This subject is actually covering two different types of phenomena, and the methods are somewhat different for each. Most Bigfoot or creature sightings are by nature outdoors. Evidence generally consists of a witness statement and occassionally tracks or imprints they claim were made by the creature. Sometimes other physical evidence may be recovered such as hair samples or damage to trees or other objects in the area. Out of place animals also fall into this area, and may be responsible for much of the physical evidence recovered at the scene. While not attributed to Bigfoot sightings, I would include cases of animal mutilation in this category as well since both do seem to involve physical creatures. You as the investigator will have to make the determination of what was seen or heard.
The second type of case is more varied. Those cases involve the unusual sound, impression, or other phenomena that defies a quick explanation. The important thing to remember if you are involved in one of these is that there are no rules. These cases will require creative approaches. The methods you use to investigate them are determined more by the case than by a set of protocols because as soon as you think you get method worked out, something will come along and throw twist into it. You will need to adapt to this and consider the new data as just that, more evidence to add. Keep this in mind as you read the recommendations, especially regarding these unusual cases. They are recommendations only, you may find your case deviating considerably from what is found here.
One other factor is important regarding any Bigfoot or animal report. Time is of the essence. These cases are the most likely of any paranormal report to have physical evidence left behind. You want to get on scene as quickly as possible to preserve that evidence. If you should receive a report of something that just happened, you should advise the witness not to enter the area and to not allow others to do so either. He should restrain any dogs or other animals he may own that could likewise corrupt the scene until you can get there and do your investigation.
Regardless of which type of case you get, all begin with a witness interview. From this you can determine the direction your case will proceed. If there are multiple witnesses, treat each as a separate case, interviewing them apart from each other. Minimize the contact between them to the extent possible. As you interview do not give any of your opinions, save that for the conclusion phase of the investigation. Whenever possible interview the witness face to face to better assess their responses and help in determining their credibility. Much as we would like to believe everyone, as an investigator you need to be aware that there are people out there who do hoax reports and will fabricate stories. You can't be judgmental before hearing them, but on the other hand why waste time with an obvious hoax? That is one aspect of some Bigfoot reports. There seems to be a certain type of person who likes to fabricate a Bigfoot sighting or a mountain lion where there shouldn't be any.. Whether it is a macho thing or whatever, these seem to come in on a regular basis. You can't immediately write off every case as a hoax, but you need to be aware that on these cases hoaxes do occur at times, more so than any other paranormal report.
Begin the interview process by obtaining the basic information about the witness and the sighting. A General Report form is often helpful here. Have the witness complete the form, which should include at a minimum the following responses:
The narrative section is the most important. Generally it is recommended that the witness complete it at his leisure, since this where most of the detail is documented. The witness should document everything he recalls regarding the sighting. That includes what was seen, heard, smelled, felt, and even his emotional responses such as fear, happiness, or confusion. The detail here will comprise the bulk of the evidence, so it is advisable to obtain whatever you can.
It is usually recommended to have the witness complete the General Report form as soon after the sighting as possible while details are fresh and the chance of others influencing his story is minimal. In any event, the report should be completed and the researcher read through it before conducting the face to face interview.
A second important part of any interview is to establish a confidentiality level for the case. Your report from should include a provision to establish this near the beginning of the page. I use three levels of confidentiality that applies to all cases regardless of type. It should be mentioned that cases with a low level of confidentiality are usually considered more credible than those with many details withheld. But some witnesses don't want any identifying details included, so it becomes a trade-off. ( I should point out that under NO circumstances do I release witness contact information to others regardless of confidentiality level. Phone numbers or e-mail addresses are never given out.) The three levels of Confidentiality I use are:
Once the interview is complete, you may want to go out to where the sighting occurred. I generally advise this be done after daylight otherwise you could inadvertently destroy any tracks or other evidence that may help identify what was seen. This is where your skills as an observer are tested.
Begin by moving slowly! Are there any tracks? If so you should make plaster casts of them. Begin by first photgraphing the tracks, both as a group if more than one to allow you to determine the stride, then take pictures of each individual impression. It is a good idea to lay a ruler beside each track and include that in the photo to establish a scale.
Second, observe the track closely. Are there any signs of hair, skin, or something that doesn't belong there? If so, wearing latex gloves and using sterile tools, place the sample in a clean container and seal it for later analysis. You should not come in direct contact with any material both for your protection and to preserve the integrity of the sample.
Next take the impression of the track using plaster of Paris. Depending on the depth of the impression you may have to put a small retainer around some low areas to prevent the plaster from running out. If so, keep these retainers at least 2 inches from the edge of the track. In the final cast this will show that there was little if any soil compression at that point without altering the track itself.
Compression testing should also be done. This can help determine the weight of whatever made the track.Some investigators will also take soil samples from around the track. From this they can determine characteristics of the soil based on its composition and moisture content. An alternate way that gives similar results is an onsite compression test. This is done using a scale and a 1 inch square block which is pressed into the ground. The scale measures the amount of wieght needed to compact the soil to the same degree as the average depth of the track. The amount of pressure needed to compress 1 square inch of soil is then multiplied by the number of square inches the track itself covers. That detrmines the approximate weight the animal which made track placed on the ground. Now I know some will bring up other factors such as the way the ground behaves with a 1 inch squre block versus a larger surface area when compacted at the same time, but when one considers a foot is not flat on the bottom plus taking into account the pliability of the skin, the numbers are remarkably accurate.
Don't forget to look above the ground either! If there are any briars around the area carefully examine each stalk. Many times as an aniumal goes through them, hair will be caught and pulled out on the thorns. If you see any sign of this photgraph the evidence before disturbing it, Then wearing latex gloves, use sterile implements to retrieve those samples. Place a dated, descriptive lable on each container and seal it.
Broken tree limbs may also be considered evidence. How high are the limbs broken above the ground? That can give an indication of the height of whatever broke them. What is the direction of the break? Clues as to whether they were pulled down or broken off as something ran through. How thick are the limbs? Twigs or something bigger? More evidence which tells how much force was applied to break the limb.
Take your time going through the area so you don't miss any small piece of evidence. then note the surroundings as well. what kind of area is it, wooded, field, hills or caves nearby? All of this is evidence. Later you will use it to help determine what animal may inhabit this area naturally.
Those Other Strange Cases
Like I noted previously these cases are varied. Many times they turn out to have a natural explanation. You just have to be thorough enough to find it. The witness interview is often a major factor in resolving these mysteries. What was he doing at the time? Was someone else in the house doing something in particular? What appliances were running? All of these can cause unexpected activity under the right circumstances. Running hot water through a pipe can cause expansion and sounds associated with it.
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Recently I encountered a case which consisted of one of the most unearthly sounds imaginable. It was a faint howl that gradually became louder until it filled the whole house. It was so loud it woke the occupants from a deep sleep. Then it stopped abruptly. The second time it happened a search was begun. It was hard to tell where it originated; it just seemed to come from everywhere in the house.
After a while it was determined that it only did it when the forced air furnace was running. So the furnace was checked, the blower turned on and nothing, no sound other than the normal motor and air movement. The furnace was put back together, the door closed and there it was, the sound was back. Only now it sounded more overhead, not in the furnace at all.
So back to work, checking the ductwork and trying to pin down the cause. Finally in the course of checking a return from a bedroom it was found to be partially covered. The blockage was removed anbd the sound stopped. When the register was covered completely it was also quiet. But when it was covered about half, the howl began.
Finally the cause was found; a small hole where two metal duct pieces came together. If just the right amount of air was restricted it would act like a whistle. Too little or too much and it was quiet. Opening the furnace door caused a change in air flow, thus it was quiet. And the ductwork carried the sound throughout the house making it hard to find. The hole was fixed, and the howl was no more.
I can attest to this story, it was in my house! |
Sounds, smells, and other odd occurrances can come fro a wide variety of sources. Once you conclude your interview you will need to formulate a plan. You will want to obtain evidence, but to begin you need to determine how to best gather that evidence. The nature of the activity will determine that course of action.
If the activity is electrical in nature, you will want to concentrate on EM Fields or monitoring voltages and power distribution. If it is audible, then the use of amplifiers or audio recorders may be indicated. You may need to even extend it into the ultrasonic or infrasonic areas as well. Some activity may only be detected in those regions. There are cases where prolonged exposure to infrasonic sound can cause emotional reactions in humans. This could cause them to imagine things or be responsible for some indirect activity. Infrasound can originate from vibrations around motors and may not be paranormal at all. So yes, it could be possible your refrigerator is causing you to see ghosts!