Field notes

A quick glossary of terms you'll see used around the site and the wider Bigfoot research community.

Sasquatch: Another name for Bigfoot, more common in the Pacific Northwest. Used interchangeably with "Bigfoot" across the research community.
Squatch: Short for Sasquatch — the creature itself, or a sighting/sign of one.
Squatcher: Someone who researches or investigates Bigfoot.
Squatching: The act of going out to look for Bigfoot — searching, listening, and watching for sign.
Squatchy: Terrain, sounds, or conditions that seem like good Bigfoot habitat or activity — thick cover, remote, near water, that kind of feel.
Class A: A clear, direct sighting under conditions where misidentifying another animal is unlikely.
Class B: A sighting at a distance or in poor visibility, or an encounter based on sound alone (a compelling audio recording is still Class B, never Class A, since there's no visual confirmation).
Class C: A second-hand or untraceable report — someone recounting a story they heard, not their own experience.
Wood knock (tree knock): A series of 3–4 knocks against a tree, heard from a distance. Many researchers believe it's a form of communication, though there's no consensus on why — or whether it's really Bigfoot at all.
Tree structure / stick structure: Branches, logs, or saplings arranged in a way — leaning, woven, or crossed — that some researchers interpret as deliberate construction rather than storm damage or wildlife.
Habituation: A research approach based on building familiarity with a presumed local Bigfoot over time — regular, respectful visits to an area, sometimes leaving food, so it gets used to a human presence.
Habituation site: A specific location where this kind of ongoing, repeated activity has been reported.
Flap: A cluster of multiple sightings reported in one area within a short span of time.
Skunk Ape: A regional name for Bigfoot most associated with the southeastern U.S., especially Florida — known for its notably bad smell.