Bigfoot hair has been subjected to intense attempts at DNA analysis. All the extracted DNA, though ample, was too fragmented to permit mitochondrial DNA gene sequencing.

Since the same problem exists for a significant percentage of human hairs, we attribute this problem to the absence of a medulla (always in sasquatch hair, often in human hair).

We no longer consider hair a promising subject for further attempts at DNA sequencing, but must wait for tissue or blood samples.

There is no absolutely identified sasquatch hair. I have 12 samples from 4 states, all collected under suggestive or excellent circumstances. They measure from 3 to 15 inches in length, are all under 90 microns in diameter, all have a reddish tinge under the microscope, and all are lacking a medulla. You can find human hair like that, but a dozen samples like that, collected
independently, are not suggestive of hoaxing.

DNA analysis is futile, since the mtDNA appears too fragmented to allow for sequencing (possibly a function of no medulla - same problem with human hair of that structure). If in doubt, send the hair to me at the address below.

Dr. W. H. Fahrenbach, 1997
Laboratory of Microscopy
Oregon Regional Primate Research Center
505 NW 185th
Beaverton, OR 97006

On the issue of sasquatch hairs, Dr. John Bindernagel writes in his book “North America’s Great Ape, the Sasquatch:”

“Hair attributed to Sasquatches has been recovered from apparent Sasquatch beds, shrubbery, fences and trees where sightings have occurred. Some samples have been examined microscopically for physical characteristics, which can be compared with known reference material from bears, apes, and humans. At least one such sample has been identified as coming from a higher primate, but could not be matched with those from any known species.”

Then here Bindernagel cites his source as page 125 of Krantz’s book, "Big Footprints, A Scientific Inquiry into the Reality of Sasquatch" - in what appears to be circular theorem, Krantz writes on that page:

“Hair samples are the commonest of what I call bodily scraps. Some of these have been examined by hair expert and pronounced to be of an unknown animal and in a few cases even pinned down to being from a high primate. Unfortunately for these earlier studies, the science of hair analysis is rather inexact and the competence of the investigator varies greatly.”

Operative words: “the science of hair analysis is rather inexact and the competence of the investigator varies greatly.”

If hairs have been labeled 'bigfoot,' it is unfortunate and perhaps misleading to say so without a sasquatch specimen.

Additional comments and observations regarding hair from pg 126 - Krantz's book again:

"A hair that is unlike anything in a North American collection might be from the armpit of a bear or from an escaped llama. As one expert put it, the only way to positively identify a sasquatch hair is to matchit with a known sample. In spite of these problems, and more, there are likely a few valid haird presently available. Walkter Birkby at the University of Arizona has some that he got from Bob Titmus, and is fairly sure they are sasquatch. The hairs are of a higher primate, in his judgement and cannot quite be matched with any known species. Birkby takes the sasquatch possibility quite seriously, but he is a careful worker who is not inclined to over-enthusiasm, and has ruled out most of the hairs that have been submitted for his analysis. No matter how competent the expert and how secure this identification may be, hairs constitute no serious evidence in the minds of most biologists.

Zhou Guoxing, at the Natural History Museum in Beijing once gave me a reddish hair that he was told came from a yeren (Chinese wildman). Birkby examined it and informed me that it was human -- a blond caucasian hair that had been artificially dyed red." (Krantz)

Bobbie Short, 1997

2006 Website UPDATE:
It should be noted that extraordinary strides have been made in the analysis of hair since the above article was published... for example see: http://www.bigfootencounters.com/articles/yetidna.htm


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