Vermont has a history of Bigfoot sightings, but no mention in FBI files

Burlington Free Press

This photograph, which the late Roger Patterson said he made in 1967 in Northern California, is said to show a Sasquatch or Bigfoot. The picture taken from 16mm movie file, is considered one of the best pieces of evidence of the existence of the species.

The FBI this week released over 20 pages of official agency records pertaining to Bigfoot in the United States.

While the FBI 5 files make no mention of Vermont, some like Frank Siecienski of Hubbardton think the creatures could be wandering around the woods of Vermont.

Bigfoot in Vermont: could it be true?

Siecienski, a self-described Bigfoot and Sasquatch researcher, said he has proof to back up his claims that Vermont is a great place for the creatures to live.

In September 2010, Siecienski said he caught an image of a Bigfoot on a trail camera that was stationed on part of his property in Hubbardton.

Bigfoot sightings in Vermont date back to the late 70's into the early 80's if not later, Siecienski said, and include sightings by a professor from Castleton University and his daughter.

Vermont is a prime location for Bigfoot and Sasquatch because it's so remote and has a lot of undisturbed private property, Siecienski said.

Places like Rutland and Hubbardton consistently have sightings due to the woods and remoteness of parts of the area, he said.

"Some people do believe and others don't believe," Siecienski said. "I do believe."

In 2010 Frank Siecinski captured this image of what could be a Bigfoot on his trail camera in Hubbarton, VT.

A conversation with the FBI

The FBI files reveal a conversation between one man who pushed the agency to test the existence of Bigfoot.

In August 1976, Peter C. Bryne, then the director of the Bigfoot Information Center and Exhibit based in The Dalles, Oregon, wrote to the FBI asking the agency to confirm or deny that they had tested hair samples of Bigfoot.

Bryne attached to his letter two newspaper articles that state the FBI has tested hairs suspected to belong to a Bigfoot, and tests indicated the hair did not match any known creature.

FBI Assistant Director Jay Cochran Jr. wrote back to Byrne saying the tests cited in the articles never happened.

In November 1976, the FBI agreed to test the hair samples Byrne had. The FBI concluded that the hair samples thought to belong to Bigfoot came from a member of "deer family origin," according to the records.

Contact Sawyer Loftus at 802-660-1860 or sloftus@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @sawyerloftus18.