Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy

Evaluation of the Michigan Recording Project Evidence Claims

By Alton Higgins

Starting in 2004 and continuing to the present, a team of sasquatch enthusiasts repeatedly visited a rural location and recorded vocalizations they suggest originated from a large undocumented primate species. See the Michigan Recording Project web site for unabridged background information.

The Michigan Recording Project (MRP) team asserted there was almost no chance that the recordings were the result of a prank by local residents, and that the geography, timing and apparent source location of many of the recordings made scenarios of outside hoaxing quite implausible.

The area was described as being quite remote. In comments posted on a discussion forum, one of the MRP members indicated that, while there were some small communities in the region, none were close and the study site was in an area of extensive forest. While a well-traveled road was described as being reachable via a relatively easy hike, team members said that it was possible to walk for miles without crossing roads of significance or encountering residences. The study area was represented on the MRP web site with a graphic (Figure 1).
 

On 23 July 2009, links to aerial photos purportedly showing the MRP study site were posted in a discussion forum (Figure 2). The photos were noted and linked to the next day at another forum discussing the MRP. In the process of checking the validity of the aerial photos it was observed that, in actuality, the study site appears to be positioned near quite a few houses (Figure 3). The distance from the buildings located west of the base camp to the so-called “Cedar Flats” region, an area from which vocalizations were said to often emanate, appears to be less than 800 feet (Figure 4). Based on lat/long coordinates, the distance from the base camp to the paved road to the west is approximately 1,456 feet, or about 0.27 miles (Figure 5). This contrasts with a distance estimate of one half mile, as related by an MRP member.
 

On 2 July 2007 the MRP team positioned a tree stand near the bank of the river across from the clearing. The tree stand observer noted the direction from which an unidentified vocalization could be heard. He estimated the position of the vocalization source, but it is worth noting that the direction of the sound source (referred to as “Subject 2”) is on a direct line with what appears on the aerial map to be a residence (Figure 6).
 

Consider again the presence of what appears to be several residences located on or near the west side of the river. Nearly all of the presented vocalizations were noted on the west side of the river across from the base camp, typically in or near the area referred to as “Cedar Flats” (Figure 4), none from the many acres of forested/brushy area north and east of the camp site, where one might expect a reclusive primate to seek seclusion.

If one presumes that the MRP vocalizations are those of a large undocumented primate, it should not seem too much of a stretch to suspect that many of the area residents, living in such close proximity to the river and the location where numerous and dramatic vocalizations have been noted by the MRP teams for years, have heard the caterwauling that supposedly occurs on a regular basis. Although surveying residents regarding heard vocalizations may not be practical, it is possible that the sheriff’s office has records of calls and reports concerning such events. However, even if these kinds of reports exist for time frames other than when the MRP team was present, it would not preclude the possibility of mundane explanations. The potential represented by all these residences as a source for hoaxers should be taken into serious consideration.

While it should be noted that there seem to be inconsistencies between investigator assertions and descriptions as compared with the apparently less dramatic realities, the vocalization recordings themselves must, ultimately, stand on their own when it comes to assessing the validity of the claimed circumstances. Or so it would seem. Unfortunately, since we do not know for sure what sasquatches actually sound like, we cannot prove that the sounds are NOT sasquatches. However, demonstrating the probability of a human source does not seem to be the answer either. Taking a position that further obfuscates matters, MRP members readily admit that the Michigan recordings not only sound human, but that humans are fully capable of replicating the various screams and whoops.

Current members of the Texas Bigfoot Research Conservancy (TBRC) have not heard or recorded vocalizations during the course of conducting field activities that are comparable to the Michigan recordings; if such sounds had been heard they would have been ascribed to humans. In fact, soon after the MRP web site went public, TBRC members remarked on the similarity of several of the Michigan vocalizations to a so-called “rebel yell.” In the opinion of many TBRC members, several of the Michigan recordings compare favorably, in terms of pitch, duration and timbre, to a “Real Rebel Yell” recorded in 1935. Nevertheless, the fact that recorded vocalizations compare favorably to known human vocalizations, or that they can be closely replicated, seems not to have assuaged enthusiasm for the Michigan sounds in some quarters, and the MRP team asserts that the vocalizations do not have a human source.

This situation begs the question: What options remain for analysts if proponents argue that purported circumstances and investigator integrity qualify otherwise obviously human-quality sounds for consideration as bigfoot evidence? The only seemingly viable conclusions adversely reflect on investigative due diligence.

MRP team members acknowledge that local residents have advance knowledge of their presence and purpose. Considering the prevalence of homes within easy walking distance of the study area, this would certainly appear to seriously compromise the objective of obtaining indisputable or compelling evidence. The fact that both critics and supporters acknowledge the similarities of the Michigan recordings to human vocalizations does nothing to support or establish the credibility of the recordings as evidence of a large undocumented species of primate.

If nothing else, in terms of what can be learned, this example serves to illustrate the importance of strictly limiting research activity specifics. Notifying landowners of plans in advance, especially in a populated area, compromises this objective. In addition, when various forms of evidence or analyses are presented, they need to be, if not conclusive, at least credible. With regard to the Michigan Recording Project vocalizations, there appears to be no reason to describe them as anything other than clearly human.

References/Resources:

The Michigan Recording Project.

Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculator.

YouTube. Real Rebel Yell, produced by the History Publishing Company, Palisades, New York.