Science Meets Bigfoot: An Overview of the North American Wood Ape Conservancy's Ouachita Project

The Ouachita Project Monograph is a 229 page document created by the North American Wood Ape Conservancy full of data in regards to the study of Sasquatch/Bigfoot in the remote mountains of Oklahoma. We encourage you to read the document in full, but have created a brief overview so you can get an understanding at a glance of what the project has recorded and accomplished from 2011 to 2014. The link to the full document can be found HERE. 

An Overview of The Ouachita Project:

The Ouachita Project, undertaken by the North American Wood Ape Conservancy (NAWAC), is a comprehensive research initiative aimed at investigating the existence of a potentially unlisted anthropoid species in the Ouachita Mountain Ecoregion. This project emerged from numerous reports and historical accounts of large, ape-like creatures sighted in this area. The primary goal of the project is to gather substantial evidence through rigorous, scientific methods to either confirm or refute these claims.

Spanning over several field seasons from 2011 to 2014, the Ouachita Project involved extended surveys, each lasting between 60 to 120 days. These surveys were designed to observe and document any possible signs of this elusive species. The team meticulously recorded various forms of evidence, such as physical traces, sounds, and visual encounters. By conducting this in-depth investigation, the NAWAC aimed to contribute significantly to the understanding of biodiversity and species preservation in the Ouachita Mountain region. The project's findings and methodologies are expected to pave the way for future research in cryptozoology and conservation biology​

Background

The Ouachita Project Monograph details the initial explorations and findings that led to the Ouachita Project's inception. In September 2000, Alton Higgins, a wildlife biologist and chairman of the North American Wood Ape Conservancy (NAWAC), led a team into the Ouachita Mountain Ecoregion to investigate local reports of a large, mysterious animal. Their discovery of unusual humanoid tracks in the area bolstered Higgins's interest in further investigation. A significant moment came in 2001 when Higgins was invited to stay in a cabin near the initial discovery site, where he learned of strange occurrences, including unusual loud vocalizations and rock-throwing incidents.

Subsequent expeditions in 2001 and 2002 yielded more intriguing findings, including encounters with large, vocalizing animals, unexplained noises, and physical evidence like tracks. These experiences solidified Higgins's hypothesis of an unrecognized species in the area. Additional sightings and reports, including a deer hunter's encounter with a chimp-like animal, further supported this theory. The team's experiences, including unexplained auditory and physical phenomena around the cabin, prompted the launch of Operation Forest Vigil, a camera-trap initiative aimed at capturing photographic evidence of the species.

Despite the lack of photographic evidence from the camera traps, the team continued to experience peculiar activities, such as wood knocks and other auditory anomalies. These experiences, along with insights from cabin logbooks and team discussions, led to the realization that a prolonged field survey might yield more significant results. This understanding ultimately gave rise to the Ouachita Project, a more extensive and focused investigation into the possible existence of an unlisted primate species in the region.

Hypothesis

The NAWAC posits the existence of an unlisted anthropoid species in the Ouachita Mountain Ecoregion, believed to be the source of long-standing and contemporary reports of a large, primarily bipedal, ape-like animal. The hypothesis is grounded in scientific principles, requiring empirical testability and predictions that can be verified against reality.

The Ouachita Project Monograph criticizes the scientific community for largely dismissing this hypothesis without thorough investigation, labeling it as a cultural or imaginary phenomenon. It emphasizes that such dismissals do not constitute a test of the hypothesis but rather a refusal to consider its potential validity. The hypothesis suggests specific, testable outcomes: if the creature exists, it would leave tracks and exhibit features and behaviors consistent with great apes. The document encourages the scientific community to move beyond skepticism and engage in objective, persistent fieldwork to test this hypothesis, suggesting that the NAWAC's efforts could serve as a model. The underlying message is that something remarkable might be discovered if the scientific community approaches the hypothesis with open-mindedness and intellectual curiosity.

Results

Wood Knocks: 

The document “Ouachita Project Monograph” which will be referred to as the (OPM) for the remainder of this article, outlines various observations and incidents recorded by NAWAC teams during their field studies. One focus of the (OPM) is the documentation of "wood knocks," which are described as curious, loud, and wooden-in-tone audible signals. These signals are often in response to team members striking trees with baseball bats or firewood logs. The (OPM) details a series of incidents, observations, and experiments related to these wood knocks, spanning from 2011 to 2014. Here is an overview of the main sections and findings:

• Wood Knocks Observations (2011-2014): The teams observed wood knocks in response to their actions and spontaneously when new personnel arrived at or left the site. The knocks varied in pattern, including singular, double, or triple knocks, and sometimes seemed to be in response to each other​​.

• Mimicry and Responses to Knocking: Instances where the team's wood knocking was mimicked or responded to with similar knocks, taps on rocks and trees, and other sounds, suggesting intelligent behavior from the observed creatures​​.

• Visual Encounters and Associated Knocks: Descriptions of two incidents where team members had visual encounters with large animals, followed by wood knocks, suggesting a connection between the visual sightings and the knocking sounds​​.

• Complex Knocking Patterns: Documented cases of more elaborate wood knocking patterns, consisting of multiple consecutive knocks in a rhythmic cadence, often close to the team's cabin​​.

• Knocks in Response to Human Activity: Observations of wood knocks occurring in response to team activities like wood splitting and maintenance work near the cabin, indicating a reaction to human presence and actions​​.

• Metallic Sounds and Branch Breaking: Documentation of noise-making activities involving metal objects and branch breaking. This includes sounds of metal being struck, branch breaking, and tree falls, some of which appeared to be natural while others seemed like power displays or intimidation tactics​​.

Overall, the (OPM) provides detailed accounts of various phenomena observed by NAWAC teams, primarily focusing on wood knocks, their patterns, responses to human activity, and associated visual sightings. The observations suggest intelligent behavior from the creatures being studied and a possible connection between their presence and the documented sounds.

Banging on Metal

The (OPM) details various observations and incidents involving metallic sounds recorded by NAWAC teams during their field studies. This section focuses on the documentation of noises that resemble the impact of objects on metal surfaces. Here's an overview of the key points and findings from this section:

• Metal Noise-Making Incidents (2012-2014): Various incidents involving sounds like metal being struck or shaken were documented. These noises often seemed to originate from around the cabin areas and were sometimes associated with the presence or movement of large animals​​.

• Dragged Objects on Metal: Sounds resembling objects being dragged across metal surfaces, like corrugated metal, were reported. Investigators also heard additional noises like grunts and stick-breaks during these incidents​​.

• Metal Banging and Rock Throws: Reports included metal banging sounds, sometimes in quick succession, and were occasionally accompanied by other phenomena like weird screams, rocks slamming into metal, and the sound of large padded feet sprinting​​.

• Documented Metal Bangs in Field Logs: Specific times and dates of metal bangs were recorded in field logs. These bangs were often heard in the vicinity of the cabins and sometimes coincided with other activities of the NAWAC teams or the arrival of new team members​​.

• Investigations and Lack of Visual Confirmation: Despite the frequent occurrence of these metallic sounds, investigations often yielded no concrete evidence or visual confirmation of what caused the sounds. The sounds were typically sudden and ceased before a thorough investigation could be conducted​​.

In summary, the "Banging on Metal" section of the document covers a range of incidents where metallic sounds were heard by NAWAC teams, often in the vicinity of their cabins. These sounds included metal being struck, objects dragged on metal, and other related noises. The reports suggest a pattern of these sounds occurring in the presence of the teams, yet visual confirmation of the cause remained elusive.

Rock Throwing

The (OPM) provides detailed accounts of numerous incidents involving rocks being thrown in the vicinity of NAWAC teams during their field studies. Here's an overview of the key findings and observations from this section:

• Frequency and Volume of Rock-Throwing Incidents (2011-2014): Rock-throwing was a constant observation from the first teams in June 2011 through the last teams in September 2014. Over this period, NAWAC teams documented over 1000 rock-throwing incidents, with some teams recording over 100 and even 250 rock throws during their surveys​​.

• Physical Interactions and Observations: Some team members were hit by rocks, and in one instance, a team member observed a long, black, hair-covered arm throwing a rock at him​​.

• Size and Impact of Rocks: The rocks varied in size, from small (like coins) to extremely large (like basketballs). They were often heard zipping through vegetation before striking cabins or landing near team members. Some rocks were visually seen flying through the air and striking structures or landing close to team members​​.

• Targeting and Accuracy: The rock-throwers demonstrated notable accuracy, often hitting intended targets like cabin roofs. In some cases, rocks were thrown with such force and precision that they startled or unnerved team members, indicating a significant level of skill and strength in the throwers​​.

• Distance and Velocity of Throws: Some rocks were estimated to have been thrown from distances up to 100 yards, based on the sounds as they traveled through the foliage. The velocity and accuracy of these throws were particularly noted, with some incidents described as incredible even to the observers​​.

• Potential Targeting of Individuals: At times, individual team members seemed to be targeted by the rock throws, with a few members actually being struck by rocks. This suggests a level of intentionality behind the rock-throwing incidents​​.

• Exclusion of Natural Causes: NAWAC ruled out the possibility of rocks rolling down slopes due to gravity as the cause of these incidents. The difficulty for humans to maneuver and throw rocks accurately on the slope, especially at night, further supported the conclusion that these incidents were not caused by team members or natural occurrences​​.

In summary, the "Rock Throwing" section describes a series of incidents where rocks of various sizes were thrown near or at NAWAC teams, often with remarkable accuracy and force. These events were consistently documented throughout the four-year study period and demonstrated a pattern suggesting intelligent behavior behind the rock-throwing activities.

Footprints:  

The (OPM) details various observations and findings of tracks believed to be related to the target species, often referred to as wood apes. This section covers the period from 2011 to 2014. Here's an overview of the key points and observations:

• Discovery of Footprints: Initial potential evidence of wood apes was identified in 2000 when Alton Higgins and his team found a set of footprints in a muddy area. During the four-year study, NAWAC observers found numerous tracks ascribed to the target species, despite the rocky terrain of the valley floor​​.

• Notable Track Findings: Various trackways were discovered in different locations, including near the cistern, which consistently produced tracks due to the surrounding black soil. The tracks appeared as bare feet and were approximately a foot in length​​.

• Detailed Track Descriptions: The tracks were often described in detail, including measurements of length, width, and stride. For instance, one trackway consisted of thirty or so tracks, with each track being eighteen inches long and six inches wide at the ball of the foot​​.

• Locations of Track Findings: Tracks were found in diverse areas, including around cabins, on creek banks, and along trails. Some tracks were attributed to adult and juvenile apes, with lengths varying from six inches for juvenile to about fourteen inches for adults​​.

• Photographic Documentation and Analysis: Tracks were extensively photographed and analyzed. In some cases, the tracks were clearly different from boot prints left by the team members, suggesting the presence of a different creature​​.

• Track Features and Distinctiveness: The tracks often showed features like deep impressions, clear toe delineations, and no apparent claw marks. Some were estimated to be no older than a few days and were found under specific environmental conditions​​.

• Tracks Near Shooting Incidents: On occasions where team members fired at suspected wood apes, subsequent track examinations were conducted. These tracks sometimes had toe impressions and measured around sixteen inches in length​​.

• Video Documentation: In addition to photographs, videos of tracks were also made, further adding to the documentation efforts​​.

This section of the document provides detailed accounts of footprint findings, suggesting regular and varied presence of the target species, characterized by distinctive track sizes, shapes, and patterns in different areas around the study site.

Other Evidence

The (OPM) provides detailed accounts of uncommon events such as the finding of nut cracking stations, which are also documented in the studies of chimpanzee behavior, as well as the examination of hair and blood samples found in Area X. 

• Nut Cracking Stations (2013): Discovery of two nut cracking stations in Area X, examined and recorded by Kathy Strain. These stations indicated potential tool use or food processing activities by the target species, suggesting intelligent behavior​​.

• Blood Spatters Discovery (2011): Daryl Colyer's observation and subsequent shooting at a hair-covered figure resulted in blood spatters on rocks in a creek. Attempts to collect the blood were challenged by environmental factors and difficulties in locating the source​​.

• Collection of Blood Samples: Mark McClurkan collected some blood-spattered rocks, but rain washed away any remaining blood spatters, complicating DNA extraction efforts​​.

• Hair Samples Findings (2012): After an incident involving Ken Helmer, several long white or light-colored hairs were found on a window screen, suggesting an intrusion by an unknown creature​​.

• DNA Analysis Attempts: DNA tests on the collected blood samples revealed two DNA contributors, one suspected to be human. The testing included real-time PCR and fragment analysis assays​​.

• Challenges in DNA Testing: Testing for blood using generic primers for mammalian mitochondria yielded no DNA amplification, raising questions about the testing methods and the nature of the samples​​.

• Inconclusive Results and Contamination Concerns: Further DNA sequencing indicated a modern human origin for one of the samples, with concerns about potential contamination affecting the results​​.

In summary, the "Other Evidence" section highlights the discovery of nut cracking stations, suggesting tool use by the target species. The "Blood and Hair" section details the collection and analysis of biological evidence, including blood and hair samples, with inconclusive results primarily due to testing challenges and potential contamination. These findings, while not definitive, contribute to the broader understanding of the behaviors and characteristics of the target species in Area X.

Odors

The (OPM) details various instances where team members documented distinct odors that they ascribed to wood apes during their field studies. Here's an overview of the key observations and descriptions of these odors:

• Description of Odors: Odors were often described as reminiscent of a "sweaty horse," musky like primate exhibits at a zoo, or more malodorous and difficult to endure. These odors were linked to wood apes based on team members' experiences and observations​​.

• Noxious and Overpowering Scents: Some odors were described as particularly noxious, like the smell of an “outhouse,” and were powerful enough to heighten the team's sense of awareness​​.

• Odors Permeating the Cabin: At times, the smell was so strong that it permeated the cabins, overwhelming the team members as they attempted to sleep. The smell was often described as strong and sour​​.

• Odors Accompanying Visual Encounters: The odors were sometimes noted in conjunction with visual encounters or auditory experiences, like large animals moving in the woods or the sound of rock impacts​​.

• Odors as Potential Defense Mechanisms: In some instances, the odors seemed almost like defense mechanisms, occurring during times of heightened activity or when team members were advancing in areas where large animals were noted​​.

• Variations in Odor Intensity: The intensity of the odors varied, sometimes being described as skunky, musky, and even like urine. These variations in intensity were noted in different locations and times​​.

• Recurring and Familiar Odors: Some team members experienced recurring and familiar odors during their time in the field, indicating a possible pattern or behavior associated with the target species​​.

• Strongest Odors Noted: In several instances, the odors were so strong that they were believed to be in close proximity to a wood ape, with some odors being the strongest ever encountered by the team members​​.

• Odors Accompanying Animal Sounds: The odors often accompanied sounds of animal movement, growls, and other noises, suggesting a correlation between the presence of the target species and the distinct smells​​.

In summary, the "Odors" section provides detailed accounts of various distinct and often overpowering smells encountered by NAWAC teams, which they attributed to the presence of wood apes. These odors were varied in nature and intensity and were often linked with other sensory experiences such as visual sightings, sounds of movement, and rock impacts.

Reflective Eyes

The (OPM) details various incidents where team members observed large, reflective eyes, believed to be those of the target species. Here's an overview of the key observations and encounters:

• Bright Eyes Incident (2012): Ken Helmer and Daryl Colyer observed a pair of large green reflective eyes watching them from the woods, which then rose up to over seven feet in height and moved toward the mountain​​.

• Variation in Eye Shine Color: Observers noted different colors of eye shine, such as orange and yellowish-white, depending on the angle of illumination and their position​​.

• Encounters with Large Reflective Eyes: Multiple team members reported seeing large reflective eyes in various incidents, often accompanying other sensory experiences like sounds of movement or rock impacts​​.

• Descriptions of Encountered Animals: In some cases, the animals associated with the reflective eyes were described in detail, including size, color, and physical characteristics. These descriptions often matched the expected appearance of the target species​​.

• Reflective Eyes During Surveillance and Camera Traps: The encounters with reflective eyes were often independent of camera traps and surveillance systems, suggesting that the presence of these devices did not necessarily capture the phenomena observed by team members​​.

In summary, the "Reflective Eyes" section provides accounts of various encounters with large, reflective eyes in the woods, believed to belong to the target species. These observations were often accompanied by other sensory experiences and physical descriptions, adding to the body of evidence collected by NAWAC teams.

Close Approaches to the Cabin

The (OPM) details various instances where team members documented close encounters with an unidentified creature near their cabin during field studies. Here's an overview of these incidents:

• Initial Bizarre Approaches (2011): Early in the study, team members experienced bizarre close approaches to the cabin, involving sightings and audible indicators of a large creature's presence​​.

• Physical Impact on Cabin (2012): In one instance, a loud impact on the cabin wall was believed to be the result of an ape hitting or kicking the cabin. This incident left no damage but caused a significant commotion among the team members​​.

• Nighttime Disturbances (2014): Team members Bob Strain, Kathy Strain, and Blake Kellum were awakened by something forcefully striking the cabin wall. The sound was described as an “extremely hard…cabin slap”​​.

• Auditory and Visual Signs of Presence: Travis Lawrence heard a loud “rock on metal” impact near the cabin, followed by a crashing sound and a “mouth pop” close to his window, indicating the proximity of an unknown creature​​.

• Strange Incidents and Sounds: Team member Cotter documented an incident where he heard a sound resembling a rock being dropped close to the cabin. Despite scanning the area, nothing unusual was seen​​.

• Repeated Cabin Strikes: Over a two-hour period, the cabin was repeatedly struck by large and loud rocks, causing team members to repeatedly awaken. During this time, a strong and sour odor was also detected inside the cabin​​.

• Observation of a Dark Mass: Using night vision equipment, Brian Brown observed a dark mass about 100-120 feet away, just inside the tree line. The figure displayed eye shine and a swaying motion before disappearing​​.

In summary, the "Close Approaches to the Cabin" section provides detailed accounts of various close encounters with an unidentified creature near the cabin used by NAWAC teams. These encounters included physical impacts on the cabin, auditory signs such as loud noises and rock impacts, and visual sightings of reflective eyes or dark figures. These incidents contribute to the body of evidence suggesting the presence of a large, unidentified creature in the area studied by the team.

Visual Contacts

The (OPM) outlines various instances of visual encounters with the target species by team members during their field studies. Here's an overview of these visual encounters:

• Total Number of Visual Encounters: Over four years, NAWAC team members observed the species a total of 49 times. Most of these encounters were brief, lasting only two or three seconds, but a few were longer in duration​​.

• Notable Encounters: Some of the most notable and significant visual encounters are highlighted in the document. For instance, on July 3, 2011, team members investigated a sound and had a brief visual encounter​​.

• Encounter with a Large Gray Wood Ape (2012): On May 10, 2012, Daryl Colyer observed a very large gray wood ape while sitting in a mirror blind. The animal was described as large and upright, bipedal, and approximately eight feet tall​​.

• Encounter with a Reddish-Brown Animal (Date Unspecified): Travis Lawrence glimpsed a large reddish-brown animal moving quadrupedally through the woods. Initially, he mistook it for a cinnamon-colored black bear but noted that its back was too flat for a bear​​.

In summary, the "Visual Contacts" section provides detailed accounts of various visual encounters with the target species, characterized by brief but significant sightings of large, upright bipedal animals. These encounters contributed to the overall understanding of the species' appearance and behavior as documented by the NAWAC teams.

Small Apes

The (OPM) discusses the observations and encounters with smaller, ape-like creatures during the course of the Ouachita Project. Here's an overview of these incidents:

• Observations of Smaller Ape-Like Creatures: NAWAC team members reported seeing small, chimp-like animals on several occasions. These creatures were hypothesized to be juvenile wood apes based on their size and behavior​​.

• Active Pursuit and Encounters: In some instances, team members actively pursued these small apes. For example, Colyer tried to flank and follow the movement of these creatures, leading to a wood knock that unnerved him due to its proximity​​.

• Misinterpretation of Size: In one encounter, what was initially thought to be a small figure at the base of a slope turned out to be an animal of significant size, indicating that judging the scale of the creatures could be challenging​​.

• Charging Incident: In a dramatic event, team members heard a huge animal moving quickly and making a lot of noise, as if charging towards them. This animal was later identified as an ape through thermal imaging equipment​​.

In summary, the "Small Apes?" section describes various encounters and observations of smaller ape-like creatures, which are believed to be juvenile versions of the target species. These encounters included active pursuits, auditory experiences, and moments of tension, contributing to the overall understanding of the behavior and characteristics of these creatures in the study area.

Surveillance System and Cameras 

The (OPM) details the use and effectiveness of various surveillance systems and cameras employed during their field studies. Here's an overview of this section:

• Implementation and Impact of Surveillance System: Shortly after the deployment of the surveillance system, the team observed that close approach activities seemed to cease, leading to internal debates about whether the cameras negatively affected the behavior of the target species. Night photos indicated that the infrared (IR) mode of the surveillance cameras was not as covert as expected. Consequently, the use of the system was gradually reduced and eventually discontinued by the end of the 2013 field season​​.

• Initial Excitement and Disappointment: There was initial excitement among the team members about the potential of capturing photos or videos of the target species using a custom infrared surveillance system installed at the cabin. However, this excitement was tempered by previous disappointments with commercially available game cameras and the team's experience with infrared camera traps​​.

• Deployment of Cabin Sentry Cameras: In addition to the surveillance system, the team deployed eight cabin sentry cameras, including four Reconyx Rapidfire cameras and four Reconyx Hyperfires, to augment a more active and assertive approach. Despite this, the camera traps did not always perform as hoped, failing to cooperate even in circumstances where encounters with the target species were highly anticipated​​.

In summary, the "Surveillance System and Cameras" section describes the NAWAC's efforts to use technology to document the presence of the target species. While there was initial optimism about the potential of these tools, the actual results were mixed, with the surveillance system and cameras often failing to capture significant evidence of the target species, leading to adjustments in their usage and eventually the discontinuation of the surveillance system.

Discussion

The North American Wood Ape Conservancy's (NAWAC) Ouachita Project, sheds light on the intriguing quest to prove the existence of the elusive wood ape. This project, which explores the possibility of a North American primate species akin to Sasquatch or Bigfoot, is characterized by its dedication to rigorous scientific investigation and ethical considerations.

The central debate revolves around the need for a type specimen to establish the wood ape's scientific recognition. The document acknowledges the challenges in obtaining such evidence while presenting a range of viewpoints within the scientific community regarding the necessity of physical proof versus non-invasive documentation methods.

Field observations and tactics employed by NAWAC are meticulously detailed, including accounts of sightings, sound recordings, and behavioral traits. These behaviors, such as rock-throwing and wood knocking, are compared to those of known great apes, creating intriguing parallels.

Ecological considerations underscore the wood ape's habitat requirements, emphasizing the importance of preserving the Ouachita Mountain Ecoregion. The document also explores the ethical implications of documenting a potentially new species, with a focus on conservation measures.

In conclusion, the document offers a compelling glimpse into the NAWAC's dedication to science, conservation, and the pursuit of knowledge. It underscores the need for continued research and collaboration in the quest to unravel the mysteries of the wood ape, ensuring the preservation of this unique North American ecosystem. The Ouachita Project stands as a testament to the human spirit of exploration and scientific inquiry, challenging our understanding of the natural world.

• Sources

  The sole source for the creation of this overview is the Ouachita Project Monograph. We highly encourage you to read the document in its entirety.