Just wanted to check in and let everyone know I am alive and well. Thanks to those who have emailed in to check. I am smack in the middle of my busiest time of the year. I am working on some things for the site but due to demands on my time the progress is slow.
I will have some new stuff up soon.
My best...
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Texas Bigfoot Conference Poster
The poster for the 2010 Texas Bigfoot Conference is about as cool as they come. Check it out below.
The poster was created by TBRC member Lyle Blackburn and painter Juha Vuorma. It is my understanding these posters will be available at the conference. Plan on picking up your copy there as I anticipate they will sell out very quickly.
The poster was created by TBRC member Lyle Blackburn and painter Juha Vuorma. It is my understanding these posters will be available at the conference. Plan on picking up your copy there as I anticipate they will sell out very quickly.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Texas Bigfoot Conference Lineup Released
The lineup of speakers for the 2010 Texas Bigfoot Conference has been released. The conference will be held Saturday October 30 from 8:30-6:00pm at the Caldwell Auditorium in Tyler, Texas. The lineup for the day is as follows:
Doors open at 08:30.
08:30 – 09:30: Meet and greet
09:30 – 09:40: Brian Brown – Official Greeting, Announcements
09:40 – 10:25: Daryl Colyer – TBRC Investigator
10:30 – 11:15: Alton Higgins – TBRC Investigator, wildlife biologist
11:20 – 12:00: Jimmy Chilcutt – Primate dermatoglyphics specialist
Noon – 1:30: Lunch Break
01:30 – 1:50: Robert Swain – Artist
01:55– 2:55: Kathy Strain – Anthropologist, Author; Bob Strain – veteran researcher
3:00 – 3:45: Daniel Falconer – Artist
3:45 – 4:00: Break
4:00 – 4:50: Jeff Meldrum – Anthropologist, primate anatomist
5:00 – 6:00: Panel Discussion moderated by Brian Brown
7:00 – 8:00: Fundraiser Banquet dinner
8:00 – 9:00: Bob Gimlin at the Banquet
In addition, a fundraiser banquet dinner will be held from 7:00-9:00pm at the Tyler Discovery Science Place. Featured speaker for the banquet will be Bob Gimlin, who was with Roger Patterson when the so-called "Patterson-Gimlin footage" was taken at Bluff Creek, California in 1967.
General admission to the conference is $15. Please note the general admission fee does not include the cost of attending the banquet. The cost of attending the banquet is $35. Visit the TBRC website to register.
The Caldwell Auditorium is located at:
300 S. College Ave.
Tyler, TX 75702
(903)262-2300
The Tyler Discovery Science Place is located near the auditorium at:
308 N. Broadway Ave.
Tyler, TX 75702
(903)533-8011
I am planning on attending this event and hope to see you there. It is going to be a good one.
Monday, September 13, 2010
New Report on the TBRC Website
There is a new report on the TBRC website regarding an alleged sasquatch sighting in Panola County, Texas.
Check it out here.
Check it out here.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Pterosaurs and Thunderbirds
Today will mark the first time I have featured a guest blogger. I could not have asked for a better one. Alton Higgins is the Chairman of the Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy, a college professor of Biology, wildlife biologist, and a noted birder. He is also my good friend.
Alton has been very supportive of this blog and has offered several very helpful suggestions regarding how to make it better. When he told me he had written up a piece on the possibility of living Pterosaurs/Thunderbirds I knew it would be a great fit for this blog. Alton's piece is below:
Pterosaurs and Thunderbirds
A recent article at Salem-News.com related startling claims from explorers searching for pterosaurs in Papua New Guinea. Young Earth Creationists have long espoused the theory that pterosaurs live in that region, and expeditions have been repeatedly mounted to document their existence with the notion that such a discovery would serve to discredit evolutionary theory.
The explorers, Jim Blume and David Woetzel, president of “Genesis Park,” have collected eyewitness accounts of living pterosaurs “from frightened natives,” and claim to have seen the creatures themselves. Woetzel even shot video of a flying “pterosaur” in broad daylight. His video accompanies the Salem-News.com article. http://is.gd/eVsGZ
Unfortunately, the video clearly shows a frigatebird, a large pelagic fish eating bird that obtains most of its food while flying, not a pterosaur. Five species of frigatebird are found throughout the world’s tropical oceans. Frigatebirds typically breed on remote oceanic islands and are consummate aerialists, capable of spending weeks in continuous flight and often ranging far from land.
While this blatantly obvious conclusion regarding the identity of the bird does not, in itself, preclude the possibility that some “frightened natives” have seen living pterosaurs, it does present doubts regarding the reported sightings of Blume and Woetzel. The purpose of this article, however, is to put a Texas twist on the issue of misidentifications, not to delve into the existence of pterosaurs in the South Pacific.
Unusually large mysterious flying creatures have long been reported from the Lone Star State. Just as is the case in Papua New Guinea, these seemingly inexplicable sightings are sometimes ascribed to pterosaur-like creatures. Others are sometimes called Thunderbirds, an evidently generic term applied to what appear to be huge birds that are otherwise rarely seen. A high percentage of these sightings originate in the southern part of Texas along the Mexican border. Author Ken Gerhard chronicles these kinds of sightings in his 2007 book “Big Bird! Modern Sightings of Flying Monsters.” Is it possible that some of these flying monsters are misidentified frigatebirds?
Frigatebirds are stiking creatures. In fact, the frigatebird species most likely to be observed in or near Texas is named the Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens). They have huge wingspans at seven and a half feet, comparable to those of Bald Eagles. By comparison, a frigatebird would seem to dwarf the familiar Red-tailed Hawk and its four-foot wingspread. The frigatebird’s size and unusual appearance would instantly attract attention, especially if it were to be seen in desert or prairie environments, far from its normal haunts in the farthest reaches of the open sea. As unlikely as this may appear at first glance, frigatebirds DO sometimes wander inland.
Mlodinow (1998) summarizes the occasional meanderings of frigatebirds into the American interior. He states that Magnificent Frigatebirds have been reported as far inland as Colorado, more than 700 miles from the nearest saltwater. There are eight frigatebird records for Oklahoma and four from Kansas, one a mere sixty miles from Nebraska. New Mexico has six records.
It should be obvious that, given the above records, frigatebirds also can be seen away from the ocean in Texas. However, even though it is not considered all that unusual to see frigatebirds along the Texas coast or in pelagic regions (Mlodinow characterizes them as uncommon, but not rare, summer visitors), records of the birds more than fifty miles from the coast “are exceedingly scarce.” All these records occurred in the fall and “were related to hurricane or tropical storm activity.”
All in all, the typical Texan would not be expected to see a frigatebird in his or her lifetime and would be even less likely to know what they were seeing. The fact that these impressive birds, with their singular appearance, range rarely and unexpectedly into unfamiliar domains could account for some of the reports from baffled witnesses who mistakenly relate their sightings to extinct and mysterious creatures.
Alton Higgins
4 September 2010
References
Aym, Terrence. 12 Aug. 2010. Dinosaur Found Alive: Two Species Recorded in Papua New Guinea. Salem-News.com. http://www.salem-news.com/articles/august122010/live-dinosaur-ta.php
Mlodinow, Steven G. 1998. The Magnificent Frigatebird in Western North America. Field Notes (Now North American Birds) Vol. 52(4): 413-419. http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/NAB/v052n04/p00413-p00419.pdf.
Other Links
Genesis Park http://www.genesispark.com/genpark/home.htm
Pterosaur Adventures http://www.creationinthecrossfire.org/Pterosaur%20Adventures.htm
Alton has been very supportive of this blog and has offered several very helpful suggestions regarding how to make it better. When he told me he had written up a piece on the possibility of living Pterosaurs/Thunderbirds I knew it would be a great fit for this blog. Alton's piece is below:
Pterosaurs and Thunderbirds
A recent article at Salem-News.com related startling claims from explorers searching for pterosaurs in Papua New Guinea. Young Earth Creationists have long espoused the theory that pterosaurs live in that region, and expeditions have been repeatedly mounted to document their existence with the notion that such a discovery would serve to discredit evolutionary theory.
The explorers, Jim Blume and David Woetzel, president of “Genesis Park,” have collected eyewitness accounts of living pterosaurs “from frightened natives,” and claim to have seen the creatures themselves. Woetzel even shot video of a flying “pterosaur” in broad daylight. His video accompanies the Salem-News.com article. http://is.gd/eVsGZ
Unfortunately, the video clearly shows a frigatebird, a large pelagic fish eating bird that obtains most of its food while flying, not a pterosaur. Five species of frigatebird are found throughout the world’s tropical oceans. Frigatebirds typically breed on remote oceanic islands and are consummate aerialists, capable of spending weeks in continuous flight and often ranging far from land.
While this blatantly obvious conclusion regarding the identity of the bird does not, in itself, preclude the possibility that some “frightened natives” have seen living pterosaurs, it does present doubts regarding the reported sightings of Blume and Woetzel. The purpose of this article, however, is to put a Texas twist on the issue of misidentifications, not to delve into the existence of pterosaurs in the South Pacific.
Unusually large mysterious flying creatures have long been reported from the Lone Star State. Just as is the case in Papua New Guinea, these seemingly inexplicable sightings are sometimes ascribed to pterosaur-like creatures. Others are sometimes called Thunderbirds, an evidently generic term applied to what appear to be huge birds that are otherwise rarely seen. A high percentage of these sightings originate in the southern part of Texas along the Mexican border. Author Ken Gerhard chronicles these kinds of sightings in his 2007 book “Big Bird! Modern Sightings of Flying Monsters.” Is it possible that some of these flying monsters are misidentified frigatebirds?
Frigatebirds are stiking creatures. In fact, the frigatebird species most likely to be observed in or near Texas is named the Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens). They have huge wingspans at seven and a half feet, comparable to those of Bald Eagles. By comparison, a frigatebird would seem to dwarf the familiar Red-tailed Hawk and its four-foot wingspread. The frigatebird’s size and unusual appearance would instantly attract attention, especially if it were to be seen in desert or prairie environments, far from its normal haunts in the farthest reaches of the open sea. As unlikely as this may appear at first glance, frigatebirds DO sometimes wander inland.
Mlodinow (1998) summarizes the occasional meanderings of frigatebirds into the American interior. He states that Magnificent Frigatebirds have been reported as far inland as Colorado, more than 700 miles from the nearest saltwater. There are eight frigatebird records for Oklahoma and four from Kansas, one a mere sixty miles from Nebraska. New Mexico has six records.
It should be obvious that, given the above records, frigatebirds also can be seen away from the ocean in Texas. However, even though it is not considered all that unusual to see frigatebirds along the Texas coast or in pelagic regions (Mlodinow characterizes them as uncommon, but not rare, summer visitors), records of the birds more than fifty miles from the coast “are exceedingly scarce.” All these records occurred in the fall and “were related to hurricane or tropical storm activity.”
All in all, the typical Texan would not be expected to see a frigatebird in his or her lifetime and would be even less likely to know what they were seeing. The fact that these impressive birds, with their singular appearance, range rarely and unexpectedly into unfamiliar domains could account for some of the reports from baffled witnesses who mistakenly relate their sightings to extinct and mysterious creatures.
Alton Higgins
4 September 2010
References
Aym, Terrence. 12 Aug. 2010. Dinosaur Found Alive: Two Species Recorded in Papua New Guinea. Salem-News.com. http://www.salem-news.com/articles/august122010/live-dinosaur-ta.php
Mlodinow, Steven G. 1998. The Magnificent Frigatebird in Western North America. Field Notes (Now North American Birds) Vol. 52(4): 413-419. http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/NAB/v052n04/p00413-p00419.pdf.
Other Links
Genesis Park http://www.genesispark.com/genpark/home.htm
Pterosaur Adventures http://www.creationinthecrossfire.org/Pterosaur%20Adventures.htm
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Ocelot or Something Else?
When is an ocelot not an ocelot? The possible answer? When it is a hybrid breed of cat created by humans.
Below is a photo of a cat in an East Texas animal shelter. The person who shared it with me asked me if I thought it might be the result of cross between an ocelot and a domestic cat. I don't think this cat is the result of an ocelot/domestic cat union; however, the markings on this specimen are very unique. I can't recall having seen one that looks quite like this before.
The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) does inhabit Texas and this cat's markings are a bit reminiscent of one; however, a hook-up with a domestic cat is highly unlikely. The size difference alone would seem to prohibit such a union. The ocelot ranges from 25-40 inches in length (not counting a 10-18 inch long tail) and typically weighs in at a healthy 20-25 pounds. I just don't see it happening.
The cat in the picture also reminds me a bit of a Margay (Leopardus wiedii). The margay is native to South and Central America. It is the size of a house cat averaging 5-9 lbs. and usually measuring somewhere between 20-30 inches in length. A union with a domestic cat would not be so far-fetched to me except for the fact that their home range is so far away.
I did a bit of research and learned some pretty interesting things regarding some semi-exotic cats that are being bred and sold in the U.S. The cat that most closely resembles the cat in the shelter photos is a Bengal Cat. The Bengal Cat first appeared around 1889 and is the result of a cross between a domestic feline and an Asian Leopard Cat. The Bengal Cat is quite striking and looks a lot like the cat in the shelter photo.
Another breed that resembles the cat in the shelter is the Serengeti Cat, a cross between a Bengal Cat and a Siamese, meant to mimic the look of an African Serval.I'll be the first to admit that I have no idea if the shelter cat falls into one of these two categories or if it is just an especially unique domestic of some kind.
While looking into all this I started to wonder just how common these hybrid breeds have become. If they have become common and are relatively inexpensive it isn't too far-fetched to think some may have been dumped by or wandered away from their owners and become feral. If so, these hybrids are going to cause a lot of confusion to locals and wildlife biologists who are trying to keep track of ocelot populations in this and other states.
If there are any readers out there that are knowledgeable about how common these breeds are, average price, etc. I would very much like to hear from you. I would like to know if there are enough of these hybrid cats out there to reasonably consider them as a possibility when an ocelot sighting is reported.
Below is a photo of a cat in an East Texas animal shelter. The person who shared it with me asked me if I thought it might be the result of cross between an ocelot and a domestic cat. I don't think this cat is the result of an ocelot/domestic cat union; however, the markings on this specimen are very unique. I can't recall having seen one that looks quite like this before.
The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) does inhabit Texas and this cat's markings are a bit reminiscent of one; however, a hook-up with a domestic cat is highly unlikely. The size difference alone would seem to prohibit such a union. The ocelot ranges from 25-40 inches in length (not counting a 10-18 inch long tail) and typically weighs in at a healthy 20-25 pounds. I just don't see it happening.
The cat in the picture also reminds me a bit of a Margay (Leopardus wiedii). The margay is native to South and Central America. It is the size of a house cat averaging 5-9 lbs. and usually measuring somewhere between 20-30 inches in length. A union with a domestic cat would not be so far-fetched to me except for the fact that their home range is so far away.
I did a bit of research and learned some pretty interesting things regarding some semi-exotic cats that are being bred and sold in the U.S. The cat that most closely resembles the cat in the shelter photos is a Bengal Cat. The Bengal Cat first appeared around 1889 and is the result of a cross between a domestic feline and an Asian Leopard Cat. The Bengal Cat is quite striking and looks a lot like the cat in the shelter photo.
Another breed that resembles the cat in the shelter is the Serengeti Cat, a cross between a Bengal Cat and a Siamese, meant to mimic the look of an African Serval.I'll be the first to admit that I have no idea if the shelter cat falls into one of these two categories or if it is just an especially unique domestic of some kind.
While looking into all this I started to wonder just how common these hybrid breeds have become. If they have become common and are relatively inexpensive it isn't too far-fetched to think some may have been dumped by or wandered away from their owners and become feral. If so, these hybrids are going to cause a lot of confusion to locals and wildlife biologists who are trying to keep track of ocelot populations in this and other states.
If there are any readers out there that are knowledgeable about how common these breeds are, average price, etc. I would very much like to hear from you. I would like to know if there are enough of these hybrid cats out there to reasonably consider them as a possibility when an ocelot sighting is reported.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Red-bellied Pacu Pulled Out of Leander Pond
An old college friend sent me this photo of a Red-bellied Pacu along with a short note:
"If I could figure out how to turn the pic I would, sorry! Can you see the teeth??? Pacu caught in Leander, TX in neighborhood 'fishing hole'...certainly wasn't expecting this. It's about 12" long and estimated at 4 lbs. Hoping to find a home for this sucker since we don't think it should go back..."
This fish, native to South America, was caught by her son in a neighborhood pond in the city of Leander just Northwest of Austin. She has also posted a short video of the Pacu online. See it below.
The fish in this photo is a Red-bellied Pacu and is often sold (legally) by pet stores as a 'Vegetarian Piranha.' They do look a lot like their more well known, and feared, cousins but are quite different. Pacu are indiscriminate eaters that will ingest almost anything. They do have large teeth but they are flatter and more square, in order to crush seeds and nuts, than the razor sharp teeth of the totally carnivorous piranha. The Pacu also grow to be much larger than Piranhas. Pacu are responsible for most of the 'Piranha' reports that surface in the U.S. media.
There are several reasons Pacu owners might choose to dump their fish. Red-bellied Pacu growth is not limited by the size of the tank they are kept in and can quickly grow to lengths of 2-3 feet. Aquarium owners often get overwhelmed by the size of the species and look for a way out.
While they are not as ferocious as their carnivorous cousins, Pacu do sport a powerful set of jaws and teeth that can deliver a nasty bite. There have been several cases in the U.S. where owners have been injured by their fish. This may also be a contributing factor in why Pacu owners sometimes choose to dispose of their pets in public waters in what they presumably consider an act of benevolence.
The fact is releasing any exotic species into the wild is considered an illegal act in the United States. If introduced into a non-native ecosystem the Pacu might out-compete native species for food and habitat. They might also introduce parasites and/or diseases against which native species have no defense. Basically, releasing these fish into U.S. waters could cause all manner of harm to the ecosystem. One need look no farther than the zebra mussel infestation of the Great Lakes, the growing population of snakehead fish all over our country, and the 'flying' silver carp of the Mississippi River to see some of the ecological consequences the release of exotic species into our public waterways can cause.
Please notify the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department if you become aware of the presence of any exotics in your local waters.
"If I could figure out how to turn the pic I would, sorry! Can you see the teeth??? Pacu caught in Leander, TX in neighborhood 'fishing hole'...certainly wasn't expecting this. It's about 12" long and estimated at 4 lbs. Hoping to find a home for this sucker since we don't think it should go back..."
This fish, native to South America, was caught by her son in a neighborhood pond in the city of Leander just Northwest of Austin. She has also posted a short video of the Pacu online. See it below.
The fish in this photo is a Red-bellied Pacu and is often sold (legally) by pet stores as a 'Vegetarian Piranha.' They do look a lot like their more well known, and feared, cousins but are quite different. Pacu are indiscriminate eaters that will ingest almost anything. They do have large teeth but they are flatter and more square, in order to crush seeds and nuts, than the razor sharp teeth of the totally carnivorous piranha. The Pacu also grow to be much larger than Piranhas. Pacu are responsible for most of the 'Piranha' reports that surface in the U.S. media.
There are several reasons Pacu owners might choose to dump their fish. Red-bellied Pacu growth is not limited by the size of the tank they are kept in and can quickly grow to lengths of 2-3 feet. Aquarium owners often get overwhelmed by the size of the species and look for a way out.
While they are not as ferocious as their carnivorous cousins, Pacu do sport a powerful set of jaws and teeth that can deliver a nasty bite. There have been several cases in the U.S. where owners have been injured by their fish. This may also be a contributing factor in why Pacu owners sometimes choose to dispose of their pets in public waters in what they presumably consider an act of benevolence.
The fact is releasing any exotic species into the wild is considered an illegal act in the United States. If introduced into a non-native ecosystem the Pacu might out-compete native species for food and habitat. They might also introduce parasites and/or diseases against which native species have no defense. Basically, releasing these fish into U.S. waters could cause all manner of harm to the ecosystem. One need look no farther than the zebra mussel infestation of the Great Lakes, the growing population of snakehead fish all over our country, and the 'flying' silver carp of the Mississippi River to see some of the ecological consequences the release of exotic species into our public waterways can cause.
Please notify the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department if you become aware of the presence of any exotics in your local waters.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Low Energy Output Documented in Orangutans
I recently ran across an article on the ScienceDaily website that discusses the results of a study on the activity level of orangutans. It seems that Homo sapiens are not the only species that have 'couch potato' tendencies.The article, written by Neil Schoenherr, looks at a study conducted by Washington University, located in St. Louis, in which researchers studied the activity levels and energy output of orangutans living in a large indoor/outdoor habitat located at the 230-acre campus of the Great Ape Trust in Des Moines, Iowa. What they observed was fascinating. The researchers found that these captive orangutans used less energy, relative to body mass, than nearly any other eutherian mammal ever measured. This would include comparisons to sedentary humans. What makes the results even more interesting is that the activity level of the orangutans studied is very similar to that of their cousins living in the wild.
Herman Pontzer, PhD, is the assistant professor or anthropology in Arts & Sciences at Washington University and was the lead author of the study. He is quoted in the article as saying, "It's like finding a sloth in your family tree. It's remarkably low energy use."
Dr. Pontzer and his team studied the daily energy expenditure of these great apes for two weeks and discovered an extremely low rate of energy use not previously observed in primates. The results seem to dovetail nicely with the slow growth and reproductive rates of orangutans. Dr. Pontzer speculated that this low metabolic rate might be an adaptation in response to severe food shortages in the orangutan's native habitats. It is pointed out that the rainforests of Southeast Asia, Borneo, and Sumatra all go through periods where the availability of ripe fruit, the orangutan staple, drops drastically. The study suggests that orangutans have adapted over time to become the ultimate low-energy specialists, decreasing their level of activity, and thus, the number of calories required to function, to avoid starving during these forest cycles when food is scarce.
Once again, a discovery regarding a known great ape species may make an argument skeptics use to refute the existence of the sasquatch moot. These skeptics have a pretty standard arsenal of talking points which they use to refute the existence of the species. They claim that if the sasquatch was real it would have to spend nearly every waking minute eating in order to sustain its huge bulk. This study should surely give pause to those who subscribe to this theory. If the sasquatch is a type of great ape, it is not outlandish to think that they could share certain characteristics with their orangutan cousins. Maybe this ability to slow down metabolism and limit energy output to the bare minimum is one of them. The ability to do so would be very valuable and could explain sightings of the sasquatch in atypical locales, like the arid scrub land of West Texas, where food would be much more difficult to come by than regions where rainfall and vegetation are more plentiful. This is pure speculation on my part to be sure (almost everything regarding these animals is speculation) but is interesting to consider.
Another typical argument used by skeptics is that if the sasquatch was real they would be seen more often. The findings of Dr. Pontzer and his team might help explain the paucity of sightings as well. If the sasquatch does possess this low energy output trait then they probably aren't moving around too much at certain times of the year when food stuff is harder to come by. The less an animal moves around, the less likely it is to be seen by humans. Also, it is implied in the study that the low energy output seen in orangutans helps explain their slow rate of growth and low reproductive rate. If true, and if the sasquatch shares the same trait, then it is likely they have a low reproduction rate as well. This would keep the population of this rare animal low. Obviously, the fewer of them there are the less likely they are to be seen.
It seems the more we learn about the documented species of great apes the less fantastic the possible existence of the sasquatch becomes.
*You can read the article on the ScienceDaily site here.