O.P.I.N. Bigfoot/Sasquatch (Cryptids) and U.F.O. Investigation
Since starting this group in 1996, I opted to focus on one area of the paranormal, that being ghosts. One of my original members was a big U.F.O. fan and fought hard to have the group make room for U.F.O. investigations. It was decided unanimously at the time that we would stay focused solely on ghosts, hauntings, poltergeists and other areas of psychic phenomena.
U.F.O. investigation has been taboo for most ghost hunters and paranormal investigators over the years, but has recently been accepted by many. In 2000, I joined the Mutual U.F.O. Network and began investigating reports myself. This was never part of the Ohio Paranormal Investigation Network as a group, but was something I was doing on my personal time.
Bigfoot, also known as Grassman in many parts of Ohio, has been a myth and legend in the minds of most people, even those involved in paranormal investigation. I have always had an interest in Bigfoot long before forming the paranormal investigation group. I never took investigating it seriously until I began backpacking more and more in various parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania that I read had reports of sightings. There have been numerous Bigfoot sightings in Ohio over the last few decades and there is even a part of central Ohio known as the "Sasquatch Triangle". The television show "Monsterquest" recently had a show on the "grassman", which is the Ohio version of Bigfoot (similar to the skunk ape of Florida, Fouke Monster of Oklahoma, Momo the monster in Missouri, etc.) I have spent a few years studying animals, tracks and other aspects that I feel will help in the investigation aspect of bigfoot and other areas of cryptid research.
In mid 2008 I began working with the Sasquatch Research Initiative (SRI) to help investigate local sightings through a central database. Through the SRI I have learned how to approach cases of cryptid sightings just as I have learned how to investigate ghosts and U.F.O. sightings. In 2009 I have joined the Crypto Squad U.S.A. as the Ohio representative for the Centre for Fortean Zoology based in England. The CFZ is a large organization of scientific study and is the research organization for cryptid studies in Europe. My duties will be to report my research and findings to them through my own blog based from my ParaNewInsider website as well as the Crypto Squad U.S.A.
Ohio is a big report state for both U.F.O. sightings as well as bigfoot sightings. U.F.O. sightings have been strongest in the south and southeast areas of the state. Bigfoot sightings are strongest in the east, especially in an area near Coshocton known as the "Sasquatch Triangle". Portage and Geuaga County in northeast Ohio are also strong reporting sites as well.
U.F.O. Investigation page or our Bigfoot/Cryptid page.
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