by Oubliette

With our country being increasing populated by developments, malls and superhighways, it is easy to forget that there are still areas where as yet unknown species of animals may exist.  Some of these regions, somewhat surprisingly, exist in the state of Florida.  Known primarily for its tourist destinations, retirement communities and orange groves, nevertheless people have reported sightings of a hairy man-like creature known as the Swamp Ape.

For their first investigation ever on US soil, the DT team head down to the Sunshine State on the trail of this man-like hairy beast, a/k/a the Swamp Monster or the Skunk Ape.  Smelly (hence the latter name) and covered with hair, this creature is said to have been sited in The Everglades, the Ten Thousand Island Area and the Big Cypress National Reserve.  As we are told, this covers an area of over 3 million acres; most of it hard to access, uninviting except to naturalists but nevertheless capable of sustaining an unknown primate population.

The team will be facing the prospect of meeting up with dangerous animals already known to science including bears, panthers (I must admit I did not know the panthers’ range extended into this marshy environment), snakes and, of course, alligators.  Just another day in the park for the DT crew, who have never let the prospect of meeting up with dangerous wildlife stop them from undertaking an adventure.

Guided by over 50 reports and descriptions of the Swamp Ape, we are shown, via their creature creating software, a primate with similar characteristics to that of a Bigfoot:  large size-about 8 feet-domed head, massive chest, protruding brow and, of course that awful stench.  It is indeed bewildering why these animals emit such noxious odors; it is a trademark of the Sasquatch as well but what purpose it might serve is unknown.

After joking with Jael about her choice of reading material, the team climbs into what appears to be a decent DT Mobile and head for the Big Cypress Preserve and into unpopulated areas where real danger may lurk both in water and on the land.  It wouldn’t be an episode of DT without a scene featuring the local inhabitants, and this time it is the senior citizens who take center stage in this land of retirees.  We meet some pleasant ladies who are having problems of their own navigating a coffee machine.  Our hero Josh comes to the rescue, conquering the vending machine monster and finally gets his coffee.  The retirees are treated to their “15 minutes of fame”.  A win-win situation.

True to Florida’s reputation as a tourist mecca, the team arrives at the Official Skunk Ape Research Center and Zoo in Ochopee.  (Note to self: if in Florida, be sure to stop off and pick up a t-shirt and some alligator teeth from this interesting out-of-the-way attraction).  Unfortunately the zoo seemed to be missing one of its snakes; fortunately it was a python.  Josh and Rex help to catch and return the missing inhabitant to its proper home.  Just another day for the DT gang.

Next up we meet Dave Shealey, founder of the Skunk Ape Research Center, who takes Josh to the area where he says he spotted the creature.  Up in a tree      blind, he saw what he believes to have been a Skunk Ape about 100 yards away.  When asked if he thought these beasts were aggressive, he indicated that “There are a lot of people who have come up missing in the Everglades”.  In an area that is home to alligators and panthers, this does not come as a surprise.  Whether a Skunk ape is responsible for any missing persons is something yet to be determined.

After learning that Mr. Shealey prefers to use deer liver as bait for the ape, it’s time to try the local cuisine.  This time it’s Joanie’s Blue Crab Café, where the delicious fare included frog legs and gator meat.  As we know, Josh has never been one to turn down a chance to sample unusual cuisine, and he chomps down on some pieces of gator.  Unlike Jael, he finds it good eats.  (Just as an aside, I have had frog legs at one time, and they have a unique and not unpleasant taste.  But gator…I’ll pass.)

The next witness is Ed Craft, a radio host who sighted the monster while camping and has a sketch of what he saw hanging on the wall.  When queried where they should look for the ape, Ed tells him that “You have to be willing to go where other humans don’t want to go” and Josh replies with “That’s my job, Ed”.  Pure Josh; you have to love him.

Hitching a ride on a swamp buggy, the gang enters the Big Cypress Swamp, where Josh interviews a Seminole Indian, Billy Lestes.  Like many Indian tribes who for centuries have claimed that Big Foot is a real animal, Josh is informed that Billy’s tribe has believed in the Skunk apes’ existence for centuries and that he himself is sure it is indeed a bona fide inhabitant of the area.  Learning that just two days previous there had been numerous sightings of the ape, Josh is quick to jump on the opportunity and meets up with Tom Shirley, a State Game Warden, who will take them deep within the swamp.

They are 3 hours into their trip when Josh exclaims that he sees a big formless shape walking around on the marshy bank.  Unfortunately they were not able to find whatever he had seen, but since they were in the vicinity where Billy Lestes had stated that recent sightings of the ape had taken place, the team disembarks.  Proceeding on foot-not the safest thing to do in the Everglades even if wearing snake proof waders-they reach a clearing and set up their base camp.  IR cameras are placed in a strategic perimeter around the camp as night descends on the swamp.  Track cameras are also set up, complete with bait to lure whatever might be on the hunt that night.

To add to the fun, Rex informs the group that water moccasins and panthers may join the party.  Sharra will be monitoring the cameras and, as usual, the intrepid duo of Josh and Jael set off into the darkness.  When they hear splashes in the water just ahead of them, they place a camera near the source of the sound, hoping to pick up whatever is moving close to their position.  Bicha checks in to say he will place bait in front of the first IR camera and makes sure that the area shows up on the monitor.  An unknown animal is apparently very close, making rustling sounds as it moves about after probably having caught a scent of the just-placed bait. It is going to be an interesting night.

The Everglades is far from a quiet place even in darkness, as Josh and Jael discover as they make their way back to base camp.  Spotting some alligators and hearing splashing near them, they are convinced that some creature “not low to the ground”-thus ruling out alligators-is just off to the side.  Sharra and Bicha spot a pair of eyes through the brush and warn Josh and Jael that something is around the camp.  Although they are not sure what it is, to me it was apparent that a panther had developed an interest in the goings on.  The trip back to camp was not going to be an easy one.

No sooner than Josh proclaims “there’s nothing to worry about” (a phrase one should never use as it seems to invite trouble) a cottonhead snake appears in front of them.  Jael is understandably frightened, although Josh appears to keep his cool as they make their way around the venomous reptile.

It is then that the most interesting event of the evening occurs–a blur crosses in front of a camera, which is then knocked over.  When Sharra and Rex go to investigate, they discover that the bait has disappeared.  Obviously something had taken it, but what?  To add to the mystery, there is rustling in the trees around the two, heightening the tension and possibly setting up a very dangerous situation.  Whatever it is, it is strong enough to break branches as it moves.

Meanwhile, Josh and Jael wade through deeper water and suddenly smell something “obnoxious”.  Could it be a Skunk ape?  May be, but an immediate danger presents itself in the form of an alligator, motionless on the bank and only a few feet away from them.  Jael again is very frightened, and who could blame her?  If Josh himself is terrified, he does an excellent job of keeping a calm demeanor as he leads the way back to the base camp.

Informed of the fallen camera, Josh and Rex take the parabolic amplifier along with a FLIR to try and find what creature has been lurking about.  They don’t have to wait long.  A heat signature appears on the FLIR screen and a pair of eyes are staring at them through the darkness.  This event is followed by the loud sound of something crashing through the brush, but a search to find the source proved futile.

Josh takes their evidence to Mike Dee, the retired curator of the Los Angeles zoo, a fellow who will be familiar to viewers from previous seasons of DT.   His suggestion regarding the thermal image, which is definitely that of an upright creature, is that it might be a bear, although it was impossible to be sure.

The next image, however, clearly shows a panther making its way in front of the camera.  As the curator points out, if this is indeed a Florida Panther, it is a great piece of footage.  This elusive feline is seen only rarely, and it is a real coup for the DT team to have captured one on camera.

That leaves us with the question as to what actually passed in front of the camera lens, showing up as only a blur and impossible to identify.  Could a panther have quickly run past, grabbing the bait and in its hurry knocking it over?  With such a fuzzy image, we can only guess what it might have been.

So-what about the Skunk ape?  Is it real or simply misinterpretation of bear sightings?  If a bear stands on its hind legs, as they are occasionally wont to do, it would certainly approach the height of the Skunk ape as reported by eyewitnesses.  Frightened people often misinterpret what they see.   In the end, the existence of this cryptid will remain a mystery.  Perhaps it is but a myth, passed down through generations and gaining more monstrous and fearsome in the telling.

Still, there are some similarities with Bigfoot, including the alleged height and the one big piece of this puzzle–that terrible stench that  is said to emanate from both animals.  Unlike Bigfoot, there does not appear to be much physical evidence (or at least, other than a fuzzy picture, nothing was shown to the audience).  No footprints or casts are mentioned, which would have helped to determine just what those who live near this marshy environment actually have seen.

Kudos to Josh and crew on this episode.  It is true that they found no actual evidence of the Skunk Ape, but their expedition into the fetid and dangerous swamps resulted in a remarkable video of the ever elusive panther.  Hopefully this segment of film will be passed on to naturalists and other scientists interested in the inhabitants of the Big Cypress Preserve. The saying is certainly true: “You can’t always get what you want.  But if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need”.  Another fine excursion by Josh and company, who take the audience along for the sometimes crazy, often dangerous, but always interesting ride.