Hunting A Monster

    It was the night of February 7, 1962. Robert Hatfield was staying at his sister’s house in Fort Bragg, California. Her dogs were howling in the backyard. He went outside to find out why.

    That’s when he saw it. A giant figure was lurking in the shadows. It was more than 6 feet tall. It was covered in hair. Hatfield thought it was a huge bear.

    He ran to wake his brother-in-law, Bud Jenkins. Then Hatfield hurried back into the yard and—POW! He smacked right into the beast.

    Jenkins rushed over to help. Both men struggled against the creature. Then it turned and ran away.

    Later, a group of neighbors searched the nearby woods. They didn’t find anything. But they knew exactly what the two men had seen.

    It wasn’t a bear. It was Bigfoot.

    On the night of February 7, 1962, Robert Hatfield was staying at his sister’s house in Fort Bragg, California. His sister’s dogs were howling in the backyard, so he stepped outside to see what had them so spooked.

    That’s when he saw it: a giant figure lurking in the shadows. The creature was more than 6 feet tall and covered in hair. Hatfield was certain it was the largest bear he had ever seen.

    He ran to wake his brother-in-law, Bud Jenkins. Then Hatfield hurried back into the yard—and smacked right into the massive beast.

    Jenkins’s heart pounded as he rushed over to help. Both men struggled against the creature, and then it turned and ran off into the night.

    Later, a group of neighbors searched the nearby woods. They didn’t find anything, but they knew exactly what Hatfield and Jenkins had seen.

    It wasn’t a bear. It was Bigfoot.

    Hatfield and Jenkins were not the first people to see a giant, hairy creature. For thousands of years, people have been telling stories about beasts that hide in the woods.

    In Nepal—a country in Southeast Asia—people trade tales about a monster named the yeti. In Oregon and Washington State, many Native Americans share stories of a creature called Sasquatch. And then, there is Bigfoot. 

    There is no proof that Bigfoot exists. But experts did a survey in 2014. That survey found that 20 percent of Americans believe that Bigfoot is real.

    Hatfield and Jenkins were not the first people to see a giant, hairy creature. For thousands of years, people have told stories about beasts that hide in the woods.

    In Nepal, a country in Asia, people talk about a monster named the yeti. In Oregon and Washington State, Native Americans share stories of a creature called Sasquatch. And then, there is Bigfoot.

    There’s no proof that Bigfoot exists. But experts did a survey in 2014. It found that one in five Americans believe that Bigfoot is real.

    Hatfield and Jenkins weren’t the first people to see an enormous, hairy creature. For thousands of years, people have been telling stories about beasts that hide in the woods.

    In Nepal—a country in Southeast Asia—people trade tales about a monster named the yeti. In Oregon and Washington State, many Native American people share stories about a creature called Sasquatch. And then, of course, there is Bigfoot.

    There’s no proof that Bigfoot exists—but according to a survey conducted in 2014, 20 percent of Americans believe that Bigfoot is real.

    The legend of Bigfoot began spreading in America in the late 1950s. Some workers found huge footprints in the woods in California. They believed the prints belonged to something not quite human, not quite animal.

    The workers called this monster Bigfoot. Newspapers began to print articles about it. These articles fascinated readers. Some people in the news said they’d seen Bigfoot. Some said they’d heard strange noises in the woods. Some said they’d found Bigfoot’s poop or hair.

    In 1967, someone shared shocking footage. It showed Bigfoot walking in the woods. Could the hairy beast really exist?

    The legend of Bigfoot began spreading across America in the late 1950s. Several workers found enormous footprints in the woods in California. They believed the prints belonged to something not quite human, not quite animal.

    The workers called this monster Bigfoot. Newspapers began printing articles about it, which excited and fascinated readers.

    Some people in the articles claimed to have actually seen Bigfoot, while others reported hearing strange noises in the forest. Still others said they had found Bigfoot’s poop or hair.

    In 1967, someone shared astonishing footage that showed Bigfoot strolling through the woods. Could it be possible that the hairy monster was really out there?

    Today, Bigfoot still fascinates us. People claim they’ve seen Bigfoot in every state—and as recently as earlier this year. Google “Bigfoot,” and you will get more than 50 million hits. 

    People also pay to go on Bigfoot hunts. On these trips, groups go into the woods. They’re led by a Bigfoot-hunting “expert.” But none of these hunters have ever found Bigfoot. So why do so many people still believe? 

    Maybe it’s because they want to. 

    Science has taught us a lot about the world. Still, something in us craves magic and mystery. It’s like we want the world to be full of strange creatures we can’t explain.

    Today, we still talk about Bigfoot. People claim they’ve seen Bigfoot in every state—and as recently as earlier this year. Google “Bigfoot,” and you’ll get more than 50 million hits.

    People also pay to go on Bigfoot hunts. On these trips, groups go into the woods. A Bigfoot-hunting “expert” leads them. But these hunters have never found Bigfoot. So why do people still believe?

    Maybe it’s because they want to.

    Science has taught us a lot about the world. Still, we like magic and mystery. It’s like we want strange creatures to exist.

    Today, Bigfoot still fascinates us. People claim they’ve seen Bigfoot in every state—and as recently as earlier this year. Google “Bigfoot,” and you’ll get more than 50 million hits.

    People also pay to go on Bigfoot hunts, traveling through the woods in groups with the guidance of a Bigfoot-hunting “expert.” But none of these hunters have ever found Bigfoot. So why do so many people still believe?

    Maybe it’s because they want to.

    Science has taught us a great deal about the world—and still, something in us craves magic and mystery. It’s like we want the world to be full of strange creatures we can’t explain.

    And you know what? Some strange creatures have turned out to be real animals. Explorers once told stories of lizard monsters in Southeast Asia. At the time, few people believed them to be true. Later, it turned out that these lizards were Komodo dragons.

    Then there’s the kraken—a monster believed to be made up by sailors hundreds of years ago. It’s what we now know as the giant squid.

    The truth is, scientists find thousands of new species each year. They say millions more are still out there. After all, we’ve explored less than 20 percent of our oceans. 

    So what about Hatfield and Jenkins? What did they see that night in 1962? We may never know. Maybe they were in on a hoax. Maybe they did think they saw Bigfoot. 

    Or maybe, like many of us, they just really, really wanted to believe. 

    And you know what? Some strange creatures have turned out to be real animals. Explorers once told stories of lizard monsters in Southeast Asia. At the time, few people believed them. Now we know that these lizards were Komodo dragons.

    Then there’s the kraken. Many years ago, people thought sailors had made this monster up. We now know it as the giant squid.

    Scientists find thousands of new species each year. They say millions more are still out there. After all, we’ve explored less than       20 percent of our oceans.

    So what did Hatfield and Jenkins see that night in 1962? We may never know. Were they in on a hoax? Did they really think they saw Bigfoot?

    Maybe they just really wanted to believe. 

    And indeed, some mysterious creatures have turned out to be real animals. Explorers once told stories of lizard monsters in Southeast Asia. At the time, few people believed them to be true. Later, it turned out that these lizards were Komodo dragons.

    Then there’s the kraken—a monster believed to be made up by sailors centuries ago—which we now know as the giant squid.

    The truth is, scientists find thousands of new species each year, and they say millions more are still waiting to be discovered. After all, we’ve explored less than 20 percent of our oceans.

    So what did Hatfield and Jenkins actually see that night in 1962? We may never know. Maybe they were in on a hoax, or maybe they genuinely thought they’d seen Bigfoot.

    Or maybe, like many others, they just really, really wanted to believe.