Skunk ape, also known as the Swamp ape and Florida Bigfoot, is a purported ape-like creature

Skunk ape, also known as the Swamp ape and Florida Bigfoot, is a purported ape-like creature said to inhabit some forests and swamps in the southeastern United States, notably in Florida.

The Skunk ape is sometimes compared to, synonymous with, or called the "cousin" of Bigfoot, a prominent subject within North American popular culture. Articles have been presented in an attempt to prove the Skunk ape's existence, including anecdotal sightings, disputed photographs, audio and video recordings, and footprints. The majority of mainstream scientists have historically discounted the existence of the Skunk ape, considering it to be the result of a combination of folklore, misidentification, and hoax, rather than a living animal. The Skunk ape has permeated into the popular culture of the southern United States, especially in Florida.

DESCRIPTION
The Skunk ape is commonly described as a bipedal ape-like creature, approximately 1.5 to 2.1 m (5 to 7 feet) tall, and covered in mottled reddish-brown hair. The Skunk ape is often reported to be smaller in stature compared to traditional descriptions of Bigfoot from the northern U.S. and Canada. It is named for its foul odor, often described as being similar to a skunk.

HISTORY
The Skunk ape has been recorded as appearing in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama folklore since European settlers first occupied the region. In 1818, local newspapers reported a story from what is now Apalachicola, Florida, that spoke of a "man-sized monkey" raiding food stores and stalking fishermen along the shore. Seminole and Miccosukee culture includes stories of a foul-smelling, physically powerful, and secretive creature called Esti Capcaki, a name which roughly translates to "Furry Tall Man" or "Hairy Giant". In 1929, a sighting occurred at the famous and then recently constructed Perky Bat Tower at the Florida Keys. Witnesses reported that an unknown ape-like beast was drawn to the construction site. After inspecting the bat tower shortly after it had been stocked with bats, the creature shook the tower, driving off the bats before running off into the woods.

In 1942, a man in Suwanee County reported a similar creature rushing out from the brush line while he was driving down an isolated road. It was alleged to have grabbed onto his vehicle and beat on the running board and door for half a mile before departing. In the small community of Bardin, in Putnam County, Florida, beginning in the 1940s, there were a number of alleged sightings of a creature that came to be known as the Bardin Booger. In the 1960s, a rash of sightings in central Florida happened around Alachua County and Marion County. One such report from 1963 involved several members of a family encountering an ape-like creature around their rural home, including one instance of it approaching a window to peer inside at night.

LINK TO ARTICLE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skunk_ape

TAGS: Skunk ape, Florida folklore, Bigfoot, American legendary creatures, American folklore

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