The Legend Behind Arizona’s Bigfoot

Bigfoot, Sasquatch, whatever you want to call it, is arguably America's most famous cryptid. Typically spotted roaming in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, this ape-like creature has captivated the attention of monster hunters and thrill-seekers alike.

Much less known, however, is Arizona's Mogollon Monster, which may be a distant cousin of our lovable Sasquatch up north.

First Contact

The first reported sighting of the Mogollon Monster was in 1903, when a man named I.W. Stevens claimed to see the creature near the Grand Canyon. He described it as having long, white hair and a beard, covered in gray fur. He says it was drinking the the blood of two cougars, before the Monster threatened him with a club.

Multiple sightings have been made since then in cities like Prescott, Williams, Winslow, and Payson, with onlookers describing the beast as seven feet tall with expressionless eyes and massive arms.

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What Could It Be?

There are several different "origin stories" through Arizona folklore, with many believing the creature to be a colonizer who was cursed by spirits, or who was punished for the murder of a Native woman and skinned alive, becoming known as a "skinwalker".

Scientifically, however, there's not much evidence for the existence of the Monster. Stan Lindstet, former Professor of Biology at NAU says there's likely no way a creature like that exists in the Arizona wilderness. It's believed these sightings can be attributed to bears or other large mammals, which have had a tendency to walk on their hind legs before, creating these kinds of legends.

[Mogollon Monster via Wikipedia][EBSCO]