Bigfoot: real creature or a man in an ape costume? The legend has long captivated people across North America, turning a campfire tale into a topic of lingering debate. Some observers treat the story as folklore, while others push for answers grounded in evidence. In a multinational collaboration, Oxford University in the United Kingdom and Lausanne Museum of Zoology in Switzerland have joined forces to perform DNA testing on remains believed to come from Sasquatches. The goal is to move beyond rumor and anecdote, letting science speak through genetic data. If a link can be found with known hominin lineages or with other primates, it would reshape how the story is understood. Researchers emphasize that this work tests possibilities rather than proving a single claim. The project also showcases how modern genetics can reframe old legends, making them testable by the same standards used for other species.
Sasquatches remain one of the few legends people still insist could be real. Most individuals did not doubt unicorns or dragons, yet Sasquatch stories persist for reasons that feel closer to biology than folklore. The creature is sometimes depicted with traits not far from established apes, a detail that makes the idea feel less farfetched to some observers. Researchers note that the line between myth and biology often blurs when witnesses describe footprints, hair samples, or blurry photographs. The current effort by Oxford and the Lausanne team treats these reports as historical data that can be examined with science rather than dismissed out of hand.
The legend of the yeti, Bigfoot, Sasquatch or whatever name you use has roots in Native North American mythic traditions. It was in the mid-1800s when settlers from Europe started reporting sightings after hearing native stories and perhaps being unsettled by what they heard. Over the years people have produced photographs and collected body parts that supporters say prove these hairy giants exist, yet mainstream science remains cautious and skeptical. Each new claim is weighed against what is known about primates, climate, and biodiversity, with researchers seeking a method to separate sensational claims from verifiable evidence.
The scientists at Oxford and the Museum of Zoology want to set the record straight through careful study. Using the remains that enthusiasts have preserved, the team will examine the DNA to see how it compares with what science already knows. They currently entertain the possibility that Sasquatches could be Neanderthals who survived to the present day under unusual circumstances and avoided typical evolutionary change. This is a hypothesis, not a verdict, and results will be scrutinized by the broader scientific community. (Oxford University; Lausanne Museum of Zoology, DNA study, 2024)
Historically, some of the most persuasive facets of the Sasquatch story have been the supposed sightings that occur in remote areas, sometimes described as quiet, unremarkable nights with unexpected encounters. While some accounts are vivid and persuasive to those who witness them, others are clearly sensational or misinterpreted. To many observers, the idea persists because it sits at the intersection of mystery and evidence, inviting careful testing rather than harsh dismissal. The collaboration between the two institutions highlights a growing trend in science: using genetic tools to test claims that were once exclusively the domain of folklore.
FUN FACT! The most recent Bigfoot sighting was reported in Kentucky in April, when a camper claimed to have seen a large, shaggy figure near a tent after midnight.