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Scouting for Bigfoot

Scout leader Joe Bilyeu and the troop present plasters of tracks discovered during their research. (Photo credit: The Tennessean via Cheri Reeves/Robertson County Times)
Scout leader Joe Bilyeu and the troop present plasters of tracks discovered during their research. (Photo credit: The Tennessean via Cheri Reeves/Robertson County Times)

Producers of the Animal Planet television series Finding Bigfoot might be Sasquatch-searching experts, but even they were impressed with the tracking skills possessed by a Boy Scout troop from the Middle Tennessee Council.

For years, this adventurous troop has been going on expeditions to see if legends about a “Tennessee Bigfoot” are true. The boys took an interest in this local yeti theory about four years ago, according to their Scout leader Joe Bilyeu, and they have been using their keen Scouting abilities for the fact-finding mission ever since.

The age-old monster folklore has taken the Scouts on several wilderness adventures. They have camped, canoed, ridden on horseback, and even spelunked through caves for the sake of their Sasquatch research.

Bilyeu says the troop has complied an exceptional collection of evidence related to the theory and Animal Planet producers agree, according to the Tennesseean.

Producer Colin Peeples was surveying for the show when word of the Scouts’ work piqued his interest. He and his team went to investigate just how much the troop had discovered and before long, they were planning a new episode.

“The producers came here and looked at the evidence books we have…we toured some farms and the location where the Cub Scouts meet. They’re scouting where they could film for a future episode,” Bilyeu told the Tennesseean.

Confident in their research, the Scouts eagerly presented their findings to the producers. Much to their gratification, their years of diligent data collection was commended.

“We were interested in their casts of footprints in their Scout den and tons of evidence. It was neat to get up there and see the group that was really into finding Bigfoot,” Peeples shared with the Tennesseean.

Peeples’ curiosity was particularly sparked by a mysterious photograph that included a tall, unknown animal in the background. The seasoned “Squaching” veteran admitted, “they had some compelling stuff.”

The Scouts’ work was highly complimented by Peeples, who told the Tennesseean, “it was really nice to see all of the expeditions these Scouts were going on. It was neat seeing the kids getting involved like that.”

You can learn more about the troop’s Sasquatch escapades by reading the full article by the Tennesseean.

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Rochelle

Rochelle Randles is a communications specialist at the Boy Scouts of America. She enjoys sharing incredible adventure stories within the Scouting community and beyond. If you have story ideas or questions, reach out to us at communications@scouting.org.