The BFRO has a new sighting from Essex County NJ, specifically the town of West Orange. For those of you that are not familiar with the area, it is a classic North Jersey suburb (densely populated, lots of roads, lots of traffic, not much forest.) Moreover, it is hard to imagine how a bigfoot could have gotten to West Orange without being seen by others given the density of the population in Essex County. Although it would be easy to argue that giant secretive apes couldn't possibly exist in the 'burbs of Jersey only a half an hour by car from mid-town Manhattan, it wouldn't be the first sighting in the approximate vicinity.
Over the past few years I have seen a few different reports of sightings from various sources in that part of the state. Though I would still call the sightings questionable, if the latest sighting is legit. it might provide some support that occasionally BF wanders into urban areas.
There was once a sighting in nearby Hillside NJ according to Weird NJ. Also Rutherford I believe once had a sighting. Nearby Staten Island has had BF reports on a number of occasions and an extensive article was written on the subject in the NY Press last year.
Perhaps even less believable has been the occasional urban legend type sightings including the "Hoboken Monkey Man", which was attributed to mass hysteria and a similar type creature in nearby Bayonne. (Interestingly, some Bayonne residents, back in the 70s, apparently thought some kind of Hairy Man lived in the weeds on the bay and Bayonne is about a 1000 yard swim from Staten Island.)
In any case, I like hearing stories about BF in Jersey, believable or not, since that's where I live.
Full Version: Bigfoot in the Jersey burbs.
Someone should put you in touch with VideoArts then. LMAO
QUOTE(rlw @ Oct 20 2004, 07:37 PM)
The BFRO has a new sighting from Essex County NJ, specifically the town of West Orange. For those of you that are not familiar with the area, it is a classic North Jersey suburb (densely populated, lots of roads, lots of traffic, not much forest.) Moreover, it is hard to imagine how a bigfoot could have gotten to West Orange without being seen by others given the density of the population in Essex County. Although it would be easy to argue that giant secretive apes couldn't possibly exist in the 'burbs of Jersey only a half an hour by car from mid-town Manhattan, it wouldn't be the first sighting in the approximate vicinity.
Perhaps even less believable has been the occasional urban legend type sightings including the "Hoboken Monkey Man", which was attributed to mass hysteria and a similar type creature in nearby Bayonne. (Interestingly, some Bayonne residents, back in the 70s, apparently thought some kind of Hairy Man lived in the weeds on the bay and Bayonne is about a 1000 yard swim from Staten Island.)
In any case, I like hearing stories about BF in Jersey, believable or not, since that's where I live.
Perhaps even less believable has been the occasional urban legend type sightings including the "Hoboken Monkey Man", which was attributed to mass hysteria and a similar type creature in nearby Bayonne. (Interestingly, some Bayonne residents, back in the 70s, apparently thought some kind of Hairy Man lived in the weeds on the bay and Bayonne is about a 1000 yard swim from Staten Island.)
In any case, I like hearing stories about BF in Jersey, believable or not, since that's where I live.
Could be a number of explanations: Urban legends, misidentification of know animals, you pick your poison. If there are actual Sasquatch in New Jersey(and I don't rule it out) then encroachment could drive some of the reports. Shrinking habitat and food sourch could drive one into urban areas in search of food. IMO. Garbage is easy pickings. Hey bears know! Keep searching!
QUOTE(rlw @ Oct 20 2004, 06:37 PM)
The BFRO has a new sighting from Essex County NJ, specifically the town of West Orange. For those of you that are not familiar with the area, it is a classic North Jersey suburb (densely populated, lots of roads, lots of traffic, not much forest.) Moreover, it is hard to imagine how a bigfoot could have gotten to West Orange without being seen by others given the density of the population in Essex County. Although it would be easy to argue that giant secretive apes couldn't possibly exist in the 'burbs of Jersey only a half an hour by car from mid-town Manhattan, it wouldn't be the first sighting in the approximate vicinity.
Over the past few years I have seen a few different reports of sightings from various sources in that part of the state. Though I would still call the sightings questionable, if the latest sighting is legit. it might provide some support that occasionally BF wanders into urban areas.
There was once a sighting in nearby Hillside NJ according to Weird NJ. Also Rutherford I believe once had a sighting. Nearby Staten Island has had BF reports on a number of occasions and an extensive article was written on the subject in the NY Press last year.
Perhaps even less believable has been the occasional urban legend type sightings including the "Hoboken Monkey Man", which was attributed to mass hysteria and a similar type creature in nearby Bayonne. (Interestingly, some Bayonne residents, back in the 70s, apparently thought some kind of Hairy Man lived in the weeds on the bay and Bayonne is about a 1000 yard swim from Staten Island.)
In any case, I like hearing stories about BF in Jersey, believable or not, since that's where I live.
Over the past few years I have seen a few different reports of sightings from various sources in that part of the state. Though I would still call the sightings questionable, if the latest sighting is legit. it might provide some support that occasionally BF wanders into urban areas.
There was once a sighting in nearby Hillside NJ according to Weird NJ. Also Rutherford I believe once had a sighting. Nearby Staten Island has had BF reports on a number of occasions and an extensive article was written on the subject in the NY Press last year.
Perhaps even less believable has been the occasional urban legend type sightings including the "Hoboken Monkey Man", which was attributed to mass hysteria and a similar type creature in nearby Bayonne. (Interestingly, some Bayonne residents, back in the 70s, apparently thought some kind of Hairy Man lived in the weeds on the bay and Bayonne is about a 1000 yard swim from Staten Island.)
In any case, I like hearing stories about BF in Jersey, believable or not, since that's where I live.
I read that report. Didn't she say she lived in a heavily wooded area?
New Jersey suburbs? Come on. No waaaaaaay!!! 
QUOTE(Lyndon @ Oct 21 2004, 04:05 AM)
New Jersey suburbs? Come on. No waaaaaaay!!!
I think that you are jumping to conclusions based on a stereotype of New Jersey. I lived in this part of Jersey for 5 years and have frequently visited the area since then on business. There are plenty of deer and even black bears in the NJ suburbs. Meaning that the foraging is good for these animals. There are also wooded areas and many marshy areas that people do not frequent. So it is certainly conceivable that a young transient BF could wander through West Orange.
QUOTE(Mangani @ Oct 21 2004, 08:17 AM)
QUOTE(Lyndon @ Oct 21 2004, 04:05 AM)
New Jersey suburbs? Come on. No waaaaaaay!!!
I think that you are jumping to conclusions based on a stereotype of New Jersey. I lived in this part of Jersey for 5 years and have frequently visited the area since then on business. There are plenty of deer and even black bears in the NJ suburbs. Meaning that the foraging is good for these animals. There are also wooded areas and many marshy areas that people do not frequent. So it is certainly conceivable that a young transient BF could wander through West Orange.
That's the problem I have with the whole Bigfoot across America thing. I'm not saying it's not so but I find it hard to accept. If they were almost everywhere and in every state then surely it would be beyond doubt by now?
I used to have a hard time accepting Bigfoot outside the Pacific Northwest and Canada. At one time I refused to believe they were outside this region. Now I've become more or less convinced there are populations in other areas such as the south and possibly other places. I've read into accounts of Bigfoot in upstate New York and Vermont/ New Hampshire and it's persuasive so I guess I shouldn't dismiss the New Jersey accounts juts like that but you have to admit that they can't be all over the place. It's just not feesable.
IMHO the number one place for Bigfoot has to be British Columbia/ Southern Alaska followed by Washington and Oregon and other places in Canada ( Alberta to Manitoba). Just my viewpoint.
Mybe someone released one when it got too big to keep in their Manhattan apartment.
Happens with big cats.
Happens with big cats.
If you've ever visited the san bernardino mountains in southern california, you might wonder how ANY wildlife could remain hidden. At first glance the place is SO built up, cabins built so close together, that when we had massive fires last year, only every third or fourth homeowner is allowed to rebuild. but if you get off the road and haul yout but over the nearest hill, you are in pure wilderness. People get lost every year! Caught unprepared, decieved by the apearance of civilisation. The same is true in many sprawling metropolis areas. we don't see the belts of flood controll, swamps, foothills, and parks through which something can wander deep into an urban area undetected.
That said, I hesitate to believe this one, as the odds of this hapening and the critter finding it's way out again before daybreak are steep.
Souther jersey though... BF could be rooming with Jersey Devil
That said, I hesitate to believe this one, as the odds of this hapening and the critter finding it's way out again before daybreak are steep.
Souther jersey though... BF could be rooming with Jersey Devil
QUOTE(Desertyeti @ Oct 21 2004, 10:22 AM)
Mybe someone released one when it got too big to keep in their Manhattan apartment.
Happens with big cats.
Happens with big cats.
And alligators in the sewers.
BSF
The following is an excerpt from the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife:
That information came from this page, which also has a "Black Bears in New Jersey" slide show that highlights the black bear range, including Essex county:
New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife Q&As
The population of black bears in New Jersey is stable enough to allow hunting. 328 black bears were taken during the 2003 season.:
2003 NJ Black Bear Hunting Season Results
Essex county is in northern New Jersey, adjacent to other counties with known black bear populations in 2001 (i.e. Passaic, Morris). Since 1997, the square mileage where they live has almost tripled (i.e. 942 sq miles in 1997; currently 2600 square miles in northern New Jersey).
According to which estimates you rely on, New Jersey has more black bears than Tennessee.
The Garden State isn't just freeways and suburbs. A large mammal would have no problem existing in the forested areas in the northern part of the state.
QUOTE
Q. How many bears are there in New Jersey today and where do they live?
A. The population estimate for the year 2001 in the primary bear range of Sussex, Warren, Passaic and Morris counties is 1146. The 1997 Black Bear Management Plan identified 942 square miles of bear habitat in these counties; bears currently exist in 2603 square miles across northern New Jersey. In 1995 they were known to occur in 48 municipalities in 12 counties. During the past 5 years their range has been steadily expanding southward and eastward from the northwestern part of the state. In the year 2001, they occupy 140 municipalities in 16 counties.
Q. Is the population estimate based on bear sightings or damage complaints?
A. The Division population estimate is based on 20 years of intensive research information collected by capturing, handling and recording data on over 600 bears. Mark-recapture, radio telemetry and annual monitoring of denned females with cubs have provided the data on densities, breeding age and productivity, mortality and longevity. This data is collectively used to provide a scientific population estimate.
A. The population estimate for the year 2001 in the primary bear range of Sussex, Warren, Passaic and Morris counties is 1146. The 1997 Black Bear Management Plan identified 942 square miles of bear habitat in these counties; bears currently exist in 2603 square miles across northern New Jersey. In 1995 they were known to occur in 48 municipalities in 12 counties. During the past 5 years their range has been steadily expanding southward and eastward from the northwestern part of the state. In the year 2001, they occupy 140 municipalities in 16 counties.
Q. Is the population estimate based on bear sightings or damage complaints?
A. The Division population estimate is based on 20 years of intensive research information collected by capturing, handling and recording data on over 600 bears. Mark-recapture, radio telemetry and annual monitoring of denned females with cubs have provided the data on densities, breeding age and productivity, mortality and longevity. This data is collectively used to provide a scientific population estimate.
That information came from this page, which also has a "Black Bears in New Jersey" slide show that highlights the black bear range, including Essex county:
New Jersey Department of Fish and Wildlife Q&As
The population of black bears in New Jersey is stable enough to allow hunting. 328 black bears were taken during the 2003 season.:
2003 NJ Black Bear Hunting Season Results
Essex county is in northern New Jersey, adjacent to other counties with known black bear populations in 2001 (i.e. Passaic, Morris). Since 1997, the square mileage where they live has almost tripled (i.e. 942 sq miles in 1997; currently 2600 square miles in northern New Jersey).
According to which estimates you rely on, New Jersey has more black bears than Tennessee.
The Garden State isn't just freeways and suburbs. A large mammal would have no problem existing in the forested areas in the northern part of the state.
QUOTE(Lyndon @ Oct 21 2004, 11:17 AM)
That's the problem I have with the whole Bigfoot across America thing. I'm not saying it's not so but I find it hard to accept. If they were almost everywhere and in every state then surely it would be beyond doubt by now?
I used to have a hard time accepting Bigfoot outside the Pacific Northwest and Canada. At one time I refused to believe they were outside this region. Now I've become more or less convinced there are populations in other areas such as the south and possibly other places. I've read into accounts of Bigfoot in upstate New York and Vermont/ New Hampshire and it's persuasive so I guess I shouldn't dismiss the New Jersey accounts juts like that but you have to admit that they can't be all over the place. It's just not feesable.
I used to have a hard time accepting Bigfoot outside the Pacific Northwest and Canada. At one time I refused to believe they were outside this region. Now I've become more or less convinced there are populations in other areas such as the south and possibly other places. I've read into accounts of Bigfoot in upstate New York and Vermont/ New Hampshire and it's persuasive so I guess I shouldn't dismiss the New Jersey accounts juts like that but you have to admit that they can't be all over the place. It's just not feesable.
Well even though there have been hundreds of sightings in the Pacific Northwest, BF is far from being accepted beyond doubt there. So I don't see why a much lower incidence of sightings in other parts of the country would be any more likely to lead to acceptance.
I agree that it's not likely that they are "all over the place" if you mean every square mile - or even every county - on the continent, but it is conceivable that they are nearly everywhere there is suitable habitat, and that could well include some areas in New Jersey. And I think it is also feasible that younger creatures may go out looking to establish new territories and sometimes venture into areas that are not so suitable, which could account for an occasional "outlier" sighting now and then.
Even in developed areas it can be possible for wildlife to travel undetected by following stream beds and other drainage which is often sheltered by undergrowth and below the grade of streets and highways.
It looks like the Essex County NJ report was taken off the BFRO.
QUOTE(Mangani @ Oct 21 2004, 02:24 PM)
Well even though there have been hundreds of sightings in the Pacific Northwest, BF is far from being accepted beyond doubt there. .
Quite true, but if they are around then the Pacific Northwest and Canada is beyond doubt the most likely area where they will be. Anywhere else is a shot in the dark by comparison.
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