Bigfoot--Fact or Fiction?

Let me just get the joke out of the way—here's Mitch Hedberg on Bigfoot:

That said, there are people that dedicate their lives to researching the elusive Bigfoot (which is both singular and plural, by the way, no matter what the show Finding Bigfoot would have you believe). One of the most well-known groups that does this is the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization. They post articles, examine sightings, and compile evidence on Bigfoot. If you feel like reading up on possibility of Bigfoot, I’d suggest heading over there to get a basis provided by people who seem to be very scientific in their methods.

Another good place to read about theories is on Reddit's Bigfoot subreddit. Here people post links to a variety of articles and videos as well as discuss various theories on Bigfoot. There was also an AMA (Ask Me Anything) featured on Reddit about a year and a half ago. Reddit is an interesting forum for discussion because of the multitude of people who frequent the site—while not all the people who go there are experts, they bring fresh viewpoints to the table.

In case you don't have time to go through those links, here's an overview of common questions and theories about Bigfoot:

• There is skeletal evidence of a species of large ape called Gigantopithecus blacki originating in Western Asia. Many Bigfoot enthusiasts believe that these large apes (or their descendants) are still around. 
• There are roughly 400 reported sightings per year, and experts claim that an estimated 2,000 to 6,000 Bigfoot live in North America. 
• Some characteristics of Bigfoot: They walk upright; are up to 8-feet tall; are covered in black/brown/red fur; emit an unpleasant smell; seem to display intelligence and senses of smell, vision, and hearing; and weigh 500 to 700 pounds.
• One of the most common questions asked is if Bigfoot do exist, why has a corpse never been found? Some explanations offered by enthusiasts: Bigfoot live in densely forested areas and their remains are reclaimed by the wild; Bigfoot carry off and/or bury their dead; and Bigfoot, like some animals, hide when they believe they are going to die. Any of these, combined with the fact that there are believed to be few of these creatures, could explain the lack of remains.

What about you guys? Are Bigfoot real? Have you or anyone you know had a Bigfoot encounter? Let us know what you think in the comments!

And while you're pondering the existence of Bigfoot, go check out Pamela Foster's new book, Bigfoot Blues, as well as the new collection, Bigfoot Confidential: Finally the Truth Revealed.