Why Virginia? After the success of our Ohio model, we wanted to apply the Bigfoot Ohio Sighting Predictor (B.O.S.P.) to another state rich with forests, mountains, and decades of compelling reports. Virginia, with the ancient Blue Ridge Mountains and the sprawling George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, was the perfect candidate.

How it works: We fed our Species Distribution Model credible Bigfoot sighting reports from across Virginia. For each sighting location, the system cross-referenced geospatial data maps to analyze the unique environmental signature of the area. Key variables for Virginia included:

• Topography: The ruggedness of the Appalachian terrain, including elevation, ridge density, and the presence of hollows ("hollers").
• Habitat: Density of mixed hardwood forests and proximity to rhododendron thickets, which provide excellent cover.
• Resources: Proximity to mountain streams, rivers, and natural springs.
• Human Factor: Distance from major roads like the Blue Ridge Parkway and towns, focusing on areas with minimal human development.

The machine learning algorithm identifies the specific combination of terrain, cover, and water sources that are consistently present in high-activity areas. The charts and locations on this page are the direct result of that analysis. 🌲