Bigfoot on Deck!
Here’s a Fortean thought experiment.
Here’s a Fortean double down. Let’s take a look at reports of Fortean intersects between two seemingly unrelated sorts of anomalies.
Reports of Bigfoot seen roaming the woods, even as UFOs hover and snoop nearby, have been emerging since at least the 1970s. Speculation continues about the likelihood of such reports. A thought experiment, involving such intersecting Fortean reports, may offer glimpses of a culture of extraterrestrial space travel—perhaps part of an even wider interstellar scene still unknown to us at this point in human history.
A few assumptions for use in this experiment:
UFOs are here, originate on other worlds, and are crewed by beings who come from those worlds.
There are wide varieties of large, mysterious and intelligent non-human hominids that are indigenous to this planet. They are known, by a wide range of names, to many indigenous peoples around the world. For purposes of this thought experiment, we use the name Bigfoot. We’ll assume that Bigfoot sometimes interacts with UFOs spotted in their vicinity.
Below are some scenarios that might explain why these entities are often seen in tandem.
The Interstellar Trading Post
Familiarity with the trading post system has waned in modern times. But these centers for the exchange of goods and gossip among peoples from far-flung places have been part of the human story since ancient times.
Imagine that some interplanetary UFOs likewise rendezvous with Bigfoot, in isolated places, to hear their views of the latest on local planetary events. And perhaps barter with Bigfoot for choice goods, assembled from the wilderness, that they don’t want to try collecting on their own. Perhaps interplanetary goods are offered up in exchange, and such ET treasures remain secreted away from homo sapiens in well-hidden Bigfoot habitats.
The Exotic Celebrity Species
Readers may recall the medieval traveler’s tales of fantastic far-off animals—and people—that still beguile the modern imagination. The well-traveled extraterrestrial may likewise be well-versed on equally exotic but real species, scattered across a crowded universe.
One such exotic being that’s worthy of a trip across the galaxy for a closer look may be right here.
And not necessarily us.
Consider the reports that Bigfoot are sometimes telepathic, that they can repel humans by generating natural sonic waves, and that they can pull off the ultimate in camouflage by using some sort of natural and literal form of invisibility.
These talents (plus who knows what other paranormal gifts, not to mention immense strength) may be enough to establish them as interstellar celebrities on the must-see list for discerning ET.
The Accession
Maybe it’s all business when ET and Bigfoot meet. Even official business. If Bigfoot are so astonishingly talented, they may be in high demand for on-board service with UFOs embarking on official interstellar military, scientific and mercantile space missions.
UFOs may, then, be showing up in isolated Bigfoot territory to drop off giant hominid crew on planetary home leave. And/or to accession new Bigfoot crew for future assignments. And Bigfoot who are seen active on the ground, in the vicinity of UFO activity, may be local inhabitants, on patrol to keep-away unwelcome human observers.
It may not be far-fetched to think that Bigfoot are already out there on interplanetary missions. Though we may presuppose them to be low IQ and beast-like, some Bigfoot lore suggests otherwise. For better or worse, there may have been times and places where Bigfoot-human interaction has been accepted reality.
If Bigfoot in fact have talents and temperament compatible with space service on extraterrestrial ships, might they also someday be promising candidates to join far-ranging human crew as we explore the cosmos?
Extraterrestrials might someday be willing to give us some advice about that. Bigfoot from earth may become the first non-human crew to join us in space, even before actual extraterrestrials sign on for missions aboard our spaceships.
Someday, hearing that intercom announce “Bigfoot on Deck!” may bring reassurance to crew members on human and extraterrestrial spaceships alike.
MICHAEL HARRIS HOFFMAN aka “The Professor” is an attorney, academic, and writer with extensive international experience practicing, teaching, and publishing in the fields of public international law and humanitarian protection. He had a close encounter with a UFO in 1978. Reach him at: firstcontact@ufoegghead.com
Great observations! I'm interested in all aspects of the paranormal, cryptozoology, UFOlogy, and the unknown in general. But cryptids are where my interest really lies. I grew up in central Ohio (I ended up living in Florida for 11 years, and as of June 2025, I will have lived in Northern California for 13 years). While in Ohio, I had three visual sightings of what I believe were the same sasquatch. I also had other, nonvisual, encounters. Since being in California, my wife and I have seen what we're nearly 100% sure was a juvenile sasquatch right here within the city limits of our (very small) town. We believe that it was raiding a trash dumpster. We also once heard a very loud howl - again, within the city limits - that was not a dog, or any other animal that we could identify. That was heard after dark, and very near our home, which was on the edge of town at the time. We've since moved due to reasons that had nothing to do with the howl - we had a child, and needed more space. We live three miles south of the state border with Oregon. This is prime sasquatch country here.
I liked your thought experiment. And perhaps not too far from the truth. Do you know if the Forteans are still recording odd phenomena (beyond Bigfoot?) From what I've been able to gather, the society has been more focused on ETs for a while. I'm particularly interested in the people who show up from countries that don't exist and/or those who have time-switching experiences. Also, the weird rain of things, of course. Keep up the good observations!