The Beginning

by  Christine Bruun

We have created a new forum for discussion that we call "Roadside Research".  We search for sighting reports near enough to us that we can drive to them.  We dissect each report, map the area using Google Satellite maps, GPS, and odometer readings from our car.  We use the information from the report to find the exact location to the best of our abilities.  We take pictures, make notes and document the sighting area with as much detailed information as we can. 

Even though we sometimes are unable to locate the individual who originally made the report, we feel that documenting the report with our own research can be a valuable tool that adds weight and clarity to the original report. 

It is a way for those who cannot get out into the remote areas with manpower and the monetary backing such an expedition requires to become part of the process as well as providing a way for the average enthusiast to contribute. 

Many of the sightings are in rural and semi-populated areas.  The creature is seen crossing roads, in back yards, in fields, or somewhere where humans can happen upon them.  More and more, they are showing up in locations that can be documented by the Roadside Research method of investigation. 

Roadside Research adds to the already existing information, validates the information in the original report, and sometimes corrects errors and finds details that were overlooked at the time of the report.

We will also be researching older sightings to document the changes to the location over the years.  Nothing ever stays the same and looking at a location over the years helps researchers to understand the dynamics of how we humans often encroach into what used to be remote wilderness, pushing the Bigfoot's territory back and creating habitat and ecological problems for that species. 

As we research the various locations we also bring flyers and place newspaper ads requesting information from the local residents in search of additional sightings and perhaps even bringing forth information that may not have been available at the time of the report. 

This particular part of the research is in the experimental stage.  We discovered placing ads in the local newspapers can be expensive.  We have placed one such ad at this time and are waiting to see if it has any value and if it is worth repeating.  In the meantime, we are trying to target our market more effectively and with less cost by placing flyers in sporting goods and hunting stores, bait and tackle shops, gun shops, and army surplus stores.  We will be reporting the results of this experiment along with our reports.

This past week we heard from another researcher who had discovered one of our Roadside Research investigations near Corning, NY in the Finger Lakes region.  He explained to us how excited he and his wife had been when opportunity presented itself during a family visit to that area.  They used the Roadside Research concept. They performed their own investigation in the Waterloo area following the information from our report. 

Not only did they have fun following the clues and hunting down information, they found that they too could participate in the hunt for Bigfoot without having to invest in expensive gear, and spend time and money they didn't have hiking and camping in the woods.  They didn't want to be arm chair researchers, but didn't realize that there was a middle ground between the arm chair and a tent. 

While many of you hardcore researchers will make light of this application and view it as a waste of time, we think that the information and the experience gathered in Roadside Research can be valuable and has a place in the research field.  We feel we have found a niche that needs to be filled. 

Whenever you investigate an already existing sighting report, please send us your results and we will post it on this forum so we can share your findings and discuss the results as well as the process.

Perhaps we will get people out of their chairs and out into the field.  We may not be out in the woods setting up cameras, baiting contact spots, slapping at mosquitoes and sleeping on the lumpy ground in hopes of spotting the elusive creature, but we are out there doing what we can to increase knowledge and lend our limited resources to the fray.  And, for us aging researchers whose health is not what it once was, and whose stamina is not what we would like it to be, we don't have to face retiring from our research.  We can just adjust it to fit our limitations.  We are not ready for the rocking chair!

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