An Analysis of Mike Patterson's Hoaxing (Sasquatch Ontario)
Mike Patterson, has generated controversy in the Bigfoot community after being accused multiple times of fabricating his encounters and evidence.
An Analysis of Mike Patterson's Hoaxing (Sasquatch Ontario)
The man behind Sasquatch Ontario, Mike Patterson, has generated controversy in the Bigfoot community after being accused multiple times of fabricating his encounters and evidence. His work was first made public with its assertions of having had direct communication with Sasquatch, however, several academics and former colleagues have since refuted these claims. Let's examine the several factors that have raised doubts about his reliability.
1. "Mindspeak" and Extrasensory Experiences
Patterson asserted that he used "mindspeak" to converse with "Sasquatch people telepathically.” This was a divergence from conventional Bigfoot research, which usually concentrates on tangible evidence such as hair, tracks, or vocalizations. Many people in the community were frightened by his claims that he received signals from Sasquatch through mental channels because they dabbled in the paranormal. According to critics, such assertions are baseless and unsupported by any substantiated information (YouTube; Squatchdetective.com).
2. The Incident of "Sasquatch Eye"
One of Patterson's most important pieces of evidence was a video showing a close-up of a Sasquatch's eye. Later on, it was discovered that this was a hoax—Darryl Strumm, a former associate of Patterson's—that turned out to be the eye of a fish. Patterson's increasingly outlandish assertions infuriated Strumm, who had allowed Patterson's expeditions to stay on his land. Eventually, Strumm revealed the falsification of this proof. Patterson's reputation was seriously harmed by this occurrence (Squatchdetective.com; YouTube).
3. Do Real or Fake Audio Recordings Exist?
In addition, Patterson released audio files he claimed included voices belonging to Sasquatch. The recordings were essential to his story since they purportedly featured voices conversing in a language other than English or using "mindspeak." Strumm would eventually admit to making the vocalizations himself and even demonstrated it. This prompted claims that Patterson had made up the tapes to support his statements (YouTube) (Bigfoot Evidence).
4. The Strange "Orb" Occurrences
Over time, Patterson continued to make increasingly fanciful assertions, claiming that Sasquatch might manifest as brilliant spheres of light. It was claimed that this "orb phenomenon" proved Sasquatch creatures were capable of extraordinary feats. But this turned off a lot of people in the Bigfoot research community since these kinds of paranormal claims were perceived as attempts to draw attention away from the lack of hard proof (Squatchdetective.com; YouTube).
5. Allegations of Video Manipulation
Patterson claimed in several of his recordings to have captured Sasquatch interactions, however these have now been questioned for possible manipulation. Critics have occasionally pointed out odd editing cuts or visual distortions that seem to indicate that the video has been manipulated. Although Patterson insisted that these recordings were authentic, the discrepancies only served to heighten skepticism among observers and academics (Squatchdetective.com).
6. Negative Support and Criticism from the Community
The Bigfoot research community widely criticized the claims of telepathy, the fish eye deception, shaky audio recordings, and increasingly odd paranormal claims as a result of these variables. As the evidence against Patterson grew, even people who had previously supported his work started to turn away. Many today consider his early research—the "Bigfoot Evidence"—to have been part of a sophisticated deception designed to attract attention rather than actual scientific study.
7. Persistent Doubt
Some people still believe Patterson's experiences are real, even in the face of overwhelming proof to the contrary. But much of the Sasquatch research community has dismissed him as a hoaxer. Many claim that if his interactions with Sasquatch were real, he would have delivered consistent, verifiable results by now. Rather, Patterson's assertions continue to be surrounded by debate and have little in the way of reliable evidence (Squatchdetective.com; Bigfoot Evidence).
To sum up, my visit to the cottage where Mike Patterson allegedly had Bigfoot encounters only serves to confirm my suspicions. There are a lot of cottages in the vicinity, most of them only a few feet apart (30' at most), therefore, it is quite unlikely that Bigfoot would frequent such a busy and noisy region. When one takes into account Darryl Strumm's admission that many of the vocalizations Patterson claimed to have captured were produced from his bathroom window, the absurdity of the vocalizations becomes even more apparent. I find it hard to believe that the neighbours would value such "Bigfoot calls" so near to their residences! These specifics add credence to the increasing body of evidence suggesting that Patterson's statements are extremely speculative, most likely contrived, and disconnected from reliable field research. The Man is an embarrassment to any serious researchers in Ontario and beyond.
In the hunt for elusive species like Sasquatch, Patterson's narrative serves as a warning about the value of verified proof in cryptozoology and the perils of sensationalism.