User:Paranormal Skeptic/buffalo bigfoot

The Buffalo Bigfoot is purported to be an ape-like creature, and also believed to be closely related to the Sasquatch or Yeti. It is know for inhabiting the Western New York area and lower Canada. Believed to have thrived among the once dense forests in the area, as well as the once ample bison which was used both as a primary food source as well as a means of cover, it has survived for many years here with few documented sightings.

Background
Although many in the scientific community consider Bigfoot sightings to either be a misidentified animal or just an all out hoax, their are still many who believe in its existence. Many believe the creature can be found the world over under different regional names, as most have some form of Bigfoot in their culture. Despite any actual proof of its existence, Bigfoot has become a well know legend and perhaps one of the more notable examples of cryptozoology.

Description of Bigfoot
The Buffalo Bigfoot was described as being a large human ape-like hybrid, often walking erect, covered in hair, and to be anywhere from 7 to 15 feet tall, with large eyes, a flat brow, and a heavy odor. The creature is also believed to be omnivorous as well as nocturnal. Its namesake comes from the large footprints found either around a sighting, or just an unexplainable large footprint that cannot be classified to any other animal. The footprint can closely resemble that of a large bear which is why many skeptics doubt its existence.

Sightings in the Area
The most recent documented sighting in the area took place in June of 2006 and was covered by WGRZ Channel 2 News. A 72 year old man in Clarence took a photograph of the creature on his property. From about 200 feet away the man took pictures as the creature took off into the woods. It is unknown if the pictures are a fake but the owner says they are real, and if this is a hoax then it is on him as well.

The last known sighting was in Batavia, New York in the latter half of the 19th century. Skeptics who have examined this claim believe it to be a hoax

Regional Preference
Many have asked why such a creature as the Buffalo Bigfoot would live in the WNY area, this question has a two part answer. First the WNY area was once largely populated by forests, giving the creature a welcome habitat. Second was the large amount of bison in the area which the Buffalo Bigfoot not only used as food but would also travel with the packs. Outside of humans, very rarely do you see an animal live with other animals that it uses for food. This is yet another reason skeptics doubt its existence. But perhaps the two creatures relied on each other for protection, it is unknown. With the cutting down of many of the areas forests, as well as the virtual extinction of the bison, the Buffalo Bigfoot was left without a home or food.

Learning to Adapt
With the loss of the forest and the bison, the Buffalo Bigfoot had to find new ways of staying hidden as well as a new primary food source. Many of the species moved further north into Canada, but the few that remained had to learn to adapt. Staying hidden was as much of a problem as a primary food source was, but the fact that the number of Buffalo Bigfoot dropped to such a small amount gave the few remaining choice of land. As for food, that's another story.