Tonight on Animal Planet

Ranae Holland, James "Bobo" Fay, Matt Moneymaker,
and Cliff Barackman of the show, Finding Bigfoot premiering tonight on Animal Planet

Finding Bigfoot premieres on Animal Planet tonight with the episode entitled, "Bigfoot Crossing in Georgia!"  It's listed as being on at 11 pm PST and EST.  However, friends and family (all on the West Coast) have told me that it's on at 11 pm, 8 pm, and even 10 pm.  Trust no one!  Look at your local listings!

In this first episode, the team (Matt Moneymaker, James "Bobo" Fay, Ranae Holland, and myself) travels to the wilds of Georgia.  While there, we investigate a compelling bigfoot video taken by a police officer, look into recent footprints found by a duck hunter, and document and cast the most interesting footprints I have ever personally witnessed.  I doubt you'll be disappointed.  You can catch some advance footage of the episode on my new website by clicking here.

When shooting this series, we spent a week or more in each location filming most of the day.  When the editors whittle that down to only 44 minutes, a bunch of stuff never gets aired, and some of it is quite interesting.  I will devote a section of this blog and my website to filling in the gaps left by the editors.  So, check the website CliffBarackman.com after each episode for my comments and insights.

"Finding Bigfoot" - Trailer

I've been hearing for over a week now about friends, family, and even my students have been seeing the commercial for my new Animal Planet series, "Finding Bigfoot."  I finally managed to track down the trailer and wanted to share it with you.

The series will premiere this Monday on Animal Planet.  The time is listed as 11 pm Eastern and Pacific Time, but I wouldn't believe it if I were you.  I have heard three different time listings from various folks were on the West Coast.  Please check your local listings to find the time that you can see this.

In this first episode, we travel to Georgia to investigate the Lumpkin County Police Dash-Camera footage.  And yes, as you might have heard me say when watching the trailer, those really were the best prints I had ever seen in the ground.  

Be sure to watch, and then check back here for my comments on each episode as I fill in the blanks that the editors may have left out.  

"Finding Bigfoot" - Sneak Peek Episode

On Monday, May 30th on Animal Planet, a special sneek-peek episode of "Finding Bigfoot" will be aired. "Finding Bigfoot" is a 6-part series sponsored by Discovery Networks (who owns Animal Planet) to look into bigfoot sightings and evidence on behalf of the network. Most importantly, to me at least, is that I am a principle character to be featured in the series. Long-time readers might remember my lengthy leave of absence this past winter when the series was being shot, but when I couldn't say much about it.

"Finding Bigfoot" is about four bigfooters: Matt Moneymaker (BFRO), James "Bobo" Fay (an enigma wrapped in a conundrum), Ranae Holland (a skeptical biologist), and me (some bigfoot nerd). Throughout the various episodes we visit locations determined by evidence from the region, eyewitness reports, and opportunities for night investigations. Lots of cool, bigfooty things happened all along the way, so I'm optimistic that this will be a great series.

So wake the kids and phone the neighbors, a new bigfoot show is coming soon. Mark your calendars for 8 pm on Monday May 30th PST. I would check your listings, though. Time zones happen... You can click this link for more scheduling information.

Cliff Barackman, Ranae Holland, James "Bobo" Fay,
and Matt Moneymaker on location in the wilds.

Sasquatch and Peace... Believe It

I couldn't have said it better myself...

You can buy original prints from the artist of the above art by clicking this link.

Baby Gorilla's First Steps

How would this compare to a baby sasquatch's first attempts at locomotion?

Sunday Night on Squatch Detective Radio

This Sunday night (5/15/11), I will be a guest on Squatch Detective Radio, hosted by bigfoot investigator and friend of the 'squatch, Steve Kulls.  The show starts at 5 pm PST, which is 8 pm on the East Coast.  I hope you listen in.  Just in case you cannot catch the live broadcast, the show will most likely be archived on the below website.

Click this link to listen.

Orangutan Art

Osnabrück Zoo celebrates orangutan artist

A zoo in Lower Saxony has discovered an unexpected artistic talent: “Buschi” the orangutan is selling paintings for up to €200 to support environmental protection projects.

At first glance, the paintings could be the latest work by a member of Berlin’s cutting-edge art scene. Daubes of colour reminiscent of a pre-schooler’s innocent oeuvre. But the unlikely artist is in fact a resident of the Osnabrück Zoo. 

Artwork by Buschi has been in demand since it went on sale in mid-November, with the 13 pieces sold so far fetching between €170 and €200 each. A further 23 parties anxiously await their own primate creations.

But they may have to be patient, as just like any respectable artist, the orangutan apparently rejects working to others’ schedules, and will only paint when he wants to. “He’s rather sensitive,” says Ute Magiera, coordinator for species protection at the zoo.

But she’s quick to emphasise that Buschi’s creative side is very much his own. “He’s no performing monkey,” says Magiera.

A highly endangered species native to Indonesia and Malaysia, orangutan normally have a lifespan of 30 to 40 years, but can live up to 60 in captivity. Buschi, due to celebrate his 39th birthday on December 21, was raised by staff at the zoo after failing to bond with his birth mother.

“This early care from humans left a lasting imprint and he values every piece of contact with human beings,” says Magiera.

Buschi has previously shown himself to be an ape of higher than average capability, having taken part in a study testing the intelligence of orangutans some thirty years ago. His role in the research demonstrated that his species are often more capable than other kinds of primates, such as chimpanzees, when it comes to using tools – something that Buschi’s handiness with a paintbrush proves.

It is not unknown for great apes to paint, according to Joseph Call of the Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig. And Buschi isn’t the first artistic ape to be found in one of Germany’s zoos; two years ago a collection of 22 paintings by three orangutans housed in Krefeld Zoo in North Rhine-Westphalia were sold to an anonymous collector in the okay for €32,000.

Money from the many sales of Buschi’s paintings will go towards helping some other endangered animals by funding the Tapir conservation project “Tajya-Saruta” in Ecuador, which Osnabrück Zoo has been supporting since 2003.

See examples of Buschi's art here!

Monster Friends Poster Series

"The Sasquatch"

In my bigfooty life, I simply don't have time for negative folks casting unfriendly words about hoping to drag me down.  I only have time for true friends of the 'squatch.  It was this desire for friendly folks that attracted me to the poster series, "Monster Friends," along with a friendly email pointing me in its direction (thanks, Kevin!).  

Sasquatches are not the only monsters depicted in this series.  Along with our favorite furry friends, yetis, chupacabras, krakens, and even the Loch Ness Monster all are featured on their own posters.  

For those friends of the 'squatch who think they have everything, check these out.  Be sure to tell them another friend of the 'squatch sent you!

http://familytreedesign.net/

Sasquatch Brewfest, 2011

This past weekend, I was asked by Oregon Sasquatch Symposium (OSS) organizer and friend of the 'squatch, Toby Johnson to attend the Sasquatch Brewfest in Eugene, OR.  Toby wanted me to hang out at his OSS table and field questions about bigfoot with he and fellow investigator, Chris Minnear.

Chris Minnear, Toby Johnson, Cliff Barackman,
and a sasquatch manning the table display.

The gathering featured seemingly countless varieties of beer brewed here in the Pacific Northwest, and live music permeated the air all through the afternoon into the night.    Numerous good people of varying levels of intoxication stumbled by our table to inquire about the footprint cast display spread before us.  Several good sighting reports were picked up as well, but they were mostly from down in the Eugene area and therefore not in my own bigfooting backyard.  Still, Toby and Chris found the locations very useful.

I thoroughly enjoyed talking 'squatch with hoards of inebriated folks.  Not surprisingly, many of the people either knew somebody who had seen a bigfoot at some time, or had firsthand stories to share themselves.  Lots of people walked away slightly more educated about bigfoots than when they approached our booth.  That was my purpose: to teach a little, and to have some fun. I walked away fulfilled.

 Cliff and a friend with a beer.

"Finding Bigfoot" on Animal Planet

Remember that two-month hiatus I had to be really secretive about a while back?  Well, I've been given permission from a bigfoot's lawyer to say a little bit now...

During that time, I was given the opportunity to travel the country and do on-site bigfoot investigations for an upcoming Animal Planet six-part series on everybody's favorite unknown biped.  The series will be entitled, Finding Bigfoot, and will premiere on Sunday June 5th at 9 pm (ET/PT).  

Here's the press release.

While I prefer myself to be referred to as from "North American Bigfoot," both Matt Moneymaker and Bobo (two of the other three cast members) are BFRO members.  The organization will be freqently cited in the series for their unique database and long-standing contributions to bigfootery.  

I still cannot say much about the individual episodes until they air, but there are many stories and details that I'm looking forward to writing about in the coming months.  More on this as I'm able...

Thank you all for your patience on my "big announcement."  It's not official recognition of the species, but I hope you think it's cool.  

Cliff on location at a very cool place.