Well I have no Idea what this means if anything,so here goes.Based on 70 reports from michigan I broke the state into five sectors the first is the upper penninsula there were 8 sightings,North east sector(I-69 is the east west divider, M-46 at Mt.Pleasant is the north south divider) 13 repoorted sightings,N.W sector 9,S.W sector 14,and S.E sector 26,the oldest sighting is 1891 in the U.P.,The newest is Jun of 02 in the S.W.yearly breakdown is Pre 1901=1: 1900-1950=2; 1951-1960=2; 1961-1970=7; 1971-1980=25;1981-1990=14; 1991-2000=6;2001-present=13;miscellanious data:Hair Color reported Reddish=4;Brown=8;Black=5;Gray/White=4;Smell or Foul Odor reported 7 times;Prints/Tracks reported 10 times and Screams or other sounds with the sightings was reported 15 times.Theories/Observations with bigfoot becoming a known phenomena in the late 60's early 70's reports increased dramaitically this could also be attributed to sub-urban sprawl or increased back to nature campaines in the state at this time reports then dropped through the 80's -90's possibly a ridicule factor?or Possibly BF's inate ability to avoid us?2001 and up shows another marked increase in activity which goes to the unfounded theory of migration.or possibly to the fact the internet is more widely available with more BF groups to report sightings to?Perhaps more of a comfort level in reporting due to the overall amount of sightings?of note also the bulk of the sightings in the S.E. is the heaviest populated area of the state so the number of sightings could be directly proportional to the populous in any given area as more people go camping or hunting locally than far afield from home?Well thats what I got for now. Hope it helps someone all it did for me was make my eyes tired.

Jim
Good work !!
I think the number of reports has to do with the internet, people not traveling abroad like they used to (more at home camping thing).
I expect the number of reports to increase as more and more people get PCs. Right now, in the western part of Maryland, there are little to no reports, also little to no PCs. But i know BF is up there, too many second hand stories, and massive amounts of habitat.

The more people read reports, and see that a site is takeing them seriously, the more comfortable they will be to report thier own experiences.

RobUstes
(i used to live in Houghton, UP when i was 2-5 years old, fond fond memories )

I would agree with Rob regarding the internet aspect of the reports but I also think that the wildlife management resulting in higher numbers of prey base species and cover also could be considered as factors.

Good point. Here in Michigan, the overall forest cover has increased quite a bit in the last couple of decades. Particlarly in southern Michigan. Farms have been allowed to go fallow, and are growing back into forest.
Even in areas like the U.P., where logging as slightly reduced the total forest cover, the deer population is way up(for the same reason, the cut-over lands provide far more food than mature climax forest), so the prey base idea has some strong circumstantial evidence for it.
Also, I do thing the "ridicule factor" has dies down, although what will happen with the whole Wallace fiasco remains to be seen.