A data map shows the distribution of Bigfoot sightings around the U.S. since 1921.
Josh Stevens, a PhD candidate at Penn State, made the map using 3,313 sightings reported by The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization.
"Right away you can see that sightings are not evenly distributed. At first glance, it looks a lot like a map of population distribution. After all, you would expect sightings to be the most frequent in areas where there are a lot of people. But a bivariate view of the [data] shows a very different story. There are distinct regions where sightings are incredibly common, despite a very sparse population. On the other hand, in some of the most densely populated areas sasquatch sightings are exceedingly rare," Stevens wrote on his blog.
Stevens believes environment has a significant impact on the number of sightings in any given area. There could also be ties to what regions have local legends that put the idea in local's heads, and which do not.
Stevens said a map that "accounts for the habitat and separates the wilderness from suburbia" would be helpful.
The researcher warned there was some bias in the report, since the data was taken from a U.S. website it would not accurately reflect the number of sightings in outside areas. Also the site only allows Bigfoot reporters to cite the nearest city as the location of the beast spotting.
Judging from the data, Bigfoot seems to love America's west, and some warm southern climates. It thrives (according to human-reported sightings) in Florida, California, Washington, Oregon, and Illinois. The giant hairy beast is not as populous in Vermont, Rhode Island, Delaware, and Connecticut, BFRO reported.
One of the earliest reported sightings of Bigfoot in the modern era took place in Jasper, Alberta Canada. It A trader named David Thompson found some giant footprints in 1911, the Museum of Unnatural History reported.
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