Baiting and Attracting

Another method in attempting to capture a Sasquatch on film would be to appeal to its assumed natural sense of curiosity. There have been many reports of encounters at camp sites and other gatherings. It is possible that a camera simply set at the edge of a campsite, or on a trail or similar location leading to one, might get lucky and capture something coming in to check out all the noise. One advantage of this type of set-up is that stealth, at least for the most part, seems not to be of any particular importance. Indeed, a camp full of kids, music and other interesting sounds, may well attract the attention of a curious animal. A camera or two placed along the perimeter may just be the one to capture a sasquatch on film, and placing bait nearby may increase the chance of success.

Food is the most obvious bait, and perhaps the most fraught with possible problems. First, we have no idea for sure what these animals prefer to eat. Their diet may well be regional in nature, and what may be attractive in one location or season may not be in another. Also, when leaving bait of any type, but particularly food, the chance of leaving lingering human scent is very great. As to the type of food to use, that will be as much guesswork as anything. I personally think that natural raw foods would be best — fruits and meats as opposed to manufactured, processed foods — but this is admittedly pure guesswork. If food is to be used as bait, it is imperative that caution is taken to leave NO human odor on it. This may make no difference at all, but it’s easy enough to accomplish, so why not make the minor effort? Use latex gloves when handling food, wash all food in clean water and baking soda prior to use, and rinse completely. This will eliminate human odor, which can do nothing but improve your chances of success. Food baits should, if possible, be placed in as natural a setting as possible. If apples are used for example, in an area with apple trees, put them near the tree. Bait should also be placed in such a manner as to try to reduce the chance of non-target animals being attracted. If feasible, place bait off the ground, for instance. Cameras should be placed within 10-20 feet of the bait, and should be thoroughly hidden if at all possible. Methods for doing this will be addressed later in the Stealth section.

Another type of bait to consider is “trinkets.” This is a controversial subject, but one that has been used in other primate studies with some good results. The basic idea is to appeal to the curiosity of the subject. I think most will agree that if sasquatch do exist, they are likely relatively intelligent, and like all great apes, possess a strong sense of curiosity. Many alleged sightings and encounters touch on this possibility, and capitalizing on it may be a viable method of baiting. This may be a method best saved for use around human activity, such as homesteads, camp locations, or areas with frequent sighting reports. The method is really very simple: Put something in front of a camera that may make an animal with at least great ape intelligence curious. This could be nearly anything; a ball, bells, something shiny, something colorful, something that could be used as a tool. In this case, it’s pretty much up to the imagination. As stated earlier, the location for a set using this method would almost certainly be dependent on previous activity, as an animal willing to investigate a human location or habitation may be also be willing to take a look at something pretty and shiny sitting out in an obvious location.