Is the Alabama Sasquatch Real? Latest Sightings & Proof

The Alabama Sasquatch (Alabama Bigfoot) is the regional term for a large, bipedal, hairy humanoid creature reported throughout Alabama.

Like the better-known Bigfoot or Sasquatch of the Pacific Northwest, the Alabama Sasquatch is typically classified as an unknown primate or hominid.

However, sightings in Alabama feature notable regional variations, including descriptions of a distinct white-furred variant known locally as the White Thang or Slough Thing.

Sightings, documented since at least the mid-20th century, primarily occur in the state’s dense forests and swampy regions.

Overview

Who or What Is Alabama Sasquatch?

The term “Alabama Sasquatch” is a broad designation for the ape-like, bipedal creatures encountered in Alabama. Unlike the beast commonly associated with the Pacific Northwest, the Alabama variant exhibits diverse characteristics and regional names.

It is considered part of the larger North American Sasquatch phenomenon. Still, it is particularly associated with the Deep South’s unique ecosystems. In its most common form, the creature is described as a large, powerfully built hominid that moves upright on two legs.

One of the most notable local iterations is the White Thang—a creature predominantly reported in the northern regions of the state, such as Etowah, Morgan, and Blount Counties.

This variant is specifically described as having shaggy, white fur. It is sometimes said to possess glowing red eyes and an unnerving, high-pitched scream.

Another local designation is “Little Foot,” a smaller alleged hominid reported in the Little River Canyon National Preserve, noted for its diminutive height of 3 to 4 feet. These variations indicate a collection of cryptid reports within Alabama’s folklore, all generally falling under the umbrella of a hairy, bipedal “wild man.”

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What Does Alabama Sasquatch Look Like?

Descriptions of the Alabama Sasquatch generally align with the North American Sasquatch prototype, but with specific regional details. The creature is consistently described as a large, muscular, bipedal figure covered in hair.

The overall estimated height typically falls between 6 and 9 feet (1.8–2.7 m), with reports of the White Thang variant reaching up to 9 or 10 feet. Standard sightings often describe the creature’s hair as dark brown or black.

Distinctive features reported in Alabama include a wide, flat nose and an overall imposing, muscular build. Some witnesses describe long arms that swing at its sides as it walks with a slight forward slump. The eyes are sometimes reported to glow red or reddish-yellow during nighttime encounters, a trait also associated with the White Thang.

In the case of the White Thang, the creature is defined by its distinctive thick, shaggy white fur, leading some to speculate it is an albino Sasquatch. Conversely, the smaller Little Foot of Little River Canyon is described as a small, hairy being that is only about 3 to 4 feet tall.

Habitat

The Alabama Sasquatch is allegedly distributed across Alabama’s varied habitats, suggesting a high degree of adaptability. The state’s geography ranges from the rugged peaks of the Appalachian foothills in the north to the lush coastal plains and river swamps in the south.

The dense, mountainous forests of North Alabama, including areas around Lookout Mountain and the Little River Canyon National Preserve, are cited as prime locations.

The canyon, often called the “Grand Canyon of the East,” provides remote, deeply forested terrain with numerous ravines and caves that could offer concealment.

The White Thang variant is particularly associated with the forests and hills of the Etowah County region and the marshy areas near Big Nance Creek in Courtland, which is the purported habitat of the Slough Thing variant.

Moving south, Sasquatch activity has also been reported in the rural countryside of Conecuh and Monroe Counties, where the environment transitions into extensive pine forests and swampy lowlands. Witnesses often report sightings near waterways and creeks, indicating the creature may prefer habitats with access to water.

The remote nature of these habitats—combined with their dense vegetation and low human population density in many areas—is considered a factor in the creature’s reported elusiveness.

Alabama Sasquatch Sightings

Reported sightings of the Alabama Sasquatch span several decades and locations, with activity concentrated in various counties across the state:

The White Thang (Etowah County, 1930s–Present)

The White Thang represents one of the most prominent regional legends of the Alabama Sasquatch. Reports of this creature are alleged to have begun in the 1930s and 1940s, primarily in Etowah County.

The descriptions are distinct from the typical dark-furred Sasquatch, portraying a massive, bipedal being covered in shaggy, white fur.18 The creature is said to stand over 7 feet tall and is known for its chilling scream, which has been compared to a cross between a woman’s cry and a panther’s roar.

Some reports specify that the creature possesses glowing red eyes. The White Thang is sometimes speculated to be an albino variant of Sasquatch, given its white coloration and humanoid form. However, other local descriptions have compared it to a large cat or a kangaroo with a cat’s head.

The creature has been reported to frequent peach orchards, suggesting an omnivorous diet.

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The Bone Camp Bigfoot (Tuscaloosa County, 1999–2014)

A series of sightings occurred along Bone Camp Road in northern Tuscaloosa County, with documented reports from July 1999 through April 2014.

These accounts typically describe a large, dark-colored bipedal figure seen near the wood line. A specific string of instances involved a mother and son.

A 2011 sighting at noon involved both witnesses observing the creature from their car. The son, driving alone in April 2014, later saw a similar figure at night near the same location.

Investigators from the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) interviewed the witnesses and found their accounts consistent and believable. Following the sightings, the witnesses reported seeing and photographing possible structures made from twisted and broken branches in the area.

Evidence & Investigations

The evidence supporting the existence of the Alabama Sasquatch consists primarily of eyewitness accounts and purported footprints. Unlike the numerous clear plaster casts reported in the Pacific Northwest, physical evidence in Alabama is often limited or inconclusive.

Footprints are reported across the state, consistent with the cryptid’s name. In one instance in Conecuh and Monroe Counties, a set of massive, 17-inch footprints was allegedly discovered near a hunting cabin.

Reports from the Etowah County area often mention large, mysterious footprints left in the soft soil of peach orchards, attributed to the White Thang.

However, skeptics argue that these prints could be misidentified as bear tracks or intentional hoaxes. Black bears, which are native to Alabama and walk plantigrade (flat-footed), can leave tracks that are easily mistaken for large, human-like prints, especially when standing upright.

Cryptozoological investigations, often conducted by amateur researchers and organizations such as the BFRO, have included collecting anecdotal evidence and searching for additional signs of the creature.

Reports have included audio recordings of alleged Sasquatch vocalizations, described as whoops or high-pitched screams, and the discovery of possible nesting sites or territorial markings, such as small trees that have been observed bent, uprooted, or stacked in patterns.

Theories

Several theories are proposed to explain the phenomenon of the Alabama Sasquatch, ranging from conventional biological misidentification to the survival of a prehistoric primate.

Misidentified Fauna (Black Bear Theory)

A prevalent theory is that many sightings of the Alabama Sasquatch, particularly the dark-furred descriptions, are the result of misidentified known animals, specifically the American black bear (Ursus americanus).

Black bears are common throughout Alabama, can stand and walk short distances on their hind legs, and have a bulky, hairy body. When viewed from a distance or in poor lighting, a large bear standing upright, especially one with mange, could easily be mistaken for a bipedal, ape-like creature.

The broad shoulders, lack of a visible neck, and long arms noted in some Sasquatch descriptions also align with the bear’s anatomy when viewed from certain perspectives.

Regional Albino Variant (The White Thang)

The distinct, recurring sightings of the White Thang suggest a sub-theory specific to the Alabama region. Some researchers propose that the White Thang is an albino or leucistic variant of the North American Sasquatch.

While albinism is rare, it does occur in many mammal species, and an all-white Sasquatch would be highly noticeable and generate unique local folklore.

Alternatively, the White Thang could be a unique, previously unknown species of primate or hominid that has adapted a light coat for its specific environment, or it could simply be a wholly separate cryptid with a unique local mythology.

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Relict Hominid Population

A long-standing theory of the general Sasquatch phenomenon holds that the creature is a surviving member of a relict hominid population.

One popular candidate is Gigantopithecus blacki, an enormous, extinct great ape. Proponents suggest that a population of these large primates could have migrated across the Bering Land Bridge into North America and survived in isolated areas, such as the dense forests and mountains of the Southeast.

However, most scientists consider this highly unlikely, as the fossil evidence for Gigantopithecus indicates its existence was confined to Asia, and there is no conclusive evidence of its migration to the Americas.

Comparison with Other Similar Cryptids

The Alabama Sasquatch is one of many hairy, bipedal humanoid cryptids reported globally:

Is Alabama Sasquatch Real?

The question of the Alabama Sasquatch’s reality remains unresolved. Reports spanning many decades and across numerous counties, along with distinct regional lore such as the White Thang and Little Foot, confirm the entity’s secure place in Alabama’s cultural and cryptozoological landscape.

The consistency of some eyewitness accounts, describing a large, bipedal, hairy primate, aligns with the broader Sasquatch phenomenon across North America.

However, the lack of definitive, scientifically verifiable physical evidence is a critical factor preventing its recognition as a biological species.

While footprints and alleged structures are occasionally reported, most scientific evaluations suggest that the most plausible explanations involve misidentification of large mammals—particularly the native black bear—or intentional hoaxes, or the influence of established folklore.

The creature persists as an ongoing mystery, a subject of fascination that exists in the narrative space between regional myth and cryptozoological speculation.