Most Bigfoot stories were easy to explain away. The footprints in Bluff Creek, for example, turned out to be a hoax. The scat and fur came from known animals, like bears and raccoons. Most people now believe the 1967 film shows nothing more than a person in costume.
To this day, there’s no scientific evidence Bigfoot exists. Despite that, 20 percent of Americans believe the monster is real, according to a survey by Chapman University in California. And sightings have been reported in every state. But if Bigfoot were real, scientists say, it’s unlikely such a massive creature could have eluded us for so long.
So why do people continue to believe Bigfoot exists? Partly because the idea of spying an unknown creature right in our own backyards, like Hatfield did, captures our imagination. Plus, some fantastical creatures have turned out to be real—sort of (see Truth Behind the Myths). Maybe Bigfoot will too.