- Class 1a
- Class 1, Corroboration: Reports involving a sighting, and accompanied by another form of support.1a A sasquatch/bigfoot specimen has been collected (alive or dead).
- Class 1b
- Class 1, Corroboration: Reports involving a sighting, and accompanied by another form of support.1b A report investigation results in a sasquatch observation or the documentation of clear tracks or other forms of physical evidence by an investigator.
- Class 1c
- Class 1, Corroboration: Reports involving a sighting, and accompanied by another form of support.1c An investigator determines that a visual encounter with a sasquatch/bigfoot by a very reliable observer is a distinct possibility, tangible corroborating evidence is documented, and all other sources can be reasonably ruled out.
- Class 1d
- Class 1, Corroboration: Reports involving a sighting, and accompanied by another form of support.1d A visual encounter with a sasquatch/bigfoot is a distinct possibility involving two or more reliable observers, and all other sources can be reasonably ruled out.
- Class 2
- Class 2, Competency: Reports involving sightings by professionally trained or highly skilled observers.2 Investigator determines that a visual encounter with a sasquatch/bigfoot is a distinct possibility, the observer is exceptionally trustworthy, professionally trained, and experienced in the outdoors and/or is accustomed to looking for and recording details (e.g., biologist, anthropologist/archaeologist, ranger, trapper/tracker/seasoned hunter, bird watcher, game warden, naturalist, law enforcement), and other explanations can be reasonably excluded.
- Class 3a
- Class 3, Credibility: Sightings or possible wood ape evidence reported by credible witnesses.3a Investigator determines that a visual encounter with a sasquatch/bigfoot is a distinct possibility, the observer is credible, and all other sources can be reasonably ruled out.
- Class 3b
- Class 3, Credibility: Sightings or possible wood ape evidence reported by credible witnesses.3b Unidentifiable vocalizations were reported and there is accompanying tangible evidence to possibly indicate the presence of a sasquatch/bigfoot, the observer is very reliable, and other sources can be reasonably ruled out.
- Class 3c
- Class 3, Credibility: Sightings or possible wood ape evidence reported by credible witnesses.3c No visual encounter occurred, but physical evidence was found to indicate the presence of a sasquatch/bigfoot (tracks, hair, scat, etc.), the observer is very reliable, and other sources can be reasonably ruled out.
Case: 03080006
Class 3aMother looking for children witnesses strange animal.
Report Details
Occurrence date: Summer/1992
Location: Franklin County, AR
Nearby/Vicinity: Mountain Top
Time / Conditions: 12:00 — About noon. Clear & warm.
# of Witnesses: 1
Location: Franklin County, AR
Nearby/Vicinity: Mountain Top
Time / Conditions: 12:00 — About noon. Clear & warm.
# of Witnesses: 1
Witness Account:
[This report was submitted by the witness on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 to NAWAC Investigator Tal Branco in person.]
The witness lived near the top of Younger Knob, on property adjacent to the very large, deep and steep-sided mountain hollow (canyon) formed by the South Fork of White Oak Creek. On the day of the sighting she and her two young daughters climbed down the side of the hollow to check on her 9 or 10 year old son and his 12 or 13 year old cousin who camped along the creek.
The trek to the base of the slope took hours of careful travel with frequent rest stops along the way. When they reached the narrow canyon floor along the creek, they could hear the two boys calling to them from their campsite further up the creek. The two girls were allowed to start walking toward the camp, but the witness sat down on a large rock beside the creek to rest for a while. While sitting there she noticed something shining in the water, and was preoccupied with trying to determine what kind of object she was seeing. By that time the two girls had reached the camp site, she could no longer hear the four children talking. While looking intently at the shining object in the creek for several minutes, the witness had a strong and sudden feeling that she was being watched. She slowly turned to look down the creek and up the creek, and then carefully scanned the bluff and terraces across from her position. She saw nothing in those directions, but still had a growing feeling of being watched. She then turned around on the rock to look up the steep slope she had just traveled. She froze when she saw a large human-like being staring down on her from a sharp ridge about 100 yards away. The witness stared at the animal for several seconds and mentally recorded details of its appearance. While her eyes were fixed on the animal, she heard all four children laughing and shouting as they ran toward her. She immediately stood up and started walking to intercept the children. She quickly looked back toward the ridge, and the animal was gone. She hurriedly gathered the children and started walking cautiously back up the wall of the hollow. As they approached the area where the animal had been standing, they could smell a strong rancid odor like that produced by a large male bear. Hours later they climbed out of the canyon and returned home safely.
Hand/foot prints:
None.
Sounds:
None.
Additional observations:
Bipedal animal about 9 feet tall with dark brown hair that was about 3 to 5 inches long. The hair covered all the body, including the backs of the hands. There was no hair on the face just below the eyes. The neck was very short and the head sat close to the shoulders. The animal was lean but very muscular, especially in the upper torso. There was a strong rancid odor like that produced by a large male bear. The witness's son-in law has also seen one such animal.
Investigator's Observations
Investigator(s): Tal Branco
This investigation was conducted as a result of a reported incident that allegedly occurred in Franklin County, Arkansas, in 1992 or possibly 1991.
The witness was interviewed on August 17, 2005. The witness and I were later driven to the edge of the hollow above the sighting location by a friend of the witness. The steep bluffs, narrow ledges and large boulders that cover the wall of the canyon appear formidable.
The witness was born and grew up in these Ozark Mountains, and has hunted the area since she was a child. She stated that during the short days of winter, an experienced hunter would spend the entire day reaching the bottom of the canyon and returning to the spot on which we stood. I do not doubt that statement for a second. She stated, and aerial photographs and topographic maps confirm, that there are no roads of any kind into this large canyon. Other than hiking for several very rough miles up the creek, the canyon floor is only accessible by descending down the walls. The steep slopes are covered in massive oak and hickory trees, and large ash, maple and elm trees. There is no evidence that trees have ever been harvested from the canyon walls.
The statements received from the witness are believed to be valid, and I believe accurately reflect her memories of this event. Although she stated that the odor that she and the children encountered was similar to that produced by a large male bear, she also stated with certainty that the animal she saw was not a bear. She has seen black bear routinely in the mountains, and is familiar with all the native animals in the Ozarks.
This investigation was conducted as a result of a reported incident that allegedly occurred in Franklin County, Arkansas, in 1992 or possibly 1991.
The witness was interviewed on August 17, 2005. The witness and I were later driven to the edge of the hollow above the sighting location by a friend of the witness. The steep bluffs, narrow ledges and large boulders that cover the wall of the canyon appear formidable.
The witness was born and grew up in these Ozark Mountains, and has hunted the area since she was a child. She stated that during the short days of winter, an experienced hunter would spend the entire day reaching the bottom of the canyon and returning to the spot on which we stood. I do not doubt that statement for a second. She stated, and aerial photographs and topographic maps confirm, that there are no roads of any kind into this large canyon. Other than hiking for several very rough miles up the creek, the canyon floor is only accessible by descending down the walls. The steep slopes are covered in massive oak and hickory trees, and large ash, maple and elm trees. There is no evidence that trees have ever been harvested from the canyon walls.
The statements received from the witness are believed to be valid, and I believe accurately reflect her memories of this event. Although she stated that the odor that she and the children encountered was similar to that produced by a large male bear, she also stated with certainty that the animal she saw was not a bear. She has seen black bear routinely in the mountains, and is familiar with all the native animals in the Ozarks.
