot Conference,
in addition to donations and grants. It is the TBRC’s desires to enhance the credibility
of Bigfoot research, as well as facilitate a greater degree of acceptance by the
scientific community of the likelihood of a biological basis behind the sasquatch
mystery.
Ffor more information regarding the creature or the TBRC log
on to www.texasbigfoot.org.
© Dana
Goolsby
"In The Pines With
Dana Goolsby"
February 1,
2011 Column
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