bigfoot sasquatch
A PEMCO survey found one-third of Northwest residents believe in Bigfoot. (AP Photo)

One-third of Northwesterners believe in Bigfoot

BY Chris Sullivan  on December 20, 2012 @ 11:13 am (Updated: 12:11 pm - 12/20/12 )

I'm not here to take sides on whether Bigfoot is real or not. I'm just here to tell you that a third of people in the Northwest believe the mythical beast could exist.

Pemco Insurance stuck two questions about Bigfoot into one of its surveys on driver behavior this year.

"We simply thought it was something we could tack on to those other survey questions just for fun, "Pemco's Jon Osterberg said.

The questions were straight forward. "Do you believe it's possible Bigfoot could exist? Do you believe you've seen or know someone that has seen one?"

"We asked it like a serious question," Osterberg said. "So we got what we hoped was some serious data."

The survey found 36 percent of people in Washington and 28 percent in Oregon believe it's possible Bigfoot exists. Fourteen percent of Washingtonians believe they've seen or know someone who has seen the beast. Nine percent of Oregonians count themselves in that category.

This is the third time Pemco has posed this series of questions, and Osterberg said the results are similar to what the polls have found before.

Chris Sullivan, KIRO Radio Reporter
Chris loves the rush of covering breaking news and works hard to try to make sense of it all while telling stories about real people in extraordinary circumstances.
More Local News
Top Stories
MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (11)


  • Add A Comment

  • mnpat wrote...
    And they all have been aboard an alien space craft as well I'm sure
    December 20, 2012 12:25 pm
    Maybe....the bigfoots are aliens.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DonVigo wrote...
    I have developed a...
    December 20, 2012 12:29 pm
    Bigfoot Prevention System. My BPS, to the layperson looks much like a rock. However, my rock... Er... BPS is guaranteed to protect you from EVER encountering Bigfoot, almost making it seem as if Samsquanch doesn't actually exist! Pricing will be set as soon as we can gauge the market for demand and gullibility... Uh... NEED of the consumers! Inquries can be sent to seriouslywhatkindofputzbeilivesin@bigfootreally.com
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Bigfoot?
    December 20, 2012 12:45 pm
    I have never seen one and I have spent a lot of times in the woods. Someone may have mistaken me for Bigfoot!

    The day that Obama cuts the deficit in half, like he said he would, is the day that I will believe in Bigfoot!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DonVigo wrote...
    Hey look, a totally nonsensical story!
    December 20, 2012 12:53 pm
    I know... IT NEEDS A POLITICAL SPIN! Dude, your guy lost, get a life. Not everything has to tie in to your childish cries for conservatisim.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Howdy wrote...
    Bigfoot's a myth
    December 20, 2012 3:38 pm
    But we all know Santa Claus is real.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Bigfoot.
    December 20, 2012 5:11 pm
    Do they believe in the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, Unicorns, The Tooth Fairy and Zombies too? Well, it is Seattle, so the Unicorns? Probably....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    5-0
    December 20, 2012 9:21 pm
    Don't forget God, Allah, Jesus, Odin, Ra, Yahweh, Elohim, Jehovah,The Flying Spaghetti Monster and any other invisible or imaginary friends the superstitious among may have.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    @ HPC & Forrest
    December 21, 2012 5:59 am
    Nicholas of Myra and Jesus of Nazareth can be historically documented by at least a few sources. .. So hardly 'mythical' - legendary would be a more proper designation, much more documented that King Arthur (probably existed, but not real name) and less so than George Washington, of whom we have good documentation but several tall tales as well.

    .

    But, sure and you know, unicorns were once real. They just never made it on board the Ark - at least according to The Irish Rovers.

    .

    Merry Christmas.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • TwoTrees wrote...
    In the words of Fox Mulder's office poster:
    December 21, 2012 6:55 am
    I want to believe.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • WT wrote...
    Does not suprise
    December 21, 2012 7:02 am
    Many of those same people that believe in Bigfoot... likely voted for Obama! But, folks DO NOT confuse fictional beings such as Bigfoot, Santa Clause and the Flying Spaghetti Monster with beings that MUST exist to be able to explain why anything exist. If anything now exist something MUST exist that is self-existing and eternal... i.e. GOD! However, there are a few people (many of which teach our children) that maintain something came from nothing.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Saltchucker wrote...
    Head to Lynnwood.
    December 21, 2012 9:15 am
    Theres an army navy surplus store thats been up there forever and they have a head mounted sasquatch right up next to the deer and elk heads.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }