In 1962,  Loren Coleman documented a significant find near Decatur, Illinois, a footprint he attributed to a North American Ape or "NAPE." Coleman and his colleagues found an apelike track featuring an opposable left toe near Steven's Creek.  Coleman proposed that such creatures might inhabit the bottomlands and forests of the Mississippi Valley. He later reported similar sightings and tracks in other regions, including Florida and Oklahoma. 

To note, the NAPE isn’t necessarily a single species all on its own, but is a moniker for a variety of potential species on the NA continent. 

I, and others, theorize that  NAPE sightings may often be confused as a Bigfoot sighting. One particular “ local Bigfoot variant” I believe is actually a NAPE being misidentified is the Florida Skunk Ape. See brief comparisons below:

NAPE Characteristics:
* Smaller than Bigfoot, often reported at 5–7 feet tall.
* More agile and ape-like than Bigfoot.
* Often associated with bottomlands, river valleys, and thick forests. 
* Sometimes described as having more ape-like behavior.

Skunk Ape Characteristics
* Typically 5 to 7 feet tall 
* Leaner and more agile than Bigfoot.
* Associate with swamps, forests, and wetlands
* Often described as more ape-like in posture and movement.
* Moves quickly, sometimes quadrupedally like an ape.

While descriptions vary, many different “local Bigfoot” prints tend to show differentiation from the classic PNW or Patty track. The Coleman IL track, Skunk Ape, Momo, Fouke Monster, Honey Island Swamp Monster, Ohio Grassman and others tend to show different foot morphology indicating a potential different speciation. 


While Bigfoot is often correlated with being a Hominin, the NAPE is often classified as distinctly Hominid. I understand the craziness of postulating the existence of (at least) 2 different North American ape species when 1 is so contentiously argued, but it seemingly provides a better explanation for the numerous ape like sightings in different habitats across the NA Continent. 

Dr. Meldrum has criticized the idea of Sasquatch existing in the eastern US as the habitat is not nearly as suitable for a large primate in comparison to the PNW. Could the sightings in Appalachia, the Midwest, the south east, etc be explained by a smaller NAPE instead? I believe it’s a theory worth investigating. I’m anxious to hear your thoughts. 

Bigfoot’s cousin(s), the NAPE