Cryptozoology?

My catch of the Texas Wasp Moth here in Peoria, Illinois definitely a cryptozoological event, since it's the onely specimen ever found north of Texas.
Also, the catch of a female Erynnyis obscure sphinx in Dunlap, Illinois on October 7th, 1987. It's a tropical moth that until then, had only been collected in Southern Illinois.
And the many catches of Ascalapha odorata and Thysania zenobia in Illinois over the past 30 years. One of zenobia in 1987 by my friend Kevin, and one by me in 2001, and a much earlier one by Bradley University professor in 1948 at a light on Main street in Peoria.
Or the strange case of my finding a Lucanus elephas at my garage light at my home on Cameron Lane, where i grew up: in 1970. Since we lived near the Peoria Airport, that too is a cryptozoological event.
Speaking of big foot, they are alive and well down in Southern Illinois. We've had encounters with them in the Shawnee National Forest. Large creatures over 400 pounds crashing through the undergrowth on two pairs of legs, running like humanoids, instead of on four pairs of legs. There have also been instances of them being seen at lights eating insects, even though they are brief encounters, or so I've heard. And cases when people come out of their houses at Bald Knob mountain, and say that we have be careful of the apes.
Jeff Prill

I used to enjoy reading about cryptozoology, though my interest has waned a bit. Aside from the skunk ape (sorta like bigfoot) rumored to inhabit the Everglades, there isn't much to go looking for in here in Florida, especially in the city of West Palm Beach. We aren't what you'd call an Eden.

Olivier,

Why not? I don't think either Dave or I are talking in this case of cat species new to science...rather non-native species which have been introduced to the UK either by intentional or accidental release. The introduction of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act in the UK led to some people allegedly releasing their animals into the wild rather than trying to get licences to legally keep them. I think it's entirely feasible that IF a number of animals were released into the same general area they would meet and establish a breeding population which certainly could evade detection.

Simon

What is this Panda story ? Do you mean Ailuropoda melanoleuca (David, --->1869<---) ?

Furthermore don't compare knowledge and possibilities with stuff from 1927, honestly people back then barely knew anything when it comes down to science ( knowledge ).

We can nowadays scan whole km² of field and find any ore hidden underground with physical devices but we can't find a 400 pounds ape ? In over a century looking ? ... Makes sense.

The Ivory Billed calls are NOT 100% proof. Using the words of the Cornell researches themselves "sounds provide suggestive—but not, by themselves, conclusive evidence of living ivory-bills in this region.—Russ Charif and John Fitzpatrick". What about that is certain? Please, please don't run away with a scratchy audio tape as proof. The scientists remained grounded, and after 2005 ZERO calls or photographs or anything else has emerged. No proof is out there, these birds may not exist. The scientists also point out that the other species in the tropics of these birds make very similar calls. These could be zoo escapees for all we know!

All I'm asking is to consider the posterior probability of any claim. The probability of an Ivory Billed being rediscovered is moderate - it's a species known to science not that long ago. But you can't apply that same probability to a Yeti or Bigfoot. That's especially true when you ask if they are living in the USA. Even in the Himalayas there are camera traps set to monitor Snow Leopards, yet not one furry ape leg has stumbled past. Why not? You can't simply explain away their existence as "well they are too smart to be caught". That would be the logical fallacy of special pleading. If the evidence doesn't exist because of some special reason you invent to explain that lack of evidence - then the argument is null. Super intelligent ape men are not a valid reason for why there is no proof.

Speaking of which, in 1869 (the panda was not discovered in 1927) the world was a very different place. The posterior probability of a large unknown bear roaming the woods of China (not exactly well explored by science back then!) - was rather high. A) Bears exist. B) Bears live in woods. C) Bears that are not pandas live in China. Therefore, a new bear could be found in known bear habitat.

The coealacanth is also a non-sequitur. First, the last coelacanth in the fossil record is 65 million years old - the GROUP first appeared in the Devonian (350mya), which were very, very different fish from the ones found in the ocean today. The living fossil moniker is a misnomer. Yes, the fish represents a line of fish that has remained basically unchanged for millions of years (but is not the same species). So what? The everyday ant can be found looking 100% identical in fossils millions of years old. But the posterior probability of there being a highly conserved fish is still higher than a bigfoot - especially since the fish lives at the bottom of the ocean.

I have a natural fascination for this subject.

People are 'seeing' these entities and even capturing UFOs on film, otherwise the legends would not persist. But since the entities don't leave any physical evidence, they are probably not from the physical dimension. I'd think by now we would have a bigfoot skeleton or a broken tail light of a flying saucer, but no. And I venture to say we never will.

I propose that Bigfoot and UFOs are spiritual phenomenon. Interdimensional beings, if you will. Like poultergeists. Sometimes a curtain opens up between the two dimensions and then we see them briefly.

And don't get me started on crop circles....