EP 16 – Todd Neiss – Bigfoot Investigator for Over 27 Years

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Bigfoot witness-turned-researcher, Todd M. Neiss has been an active investigator for over 27 years. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, he grew up hearing of these legendary creatures, alternately known as Bigfoot or Sasquatch, but gave it little credibility beyond that of a good old-fashioned campfire tale designed to frighten young campers. All of that changed for Todd in the spring of 1993.

As a Sergeant in the Army's 1249th Combat Engineer Battalion, he came face to face with, not one, but three of the elusive giants in the temperate rain forest of Oregon's Coast Range while conducting high-explosives training. His sighting was independently corroborated by three fellow soldiers who also witnessed these creatures.

Since that fateful day, Neiss has conducted numerous investigations including several long-term expeditions in the Coastal, Cascade and Blue Mountain Ranges of Oregon & Washington, as well as Northern California, Arizona, Alaska, Nebraska and British Columbia. Todd believes that, in the tradition of Jane Goodall, Biruté Galdikas and Diane Fossey, the best way to obtain credible evidence of the existence of these fascinating beings is to insert a small research team into the heart of prime Bigfoot habitat for an extended period of time; ideally for 45 to 60-day rotations. In doing so, he hopes to acclimatize the creatures to their presence and eventually overcome their inherent apprehension of humans.

It is his opinion that these creatures possess a relatively high IQ in comparison to recognized great apes. Neiss’ current theory focuses on that presumed intelligence which he believes fosters an irresistible sense of curiosity...a curiosity which Neiss intends to exploit. By presenting a variety of baits as well as an array of unconventional, non-threatening lures within a pre-designated area, he hopes to successfully collect irrefutable evidence of these creature’s existence. "It is my goal to entice these animals by presenting a non-threatening posture and piquing their curiosity, thereby luring them into a specified area where irrefutable evidence can then be obtained," says Neiss. Once the creatures are officially recognized, his ultimate goal is to establish a management program to ensure their perpetual existence for future generations to appreciate.

Over the years, his research has garnered him international attention. He has been the subject of numerous documentaries and TV programs from the US and Canada to the UK and Germany. He has been featured on such programs as: Unsolved Mysteries, Encounters, To the Ends of the Earth, The UnXpected and has been featured on the Discovery Channel, Travel Channel and National Geographic. He has also appeared on numerous radio & TV talk shows, local newscasts and newspapers. He is currently producing a documentary about his recent expedition in the uninhabited Broughton Archipelago of British Columbia called “Operation: Sea Monkey” completed on October 1st, 2016.

Click or enter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgsN8dQMZGY&t=127s to watch the trailer.

He has been a featured speaker at several colleges and universities, and was a regular contributor to the Annual Sasquatch Symposium series held in British Columbia, Canada from 1996 through 1999. Neiss has instructed classes on Bigfoot for the Audubon Society as well as the Campfire Boys & Girls Society; the former involving both classroom and field work and culminating with an overnight working camp in the "Dark Divide" of Washington State's Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Recently he instructed a class for the Scappoose Middle School’s outdoor school.

Most recently, Neiss was a featured for the History Channel’s “The UnXplained” with William Shatner on August 21, 2020. It will air sometime in late November.

Todd and Diane are the hosts of the annual, invitation-only gathering of international Bigfoot researchers called “Beachfoot.” This retreat is held every summer in Oregon’s temperate Coast Range. This unique event has drawn noted researchers from as far away as Australia, Russia, England, Canada, New Zeeland and nearly every state in the U.S. This year will mark their 14th anniversary of the event.

Neiss co-founded the American Primate Conservancy with his wife, Diane Stocking Neiss five years ago. The conservancy was granted a “Domestic Non-Profit Corporation” status by the state of Oregon On October 15, 2015. Their primary mission is “the discovery, knowledge, research, recognition, and protection of the Sasquatch.” The organization has been quietly organizing expeditions, conducting investigations, and participating in multi-media and public speaking engagements in an effort to promote their agenda. They have been actively pursuing grants, donations, sponsorships and volunteers for ongoing research projects.

Ultimately, they plan to establish a world-class “Bigfoot Interpretive Center” in the Pacific Northwest as a showcase for promoting public awareness and education regarding these amazing creatures. The facility would include: an interactive museum, auditorium/conference center, art gallery, multi-media studio, classrooms, library, forensics laboratory, nature walk and outdoor amphitheater.

A veteran of the Iraq War, Neiss recently retired with honors from the U.S. Army; where he served for over 20 years.

When not working on the project, writing, or conducting research, Todd enjoys fishing, hunting, hiking and camping throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Todd and his wife currently live near Mount Hood, east of Portland, Oregon. Nestled in the beautiful Cascaded Mountains, the “Chateau de Squatch” is in an ideal location for which to conduct their research and serves as the temporary headquarters for the conservancy.

The American Primate Conservancy has a website (www.americanprimate.org) which provides information about the Conservancy, projects past and present, theories, and more. Anyone with a legitimate sighting is encouraged to contact Neiss at 971-570-0097 or by e-mail at americanprimate@aol.com. He promises to treat every report confidentially, respectfully and professionally.