Sasquatch Could Become Washington's 'Official Cryptid'

LAKEWOOD, WA - Citing his "immeasurable contributions to Washington state’s cultural heritage and ecosystem," a state senator has introduced a bill to make Sasquatch the state's "official cryptid."

State. Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, is sponsoring the bill. A cryptid is a classification of a creature whose existence is in dispute.

"The legislature recognizes that Sasquatch has made immeasurable contributions to Washington state's cultural heritage and ecosystem. The state of Washington further recognizes the importance of preserving the legacy of Sasquatch," Rivers' bill reads. "The species of cryptid commonly called 'Sasquatch' or 'Bigfoot' or 'Forest Yeti' is hereby designated as the official cryptid of the state of Washington."

If Rivers' bill succeeds, it would be somewhat of a coup as other states could claim Sasquatch as a native.

According to Bigfoot experts, the creature has been spotted all over the Pacific Northwest - in California, Oregon, and British Columbia. Bigfoot has even been spotted as far east as Michigan and Florida.

Indeed, the most famous proof of the forest yeti's existence, the Patterson-Gimlin film, was captured in northern California in the Six Rivers National Forest. According to the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, the latest sighting occurred in August on Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

"[It] was 9-10 ft tall and only 6 inches of the sign showed above its head!! It was very black with long arms. So he got down there and it was gone. No path, no broken branches, no noise, nothing. Now he won't go in woods without a gun," said the report, which was written by a hunter's girlfriend.

Rivers' bill, SB 5816, has been referred to the Committee on State Government.

Image via Pixabay