Is the population of Bigfoot growing?

[escAPEe]

The ratio of predators to prey in any food chain ecosystem is a well-established and balanced relationship. From marine environments to the arctic tundra to African grasslands, biologists have observed that the population size of the predators at the top of the food chain is limited and directly proportional to the populations of the creatures they prey upon. When prey becomes scarce, predators have fewer offspring, migrate elsewhere to find new food sources or die. When prey is abundant, the population of predators grows.

In North America, the population of white-tailed deer bottomed out at an estimated 300,000 early in the 20th century. Deer were scarce in some parts of the country and some states had no deer at all. During the 1920s and 1930s, conservation laws and hunting restrictions protecting does were set in place to manage and restore the deer population. Deer reproduce quickly; each doe matures in 2 or 3 years and can have sets of twins every year thereafter during a life span of 10 or more years. Today there is an estimated 30 million deer in North America-- 100 times the number just 75 years ago. Deer have expanded their range across North America and are so prolific as to be considered a nuisance animal in many regions.

Applying what is known about food chains, the past 75 years has set the stage for Sasquatch creatures to expand their population size and geographic range along with their food sources. They may not be as prolific as whitetail deer (which have twins every year for 10 or more years), but a major rebound on a smaller scale should be underway.

Therefore, we should expect Sasquatch creatures to now be present in greater numbers and across a larger geographic range in line with the growth and availability of their food sources. Following their food source, these creatures may be found closer to places where people live. With a growing population of creatures in closer proximity to people, sightings and encounters should also increase proportionately.

[escAPEe]

As a continuation of this discussion, may I add the following:


Consider another apex predator whose population would be so dependent on the population of deer:  cougars/panthers/mountain lions (whatever you call them locally).  As a matter of fact, the sightings of these big cats has risen dramatically in recent years and in places where these creatures haven't been seen since the 1800s.

If Bigfoot are actually opportunistic omnivores (just like us) as some theories maintain, it would be difficult to gauge their population size proportionately based on studying any of the species farther down the food chain (deer, rabbits, whatever).

For all we know, the population size of Bigfoot creatures may now be thriving based on America's vast agricultural productivity-- eating their fill dining on corn, soybeans, melons and other fruit and vegetables mass produced on mega-acre farms throughout the growing season.  Perhaps they only resort back to eating traditional food sources such as roots, bark, nuts, berries, shellfish, and protein from game sources during the lean winter months.

[Ray Ford]

APE,

Excellent reasoning and well-written.  Most of us know that what you have to say about the extension of the range of Cougars in the last few years is true.  I've posted about this in other places.  If there are Bigfeet, it is quite reasonable to expect the same extension of range.