Many people share a fascination of the cryptid known as a sasquatch. Also called Bigfoot, Yeti, and the Montana Snowman, one thing is certain—many believe it actually exists.
While the presence of Bigfoot has yet to be scientifically proven, that doesn't stop researchers from investigating sightings.
Perhaps the most well-known sighting in Ravalli county occurred just down the road.
In 2005, a trucker and his wife were traveling south on Highway 93 between Conner and Sula when they witnessed a large, reddish-brown creature sprint across the road 40 feet in front of their truck. Investigated and documented by David Petty from the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, it's reported that the couple were certain it wasn't a bear nor a human.
The couple described a heavily muscled creature standing about 9 feet tall with long, flowing hair. The creature's arms were bent at the elbow and it had a conical head profile similar to a gorilla. Further, they noted an odd foot motion where the entire foot landed on the ground then rolled forward smoothly to the toes.
The sighting reported in 2005 is not the only one. According to Montana Outdoor magazine, a biologist reported seeing a big upright figure strolling across a ridge in 2006. In 2012, a Massachusetts vet and her family photographed a dark two-legged shadow near Waterworks Trail in Missoula. In 1991, a hunting guide and his horse riding north of Darby were spooked by a man-like creature covered in hair and crouching about 25 feet away.
In 2024, two sightings in Montana were reported and investigated. One common detail shared by witnesses note an odd gait in which the creature is said to have an awkward walk.
With rugged wilderness and dense forests, the Bitterroot valley appears to be a prime habitat for these creatures. Are these sightings nothing more than a bear? No, according to the trucker couple who witnessed their account in 2005. "I live in Montana. I know what a bear looks like, and a bear cannot stand upright and run like the creature we saw." Other witnesses say the same.
Although BFRO has investigated only two sightings in the Bitterroot valley, it's reported that many believe the area to be a hotbed of Bigfoot activity.
Common details
Details that are common among witnesses include 6 to 8" long hair, 8 to 10 feet tall, and an odd gait in which the creature is said to have an awkward walk.
Why hasn't science proven the existence of Bigfoot?
Many believe Bigfoot to be nothing more than a myth simply because there is no good evidence to support their existence. Could it be that Bigfoot is transdimensional? Or some kind of shapeshifter?
Bigfoot Reporting
If you encounter Bigfoot here in the Bitterroot Valley while staying at Oxen-Le-Fields, please report it to us as well as the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization via https://www.bfro.net.
