Recently Updated Pages, August 2025
Bigfoot Ohio main page, added 4 states, put all apps on 1 page, added new apps.
09-05-25/FB/The Plat
Now Playing On Wolf Rock Radio
“Cryptid Sundays”
wolfrockradio.com
Ohio Bigfoot Scene: A Look Beyond a-Hartman and Mainstream Organizations
COLUMBUS, OH – While national organizations and annual conferences often dominate the discourse surrounding Bigfoot in the Buckeye State, a quieter, more localized network of researchers and eyewitnesses contributes to the ongoing mystery of the creature's existence. This report delves into recent Bigfoot news and sightings across Ohio and beyond, with a specific focus on sources outside of the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) and the annual Ohio Bigfoot Conference, and includes insights from Ohio-based researcher Mike Hartman.
The Local Landscape with Mike Hartman
Mike Hartman has established a notable presence in the Ohio Bigfoot community through his independent research, writings, and podcasting. Hartman is the author of "The Ohio Bigfoot Project: Quick Field Guide for Bigfoot Research" and "Mike Hartman's Bigfoot Camp Book: Tips & Tricks For Camping &...". He also hosts “Bigfoot Ohio Podcast” formally "The Bigfoot Podcast," where he discusses a range of topics related to the creature, including sightings in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and other states. His work suggests a focus on providing resources and fostering a community for those interested in the subject outside of the larger, more commercialized conferences. Recent podcast episodes have featured discussions with other researchers and eyewitnesses, delving into specific encounters and the broader implications of the phenomenon.
Recent Ohio Sightings Reported by Local News
Local news outlets in Ohio occasionally report on potential Bigfoot sightings, often originating from eyewitness accounts submitted to various platforms. While some of these reports are also filed with national databases, the initial accounts provide a glimpse into the types of encounters being reported across the state.
In early January 2025, news outlets in the Mansfield area reported on a sighting by a hunter in a tree stand. The witness described seeing a large, bipedal figure moving quickly across a field. While the BFRO was mentioned in some reports as having been contacted, the initial story was picked up by local news, indicating a degree of local interest independent of the national organization.
Such reports often share common elements: fleeting glimpses of a large, hairy, upright creature in wooded or rural areas. Areas with a history of sightings, such as Salt Fork State Park and the Hocking Hills region, continue to be hotspots for these anecdotal accounts. Local researchers often conduct their own follow-up investigations into these claims, sharing their findings through independent websites, forums, and podcasts.
National and Worldwide Perspectives
Beyond Ohio, the subject of Bigfoot remains a topic of interest and debate across North America and around the globe.
Nationally, recent discussions have included the ongoing analysis of alleged photographic and video evidence, as well as the application of new technologies, such as drones and thermal imaging, in the search for the creature. Independent researchers and small groups continue to conduct fieldwork in various parts of the country, from the Pacific Northwest to the southeastern United States.
Internationally, creatures analogous to Bigfoot are reported in various cultures, known by names such as the Yeti in the Himalayas, the Yowie in Australia, and the Almasty in the Caucasus Mountains of Central Asia. While physical evidence remains elusive, the persistence of sightings from credible witnesses in diverse locations keeps the mystery alive on a global scale. These international accounts often share striking similarities with North American Bigfoot reports, describing large, hair-covered, bipedal hominids that inhabit remote, forested regions.
In conclusion, while prominent organizations play a significant role in the world of Bigfoot research, a dedicated community of independent investigators, including figures like Mike Hartman in Ohio, and local eyewitnesses contribute a vital stream of information and perspectives. These grassroots efforts ensure that the quest to understand the enigmatic creature continues on multiple fronts, from the backwoods of the Buckeye State to the far corners of the world.
Ohio Bigfoot Researcher's Guide
Your manual for safe, ethical, and effective fieldwork.
Serious research requires more than just a walk in the woods. It demands preparation, a scientific mindset, and a deep respect for both the environment and the mystery you're pursuing. This guide provides the foundational knowledge you need to transition from an enthusiast to a credible field researcher.
Here, we will cover the core principles of investigation, from planning your expedition to documenting evidence according to established protocols.
Core Principles of Field Research
Plan Your Expedition
Scout locations, research historical data, and create a safe and effective investigation plan.
Document Evidence
Master techniques for casting tracks, collecting photo/video, and recording audio phenomena.
Field Safety
Learn wilderness first aid, wildlife awareness, and Leave No Trace principles.
Observation Skills
Develop skills to maintain detailed field notes and log environmental data systematically.
Researcher's Guide
Location Scouting: Use topographic maps and satellite imagery (Google Earth, Gaia GPS) to identify promising areas. Focus on regions with a history of sightings, access to water, and dense forest cover, like Salt Fork State Park or Mohican State Forest. Look for choke points, game trails, and potential travel corridors between ridges.
Data Research: Before heading out, review databases like the BFRO for reports in your target area. Look for patterns: Are sightings more common in a particular season? At a certain time of day? Near specific types of terrain? This historical data provides invaluable context for your fieldwork.
Safety Protocol: Always inform someone of your exact location, planned route, and expected return time. Pack a comprehensive safety kit, including a first-aid kit, navigation tools (map, compass, GPS), extra food, water, and emergency shelter. A satellite communication device (like a Garmin inReach) is highly recommended for areas with no cell service.
Ethical Fieldwork: Respect for the environment and potential subjects is paramount. Never trespass on private property without express permission. Practice Leave No Trace principles rigorously. Avoid baiting or using harassment tactics. Our goal is to observe and document, not to interfere.
Track Casting: Precision is key. Carry a track casting kit (Plaster of Paris or dental stone, mixing bowl, water). When a track is found:
- Photograph First: Take multiple photos from different angles with a scale reference (ruler or dollar bill) placed next to the track, not inside it.
- Prepare the Track: Gently clear loose debris. Use a spray bottle with water to lightly firm up dry soil if necessary. Create a dam around the track with soil or a flexible frame.
- Mix and Pour: Mix casting material to a pancake batter consistency and pour gently from one end to avoid air bubbles. Allow it to set completely (often 30-60 minutes) before careful removal.
Photo/Video: Use the highest resolution possible. Keep the camera steady with a tripod or by bracing against a tree. If filming a potential subject, try to capture its movement and scale by including trees or other objects in the frame. Verbally note the time, location, and conditions while recording.
Audio Recording: Use a quality audio recorder with an external microphone if possible. Start by recording 5-10 minutes of ambient sound for a baseline. Note any unusual vocalizations, knocks, or footsteps. State the date, time, and GPS coordinates at the start and end of each recording for a verifiable log.
Biological Samples: If you find potential hair or scat, do not touch it with bare hands. Use sterile tweezers and place it in a paper bag or envelope (plastic can degrade DNA). Label it with the date, time, and exact location. Maintaining a chain of custody is crucial for any potential scientific analysis.
Wildlife Awareness: You are a guest in the wild. Be acutely aware of Ohio's native wildlife, including black bears, coyotes, and venomous snakes (Timber Rattlesnake, Copperhead). Make noise while hiking to avoid surprising animals. Never approach wildlife. Store food securely in bear-resistant containers or by properly hanging it away from your campsite.
Leave No Trace: This is a non-negotiable principle for credible researchers. Pack out everything you pack in, including food scraps. Minimize campfire impacts. Respect wildlife. Be considerate of other visitors. Leave the area better than you found it. This protects the environment and ensures future research access.
Navigation: Do not rely solely on electronic devices. Batteries die and signals fail. Carry a physical map and a quality compass, and crucially, know how to use them together. Practice land navigation skills before your trip. Pay constant attention to landmarks and your direction of travel.
Mental Preparedness: The woods, especially at night, can be psychologically challenging. Sounds are amplified and imagination can run wild. Stay calm and rational. Acknowledge fear but do not let it control your actions. Researching in pairs or small teams is often preferable for both safety and morale.
Field Notes: Your notebook is your most important tool. Document everything with timestamps: weather conditions, temperature, wind direction, barometric pressure, location (GPS coordinates), and any sounds, smells, or visual observations. Be objective and detailed. Write what you observe, not what you think you observe.
Establish a Baseline: Before you can identify something as "unusual," you must know what is "usual." Spend time simply observing the environment. Learn to identify the calls of local birds, the tracks of deer and raccoons, and the way the wind moves through different types of trees. This baseline makes anomalies stand out.
Nocturnal Observation: The forest is a different world at night. Use a headlamp with a red-light option to preserve your night vision. If using night vision or thermal imaging equipment, practice with it extensively to understand its capabilities and limitations. Move slowly and listen more than you look.
Look for Structures: Pay attention to unusual formations that don't fit the natural pattern of the forest. This could include large trees broken or bent in unnatural ways, woven branches forming archways or "nests," or piles of stones that seem out of place. Photograph and document these with scale, but do not disturb them.
Mike Hartman (myself) have spoken at several events from Ohio to PA. If you would like to inquire into having me as a guest speaker or having my booth attend your festival, Please fill out form below.
The Researcher's Creed: A Guide to Honest Bigfoot Investigation
The allure of the unknown is a powerful force. In the world of cryptozoology, few mysteries are as captivating as the search for Bigfoot. For those who feel the call to move beyond casual interest and become active researchers, the path is fraught with challenges—not just from the wild, but from within. The desire for discovery can easily lead to self-deception, and the lure of notoriety can tarnish the most sincere efforts.
To be a true researcher—one whose work stands up to scrutiny and contributes meaningfully to the subject—requires more than just passion. It requires a creed. It requires a commitment to integrity, a willingness to question everything, and a focus on the process, not the prize. Here is a guide for the honest researcher, built on four essential pillars.
1. Boots on the Ground
The foundation of all credible research is fieldwork. You cannot understand the forest from your armchair; you cannot analyze evidence you haven’t collected. Getting your "boots on the ground" is the first and most critical step. This means dedicating time to the environments where these creatures are said to live. It means learning to read the woods, to understand its normal rhythms so you can recognize the abnormal.
This pillar is about more than just hiking. It’s about:
Methodical Investigation: Don't just wander aimlessly. Choose a location based on credible reports and spend sustained periods there. Set up trail cameras, deploy audio recorders, and learn casting techniques. Treat every outing as a scientific expedition, not a ghost hunt.
Environmental Awareness: Learn about the known wildlife in your research area. Can you identify a bear track from a deer track? Do you know what a barred owl sounds like at midnight? Understanding the baseline of a forest’s activity is the only way to recognize when something truly anomalous occurs.
Patience and Persistence: The wilderness does not give up its secrets easily. Hours, days, and weeks may pass with nothing to show for your efforts. Honest research is a long game, measured in seasons, not single outings.
2. Be Your Own Worst Skeptic
This is the most difficult, yet most important, pillar to uphold. Our minds are wired to see patterns and find confirmation for what we want to believe. An honest researcher must actively fight this tendency. Before you ask anyone else to believe your evidence, you must first try your absolute hardest to disprove it yourself.
Being your own worst skeptic means:
Challenging Every Piece of Evidence: Was that "howl" you recorded just a coyote or a fox? Could that "track" be a degraded bear print or a natural impression in the mud? Could that "figure" in the thermal video be a known animal seen from a strange angle? You must exhaust every single prosaic explanation before you even consider a paranormal or cryptozoological one.
Avoiding "Evidence by Association": Just because you found a large track near a tree with a broken branch does not mean the two are related. Do not build a narrative by linking unrelated phenomena. Each piece of potential evidence must stand on its own merit and survive your skeptical assault.
Embracing the Null Hypothesis: In science, the default position is that your hypothesis is wrong until proven otherwise. Assume what you found is not Bigfoot. It is your job to gather such overwhelming and irrefutable evidence that you, your own worst critic, are forced to change your mind.
3. Double-Check Yourself
Human error is the silent killer of credible research. From misidentifying a sound to misinterpreting a shadow, our senses and our equipment can fail us. A commitment to double-checking—and triple-checking—your work is non-negotiable.
This involves:
Peer Review (Within Reason): Share your findings with other respected, level-headed researchers. Be open to their criticism and analysis. If someone points out a flaw in your methodology or a likely explanation you missed, do not get defensive. Thank them for helping you refine your work.
Verifying Your Equipment: Is your audio recorder functioning correctly? Are your camera's timestamps accurate? Do you understand the limitations of your thermal imager? Technology is a tool, not a magic wand, and it can introduce its own errors and artifacts.
Documenting Everything: Keep meticulous notes. Log your location, the time, the weather conditions, and your exact methodology for every piece of data you collect. If you find a track, photograph it with a scale, cast it properly, and document the entire process. Good data can be ruined by poor documentation.
4. Do Not Discredit Yourself by Trying to Become "Bigfoot Famous"
This is the siren song that has led many promising researchers astray. The desire for recognition, for a YouTube channel with thousands of subscribers, or for a spot on a paranormal television show can corrupt the scientific process. The moment your goal shifts from "finding the truth" to "getting attention," your integrity is compromised.
Being an honest researcher means:
Letting the Evidence Speak for Itself: Do not hype your findings. Do not use clickbait titles or make dramatic pronouncements you cannot back up. Present your data calmly and methodically. If the evidence is good, it will not need your embellishment. If it’s weak, no amount of showmanship will make it credible.
Avoiding Premature Conclusions: It is tempting to declare every strange sound or blurry photo as definitive proof. Resist this urge. It is far more credible to say, "I recorded an anomalous vocalization that I cannot identify," than it is to say, "I have recorded Bigfoot!" One is an honest statement of fact; the other is a conclusion you likely cannot prove.
Focusing on the Work, Not the Fame: True respect in this field is not earned by having the most views, but by having the most rigorous and honest methodology. The work of a quiet, meticulous researcher who spends years in the field and produces one piece of carefully vetted evidence is worth infinitely more than a hundred sensationalized videos.
Ultimately, the path of the honest researcher is one of humility, diligence, and unwavering self-criticism. It’s about accepting that the most likely outcome of any investigation is that you will find nothing out of the ordinary. But it is also about knowing that if you do, one day, find something extraordinary, you will have done the hard work necessary to ensure it is not just another story, but a piece of evidence that can truly contribute to solving this enduring mystery.
Bigfoot Ohio
Proudly Tunes In To WOLF ROCK RADIO
Contact OBRC & BigfootOhio.Org. Questions, Comments & More.