Incident Statistics:

Date of Incident:  July 04, 2001
Date of Report:  February 18, 2011
Approximate time of Incident: Approximately 1:00 p.m.
Location of Incident: Northwest Territories, Canada.
Number of Witnesses: (3) Three. Father, Son and fishing guide.
Duration of activity: 5 to 7 minutes.
Weather conditions:  Sunny blue skies, temperature around 50 degrees.

Description of Animal:

Witness described an animal approximately 7’6 in height and an approximate weight of 300 pounds.  The animal is described as having a large wide body which the witness described as thick like an offensive lineman.  The witness described arms that appeared very long, and muscular. The shoulders of the animal are described as; broad, flat arms. The humorous area seemed large and muscular, forearms large and long. The Witness was asked if he had seen hands. The witness reported he did not, but he assumed this animal did have hands as he watched as it extended its arm to grab onto a branch and move it out of its way, as it left the area. The witness also described this animal as being more human like, than gorilla. The witness was asked to elaborate on the "more human like than gorilla," to which the witness responded, "It walked upright, like we do. It didn't get down on all fours and run away, it walked away."

When the witness was asked how he gauged the height of the animal in question the witness stated he used the trees as a height measurement, which do not grow more than 7 feet, due to environmental factors.

The animal had Hair/Fur which was dark, unsure as to whether it was black or brown.  Witness did not know if the hair was neat or matted, and stated he observed hair and not fur. Witness also stated the hair color was consistent over the entire body of the animal. When asked if the witness had collected any hair samples, the witness replied he had not seen any hair to collect.

Tracks were noted, but the witness stated he was not sure what they were. The tracks were in the permafrost, so determining the cause of the tracks was not possible, or length of time the tracks were in this location.

The witness could not distinguish a neck only full back and head broad shoulders. The witness reported the animal had a large conical head, and a face covered with hair.

The witness was asked if there was any odor associated with the animal. The witness replied that Yes, there was and it was a musk smell that lingered in the air, similar to a bear but a smell that was like a fish odor. Witness was asked if he noticed the odor or the animal first. The witness replied he had seen the animal before he smelled it. In fact, he had not smelled anything until getting on land and arriving near the area with the 2 other people in his fishing party. The unknown animal was already gone by the time they arrived at the area where the animal had been.

Witness Statement:

My father and I had waited three years to be able to book reservations for a fishing trip to Great Bear Lake in the Province of Northwest Territories in Canada during the opening week of the fishing season. Because there was still too much ice covering the prime area for fishing near the main lodge we decided to take a bush plane to another, even more remote location that was not covered in ice. Our guide knew of an old trapper’s cabin in this area and knowing that my dad likes to treasure hunt at such places we thought that this would be a good place to check for miscellaneous artifacts. We have done this several times in the past and we like to bring our findings back with us, some of which are now on display at the main lodge.  We were the first ones to be in this area in the summer of 2001. It was on July 4th and it was a sunny day with clear blue skies and fifty degrees temperature. While we were trolling for lake trout we spotted the cabin and headed towards the shore near the cabin. Off to the left and behind the cabin I saw a dark silhouette near some trees.

The silhouette stood out because the colors around the cabin were a brighter green in the early afternoon sun. The trees that were scattered there as well as the grasses and the ground covered in moss and permafrost were all varying shades of green with some brownish color in the grasses.

Standing head and shoulders above and behind the rotting cabin and the trees that were nearby this silhouette seemed to be looking directly at us. We observed its body from mid-thigh to its head. While I could not see any details in the face I could see that it had facial hair. The head appeared large with a conical shape that was broad at the jaw area. Its arms were very long, very long and muscular. It's shoulders were broad, flat arms extended beneath, the humerus area seemed especially large and muscular, the forearms were large and long with what appeared to be hands, very long arms but more human than gorilla like. The entire body was covered in hair that looked more like animal than human hair. The color was consistent all over from what I saw; it was black or a very dark brown.

I asked the guide, if he saw that, he said that he saw it and moved the boat closer.  As we got closer the animal/creature turned to its left and walked left up a band and then down from my left to my right. It walked slowly on two feet with its body upright the whole time with the head above the tops of the trees. As it walked it was using its forearms to move branches small trees and brush out of its way. Its arms would extend well below its hips, longer than my arms in relation to my hips.  As it moved deeper into the trees it was no longer visible. After we landed on shore there was an odor in the air that was musky, similar to that of a bear but more fishy if I had to describe it. It smelled different than anything I have ever smelled.  We observed footprints but because of the moss and permafrost covered ground they were not clear as to what animal's prints they were. We had observed some older tracks on the dirt path to the shoreline that were clearly bear tracks.

I'm unsure what I saw, I know what it was not. It was not a moose, bear, musk ox, caribou or a man. I have never seen a man that tall. I know a basketball player who played in the NBA who is 7 foot 3 inches and he is not as big as what I saw. If I had to describe what I saw and compare it to an animal it was more like a giant human, I mean big. I know that no one else should have been around the area. We were told by the lodge director, our guide and the bush pilot that we were the first people to go into this location that year. We saw no evidence of anyone else being there before us. It is unlikely that someone was there but I don't know what I saw. The head and shoulder area is what made me think it was a Bigfoot. It was humanesque. I was hoping that we would see a musk ox when we set out to explore the area, but we did not.

Geographical Information:

Average Temp

Altitude: 156 m (512 ft.). Area: 31,153 sq. km (12,025 sq. mi.)

The eighth largest lake in the world, Great Bear Lake is 240 km (149 mi.) long and 400 km (249 mi.) across. It is covered with ice for eight months of the year, often as late as July. It has an outflow via the 120 km (75 mi.) Great Bear River to the Mackenzie River. It has an all-year-round population of only 500 inhabitants, most of them around Fort Franklin.

The shores of Great Bear Lake are rich in wildlife, martens are particularly numerous. The shores are roamed by grizzly bears in summer, and the pinewoods are the haunt of elk in winter.

There are numerous water sources in this area, and the lake is populated with Lake Trout, and Grayling among other kinds of fish. Witness reports his fishing party was on this particular lake fishing for Lake Trout.

The geographical location of this sighting makes it rather unique in that this area is extremely remote.

Parts of this large lake lie within the Arctic Circle. On top of that the event took place at a location that was even more isolated from human activity, so far away from the location where the witnesses were staying that they had to be flown in to the location for the day and picked up in the late afternoon or early evening. It should also be noted that this fly in was not part of their original plan for this fishing trip but was a decision made after they had arrived at the lodge where they stayed.

Status of Report:

Open