I have noticed a marked decline in postings this past month on several BF websites, and I recall one of you mentioning that the sightings will slow down come summer.

Why would this be? I would think that there would be more sighting in the spring and summer months, because folks are outdoors more often. Any thoughts?

I have the same thought as youOKBFFan! I would too think that there would be more sightings, but I think that the Summer time, people wouldn't be out as long as they are in the Fall and Spring due to the hot weather. So the sightings would go down. And, you never know, maybe during the Summer Bigfeet are in a totally different area where it is not so hot. Keep in mind that Bigfoot may migrate to different areas during different climates of weather.

JVD

If I were a BF, I would definitely go nocturnal during the summer. During the hot summer months, I'd hole up in a cool shady spot during the daylight hours...maybe find a nice cave and take a nap. All that fur has got to get hot.

It's too dang hot here for any but the dedicated (stupid) people to get out and about in the woods. Plus, the chiggers, ticks, snakes, mosquitos, etc. keep everyone but us fools inside during this time. Spring and fall here....that's when more people brave the wilds...that's when most sightings here occur.

I think it is a matter of cover and food.
Dense foliage can hide an animal well as compared to winter.
Food sources are plentiful. Fawn deer should make up a good portion of their diet since there are many this time of year. Fruits, berries are plentiful in late summer then a large supply of mast such as acorns in the fall. Little movement is required to get a full stomach so sightings should be down.

Ahhh Blair, I didnt even think of that! Very good point.

Yes, very good point!

Why should a decline in posting activity say anything about BF activity?

Reports made to any org are usually already months or years old. Very few folks report something as soon as it happened. How many reports are posted in June doesn't say diddly about how many BFs are seen in June.

Changes in posting activity usually say more about changes in investigator activity.

Well some people like myself believe that they migrate to different places different times of the year. Chances are that during the summer they would move back into the deeper mountains that would mean harsher winters most times. Being down lower in the mountains during the winter means they are closer to where more people live and that adds up for extra sightings.
Also if they are having to hunt more and longer for food during the winters like most animals means they will be moving around much more during the winters, And that adds up to more sightings also.
Also like was said above during the winter also means less leaves and such on the trees, That also would make it much easier to see them in the woods.
Also during the winters most places where they are have snow and that makes them stand out much more then when things are not white.

If you add them reasons up you can see that it easily could explain why more sightings happen during the winter. And I am sure that a lot of other people could think up even more and maybe better reasons for it also.
But even if only one of the reasons given by others and myself is right then that alone would mean more sightings and that would answer your question :-)

Agreed Jay and Jud!

I know that the research in OK I am doing this summer has produced promising results, but has produced many chigger, tick and mosquito bites (protection doesn't always work). Not to mention the need to carry more water, watch where I step for snakes, watch out for poison ivy and trying not to overheat while going up and down hills.

This subject is the very reason that I chose to do summer research. I figured that if I found an isolated large piece of property, close to prior sightings and where human activity in the summer is almost none that I could then conduct proper field research while these animals passed the summer relaxing. As I said before, my theory so far seems promising.

Interesting...