Cryptid evidence collecting and research is a unique and often misunderstood field that aims to gather evidence on those elusive creatures like Bigfoot and Dogmen that remain unverified by mainstream science. These creatures, known as cryptids, include famous examples like Bigfoot and the Beast of Bray Road, but also other creatures like the Loch Ness Monster, the Yeti, Goat Man, and the Chupacabra.
Proper evidence collecting requires a blend of scientific techniques, field skills, and patience. This article will explore the essential methods and tools for gathering credible evidence of cryptids while emphasizing the importance of maintaining a methodical approach in this exciting field of investigation.
The Role of Citizen Scientists in Research and Evidence Collecting.
Scientific research isn’t limited to labs and universities. Many breakthroughs in cryptozoology come from ordinary people—called citizen scientists—who are passionate about the search for cryptids. Citizen science allows individuals to contribute valuable data and observations that can be used by researchers to explore new possibilities.
In cryptid research, this often involves documenting sightings, collecting physical evidence, and analyzing tracks or sounds that may be linked to cryptids. A fantastic example of this is Dr. Melba Ketchum’s Sasquatch Genome Project.
Citizen scientists play a crucial role in gathering collecting evidence, as their contributions often represent the first pieces of the puzzle in uncovering discoveries. Whether it’s a large unidentified animal body, footprint found in a remote forest or a strange vocalization heard at night, citizen scientists are on the front lines of cryptid investigation.
Evidence Collecting Equipment and Tools.
Successful cryptid research depends on the right tools and techniques. Below are some key pieces of equipment that every cryptid investigator should consider carrying when venturing out into the field.
Cameras and Video Recorders:
Cameras and Video Recorders: High-resolution cameras and video recorders are essential for documenting encounters. Trail cameras can be left in remote locations to capture footage of passing creatures, and handheld cameras can be used to document tracks or strange occurrences.
DSLR Cameras
I love a good DSLR camera. I own a Nikon D3400 and I love it. I have several lenses for it including the 70-300m lense. But as a field camera…, if you are going solo, it can be a huge, bulky hindrance carry it around with all the other gear you may have with you. I depends on your camera preference right? A DSLR camera is a great asset around a base camp or if you have a photographer on your investigative team whose gear load-out is primarily camera tech.
Point and Click Cameras
Now these are awesome cameras to carry and one of the most important tools for evidence collecting. My only complaint is the lack of a real zoom lense. Most of these have some zoom capability, but not the zoom quality you need or would expect with a DSLR 300m zoom lense for long-distance pics. The great news is these cameras are lightweight, compact, and fit in your shirt pocket. I’ve owned a few Sanyo cameras in the past decade or two and they are great little cameras.
I got my eye on a KODAK PIXPRO Digital Camera. Now, I have a lot of camera gear. I have stuff for field work and stuff I use for studio work. Not only the cameras, but lighting equipment, microphones, tripods, camera mounts, and more… This Kodak would be an awesome asset to have for its portability, plus it shoots HD video too.
This thing can shoot 1080p HD video, it’s lightweight, it’s waterproof, it’s shockproof, 16 Megapixel, uses 32 gb sim cards, has 4x zoom, and has image stabilization. As I said, it is a great asset to have as part of your evidence collecting photography gear and PERFECT for those quick photo shoots.
Action Cameras
What can I say about action cams? I love these things. I have 4 I think. I have an older Go Pro Hero 7, a AKASO Brave 4 Pro Action Camera, and 2 AKASO EK7000 Action Cameras.
GoPros are buku expensive and I find the Akaso’s to be more in my price range and they do a great job shooting video when evidence collecting. My Akaso of choice is the AKASO Brave 4 Pro. It shoots awesome video but the biggest deal for me is the remote controller for taking pictures or video and image stabilization. Image stabilization is important if you are moving around with the camera. Stabilization reduces the “camera shake”.
My two Akaso EK7000’s I use for “B-roll“. B-roll cameras are the ones set up on the side of the subject. Their purpose is to capture secondary video content. One important thing to note about the Akaso EK7000’s is they do not have image stabilization, and they retail for about $70. Be sure when you order an action camera to get the accessory kit for it.
CamCorders
Camcorders are a great bargain to be honest and another must-have tool when collecting evidence. They work well both indoors and outdoors. You can use them for field research or for podcasting. And they often come with varying options as a kit. The camera, shotgun mic, external light and a “grip” like this Minolta MN4KPRO Pro Camcorder Kit. It’s under $250 and it’s an awesome bargain.
If you do not want a kit, there are several available that have just the cameras. Shop around and find one you like and fits your requirements. These camcorders are pretty cheap, can record video in IR (infrared ie: night vision) and can be easily replaced if they get damaged.
Spy Cameras
What.., you can use a spycam for collecting evidence? Some years ago there used to be a YouTube channel called “Cascade Bigfoot“. It has since disappeared but the guy caught some incredible audio footage with his cameras. Most notable were these tiny clip-on “spy cameras” he used. I bought a couple on Amazon 4 or 5 years ago and they were like $11 or so.
He had several of these and as he walked a trail he could clip these on some brush, or a branch and he’d leave them recording as they walked away and would retrieve them on the way back and then scan the sim card later to see if it captured any audio or video.
The cool stuff was the spy cam he clipped in the interior of his truck. You could hear him and his partner walk away and 5 minutes later in the silence, you’d suddenly hear little “thunks” as a squatch was tossing pebbles and pine cones at his truck, or gravel crunching as a squatch walked around his truck checking things out.
My spy cams are no longer available. Obviously outdone by technological advances in the past few years. They still work great though. The image you see here to the left is pretty accurate for a size comparison. This mini-body camera would work much better than my old ones do. And it has a feature mine doesn’t, and that is Night Vision tech. Like I said, these can be a handy asset to your tech inventory when collecting evidence.
Thermal Cameras
So now we jump into a different realm of affordability here. Most of the point-and-clicks and camcorders can shoot in Infrared. So that gives you some night-time capability as long as there is some light for the infrared to use. But if you want serious night vision capability for collecting evidence, you are looking at thermal camera technology and that is muy expensivo tech.
I’ve seen several smartphone thermal cameras for Android and iPhones and you are looking at a bottom price of around $200 going on up to $400 for one. The most popular thermal cameras I see being used are the monoculars made by AGM Global Vision. They start out costing around $400’ish and go up to over $1000 for one. If you can swing it, go with an AGM…
The ability to take pictures or record videos is very important when it comes to collecting evidence. So be prepared. Additional gear you should consider would be extra batteries for your cameras, extra sim cards for your video and audio gear, flash drives to store your data, a lightweight tripod, and a clamp style camera mount. You may also want to consider portable battery-powered camera lights for lighting and maybe a folding portable solar panel to recharge your gears batteries when out in the field. I keep all my stuff organized and stored in a tote I can toss in my truck.
Just make sure a day or two before your road-trip, DON’T FORGET to charge all your tech gear batteries.
Audio Recorders:
Audio Recorders: Cryptids are often heard before they are seen. High-quality audio recorders, including parabolic microphones, are critical for capturing strange vocalizations or sounds that could be linked to cryptid activity when you are collecting evidence.
So there are a couple of things to consider when shopping for audio recorders. One is sound activation, the other is the ability to pull audio content off the recorder
So why is sound activation important? Some investigative teams build and deploy recorders for collecting evidence. They leave these devices out in the boonies for weeks or months at a time. So the ability to turn on and off automatically is important. I’m not going to make any recommendations here, but you can do your research to find one that suits your sound activation needs.
Next is the ability to move your data from the recording device to a laptop or desktop. Find one with a data cable that allows you to easily do this.
My favorite recorder is the Garmay Upgraded 48GB Digital Voice Recorder. I have 2 of these and they work great outdoors and indoors. They get a lot of use and are not that expensive.
Casting Kits.
Casting Kits: Trackways and footprints are some of the most common forms of cryptid evidence collecting. A casting kit, complete with a can of hairspray, cardboard strips, water, Plaster of Paris, Hydrocal, or Dental Stone, some marker flags, and a ruler. These things allow a citizen scientist to create detailed replicas of any footprints or impressions found in the field while collecting evidence.
Plaster of Paris tends to crumble and degrade at a much faster rate than Dental Stone. The cardboard strip is to build a retaining wall around the track as a form for the casting material. This produces a thinker cast and makes it more stable and less likely to crack. Dental Stone does not need to be as thick as Plaster of Paris for the same durability
When out in the field I carry a couple cases of bottled water and I store my plaster material in gallon ziplock bags. This way I can pour in water and mix it in the bag, then pour it.
Casting Process And Tips.
Before attempting to cast a footprint, it’s crucial to take comprehensive photographs of it first. In some cases, casting can damage or even destroy the footprint. Make sure a ruler is included in the shot for scale. Avoid using objects like boots for scale; instead, a cloth tailor’s tape works well.
Capture the footprint from various angles, circling it as you photograph. This provides some context about the surrounding environment and helps with understanding what might have been happening when the print was made.
If the footprint is in dry, powdery soil, casting material can easily ruin it. In such cases, applying several light coats of hairspray (cheap Dollar Store brands will work just fine) can stabilize the dust. Simply mist it over the footprint. The hairspray dries quickly and acts as an adhesive, holding the surface dust together. Even if the footprint isn’t in dust, using hairspray on any print can help without causing harm.
When you’re ready to cast, gently sprinkle dry casting powder into the footprint. Using a shaker (like one used for grated cheese) works well for this. After that, mix the casting material to a consistency similar to light pancake batter—not too thick but not overly runny.
Instead of pouring it directly, carefully let the casting material dribble from your gloved hand onto the print’s inner surface. Pouring directly onto the print can distort or destroy fine details. Once the inner part is covered, you can gradually fill the entire footprint, letting the material overflow slightly.
Patience is key for the next step, where most people make mistakes. Casting materials like plaster of Paris will start to harden within minutes, but this doesn’t mean they’re ready to be removed. Wait several hours before attempting to lift the cast out. The longer you wait, the better the chances of keeping it intact. Once removed, let the cast harden at home for at least 24 hours before cleaning it. Loose debris like pebbles or pine needles can be carefully brushed or washed away, but take care during this delicate process.
Rulers.
A ruler allows you to show scale and size proof of an object you’ve discovered and are measuring. I recommend carrying three rulers when in the field. A 25 foot tape measure, seamstress tape measure, and a Square Ruler (this you can print and use next to an object to show scale)
GPS Devices and Notebooks.
GPS Devices and Notebooks: Documenting the location of evidence with GPS devices ensures that every detail is recorded accurately. Field notes, sketches, and GPS coordinates help researchers create a detailed record of the encounter site.
DNA Collection Kits.
Physical evidence, such as hair, scat, or blood, can potentially provide DNA samples. A field DNA kit is used to collect and preserve DNA samples in field conditions, often for scientific research, and wildlife forensics. Almost everything listed here can be obtained from Amazon or your neighborhood drug store.
The following items are typically included in a field DNA kit, along with their purposes:
Sterile Swabs.
Purpose: Sterile swabs are used to collect DNA samples when cryptid evidence collecting from surfaces, objects, or biological materials (e.g., blood, saliva, or tissue).
Why: Sterility prevents contamination of the DNA sample, which is crucial for obtaining accurate results.
Collection Tubes (e.g., microcentrifuge tubes or sterile containers).
Purpose: Used to store and transport DNA samples, such as swabs, hair, or tissue.
Why: Proper storage helps preserve the integrity of the sample for later analysis in a laboratory.
Ethanol or Isopropyl Alcohol.
Purpose: Used to preserve DNA samples or to clean tools and surfaces to avoid contamination.
Why: Alcohol acts as a preservative for DNA samples and helps prevent degradation.
Gloves (Nitrile or Latex).
Purpose: Worn to prevent contamination of DNA samples with the collector’s own DNA. I suggest a Nitrile Medical Exam Gloves based glove.
Why: Human skin cells, sweat, and oils can easily contaminate samples, leading to inaccurate results.
Face Masks.
Purpose: Worn to prevent contamination of samples from saliva, breath, or other biological material from the person collecting the sample.
Why: Reduces the risk of contaminating the sample with airborne particles or droplets.
Tweezers or Forceps.
Purpose: Used to handle small samples (e.g., hair, feathers, or tissue) without direct contact.
Why: Handling samples with bare hands can introduce contamination, while tweezers allow for sterile collection.
Scalpel or Blade.
Purpose: Scalpels are used to cut or extract tissue samples for DNA analysis while cryptid evidence collecting.
Why: A sterile cutting tool ensures precise collection of samples without contamination.
Sample Labels and Permanent Marker.
Purpose: Used to label collected samples with information such as date, location, and type of sample.
Why: Proper labeling ensures that samples are tracked correctly and can be linked to the corresponding data.
Chain of Custody Forms.
Purpose: A form to record the handling and transfer of samples from collection to analysis.
Why: Ensures that the integrity of the sample is maintained and that there is a clear record of who has handled it.
Storage Bags (e.g., sterile plastic or paper bags).
Purpose: Used to store larger biological samples or to hold sealed collection tubes.
Why: Helps prevent contamination and preserves the sample during transport.
Disinfectant Wipes.
Purpose: Hydrogen Peroxide based wipes are used to clean surfaces and tools before and after sample collection.
Why: Ensures that tools and surfaces are free from contaminants that could compromise the DNA samples.
Field Notebook.
Purpose: Field notebooks are used in cryptid evidence collecting to record observations, sample locations, and other relevant data during the collection process.
Why: Provides a detailed record of fieldwork that can be referenced during analysis and reporting.
These items are chosen to ensure the collection of high-quality DNA samples that are free from contamination, properly preserved, and easily tracked through the collection and analysis process.
Techniques for Evidence Collecting.
Collecting evidence on cryptids requires a systematic and careful approach. Your safety is important. Treat each investigation site as if it were a crime scene, where the goal is to gather as much untainted evidence as possible. Here are some techniques to ensure your evidence is credible:
- Secure the Encounter Site: As soon as you arrive at the scene, secure the area to prevent contamination. This means keeping unnecessary people out of the area and being mindful of where you step. The integrity of the site is paramount to collecting valuable evidence.
- Document Everything: Record the scene using photos, videos, and detailed notes. Take measurements of any tracks, and photograph them from multiple angles with a scale for reference. If you find hair or other physical evidence, photograph it in place before collecting it.
- Collect Physical Evidence Carefully: Each piece of physical evidence, whether it’s hair, scat, or a footprint, should be handled with care to avoid contamination. Use gloves and store evidence in separate containers to preserve its integrity. Label everything meticulously, noting the location and time of collection.
- Conduct a Systematic Search: Use a grid pattern to search the area thoroughly. This ensures that no potential evidence is overlooked. A systematic search also helps create a more complete picture of the site, which can be invaluable in later analysis.
- Chain of Custody: Maintaining a chain of custody is crucial when dealing with physical evidence. This process tracks who has handled the evidence and ensures that it remains intact and uncontaminated until it can be analyzed by experts.
The Importance of Collaboration in Cryptid Research.
Cryptid research is not a solo endeavor. Collaboration with other researchers and organizations can greatly enhance the credibility and reach of your findings. Sharing data, comparing evidence, and working with labs to analyze samples are all essential steps in turning your cryptid research into a recognized scientific inquiry.
Working together also helps to validate evidence. Multiple reports or pieces of evidence from different researchers can provide stronger support for the existence of a cryptid. By collaborating, cryptid researchers can create a more comprehensive and convincing body of cryptid evidence.
Cryptid Books
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Final Thoughts on Evidence Collecting.
Collecting evidence is an exciting and challenging pursuit. Whether you are a seasoned cryptozoologist or a new citizen scientist, your contributions are valuable in the quest to uncover the truth behind these mysterious creatures. By following proper techniques and using the right tools, you can ensure that your findings add to the growing body of evidence in this fascinating field.
The search for cryptids is far from over, and each new piece of cryptid evidence brings us one step closer to answering the age-old question: Are these elusive creatures real, or are they simply the stuff of legend?