The Marmot Messenger STAUNTON STATE PARK
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32114 The Marmot Messenger STAUNTON STATE PARK VOLUNTEER NEWSLETTER MAY – JUNE 2016 VOLUME 5 ISSUE 3 Help give all birds a fighting chance in a changing world and protect them and the places they call home. Nuthatches get their common name from their habit of wedging large nuts into tree bark, then smacking them with their sharp bill to “hatch” out the seed from the inside. They often traverse tree trunks sideways and upside down as they forage. International Dawn Chorus Day is the worldwide celebration of nature’s symphony. The annual Dawn Chorus observance at Evergreen Lake will be Sunday, May 15, at 6 a.m. Or simply step outside your house. If What’s Inside for just one day, rise with the birds, get outside and Sasquatch: Fact or Fiction? 2 experience the wonders of the many voices of your local The Marmot Enquirer The Real Story 4 wildlife. Zach’s column 5 This year is also the 100th anniversary of the Give in to your dark side 6 Migratory Bird Treaty. In 2016, International Migratory Migratory Bird Treaty centennial 1916-2016 7 Bird Day (IMBD) will focus on how birds have inspired Busy season ahead for the park 9 many of the most significant environmental The park taketh away 10 conservation actions in the Americas. It promotes the Mushrooms – not just for smoking anymore 11 recognition of the ability of citizens in every country to Eldorado Canyon 12 support programs and laws that protect birds and their Mysteries and Secrets of the Elk Creek Valley 14 habitats, including this landmark treaty that, for the last Spring Fling 16 century, has protected nearly all migratory bird species in the U.S. and Canada. While International Migratory Bird Best in show 17 day is typically held on the second Saturday in May (May Getting to Know You 18 14 in 2016), any day can be a day of celebration. Team Coordinators and Staff 20 The name "peregrine" means wanderer, and the Peregrine Falcon has one of the longest migrations of any North American bird. Tundra-nesting falcons winter in South America, and may move 15,500 miles in a year. MARMOT MESSENGER 2 Sasquatch: Fact or Fiction? Has Sasquatch really been seen in Staunton State Park? According to SSP Manager Zach Taylor about six park visitors have reported seeing or hearing “something” they believed might have been “Bigfoot” while visiting the park. On Saturday, March 11, Jim Myers spoke to approximately 40 SSP volunteers and staff about Sasquatch, or “Bigfoot.” Jim and his wife, Daphne, own and operate the Sasquatch Outpost in Bailey. Nearly three years ago, the Myers family moved into the upstairs of the Bailey Country Store and spent nine months restoring this building, which had been built in 1878. They opened the store and sold food items, souvenirs and local books, as well as Sasquatch-related items. The building now functions as an outpost and soon will host the Sasquatch Encounter Museum, which opened in April 2016. (Identify yourself as an SSP Volunteer for free admission) According to Myers, every state in the continental USA has reported Bigfoot sightings. The most sightings have been in the East, West and in the Colorado areas. In addition, every continent (except Antarctica) has reported strange occurrences relating to large hairy creatures that walk on two feet. Every Native American tribe, according to Myers, has a name for Bigfoot, and stories about this creature have been handed down for centuries. While these stories are shared and handed down in Native American cultures, in other cultures such sightings are usually kept secret for fear of ridicule. Myers presented several maps that displayed the distribution of local sightings, indicating that Sasquatch has been seen near Lion’s Head, Shaffers Crossing and Pine Junction. Sasquatches are said to make quite a bit of noise, such as shaking or rattling trees, clattering and throwing rocks. They are said to be quite tall—seven to nine feet tall, covered with dark furry hair, and with enormous feet. They have always been observed standing upright on two feet. Myers believes that Sasquatches are highly intelligent and have exceptional hearing. They have been known to run very fast, can easily run up steep hills and can have strides as long as 12 feet. A female Sasquatch has been observed as well. Skeptics claimed it was a human dressed in a furry gorilla suit. These claims go back to the 1960s. Experts in costuming have reported that the technology was not available at that time to create such an elaborate costume. This creature was photographed running, with two large bouncing breasts. Her legs had a tendon flex, hollows behind the knees, MARMOT MESSENGER 3 and visible calf muscle. Her forearms were very long. Experts concurred that it was not possible that this was a human in a costume. Prints of possible adult and baby Sasquatch have been seen near Wellington Lake. Trees bent in unusual ways have been found in areas near Sasquatch sightings. Aspen trees have been found broken in half, with several in one area, then a fair distance away, more of the same. Other trees have been found mysteriously turned upside down with roots pointing in the air and positioned against another tree. Star-type arrangements of trees 70-80 feet long have also been found. Some may claim that weird wind patterns caused these trees to end up in strange positions; Sasquatch believers, however, believe that these super-powerful and very large creatures are responsible. Some PHds and other scientists have been involved in Sasquatch research over the years. Attempts at DNA testing of Sasquatches, according to Myers, has shown that Sasquatches may be part human. Mitochondrial DNA (female) indicated human origin, while Nuclear (male) DNA is of unknown origin. It is surmised that Sasquatches are some sort of human hybrids. Myers thinks that Sasquatches may live in caves or in large nests. (He does not think they have any connection to old stone houses.) They may communicate at a lower frequency, thus humans would not be able to hear them. Several reports of Sasquatch activity have been by campers who have heard strange sounds at night. One reported that this creature stuck his head inside the tent. One observer in the SSP area was so frightened, he ran to Elk Creek Road, then all the way to Shaffers Crossing. Apparently, there have been multiple sightings of Bigfoot in many areas near SSP. What do you think? Visit sasquatchoutpost.com for more information and for location and store hours. Pictures from sasquatchoutpost.com, Wikipedia, Dick Scudder, Article written by Bonnie Scudder with Deborah Darnell. Don’t forget to tune in next time for a special announcement about UFO sightings in SSP. MARMOT MESSENGER 4 THE MARMOT “There is no other explanation” STAUNTON’S EXTREME NEWLETTER While vacationing in And who Oregon, Keith took this doesn’t From a Prince recognize this photo of a bigfoot who Edward Island Sasquatch? reportedly was on his way video. Yikes, to visit his girlfriend. No you better be photo of the girlfriend able to run. was provided. The red circle phenomena that appears in many They got of the bigfoot photos is unexplained. the band Broken and bent trees are back indicative of their anger together. management problems. From Sasquatch Watch Radio, a podcast about bigfoot research: Radio guest “Fred believes bigfoot are aliens Sasquatch and have the ability to travel to other dimensions. The love me. I host of the show however, does not think bigfoot is can shoot an alien or has these abilities. Two differing opinions one and they and neither can be proven. What do you think will still happens? Watch out for flying mud.” support me Ted provided undeniable logic as to . their existence Hey, if you would Many Sasquatch photos are blurry. That’s because of the have told me years ago that there Sasquatch aura that disrupts the molecules in the camera. would be a little Yes, these are actual photos of pill that would Sasquatches in the park result in an attempting to disguise erection I themselves in human clothing. wouldn’t have Their fur is still clearly visible. believed it. So I just have to be open minded The more you drink about the the more you believe existence of Bigfoot. DNA samples from this Conifer What, they eat marmots! Sasquatch scat were Bring it Squatch. sent to a lab in Kazakhstan and positively It was revealed that confirmed as a Sasquatch eat almost unique human any meat including animal cross breed. marmots. This photo plainly shows one that The Colorado Avalanche believe captured multiple marmots, which most likely became dinner. MARMOT MESSENGER 5 MANAGER’S MESSAGE In Desert Solitaire Abbey writes, “Once we outlaw the motors and stop the road-building and force the So the majority can experience Staunton multitude back on their feet, the people will need leaders. Over the last couple weeks as I contemplated what to A venturesome minority will always be eager to set off write, I struggled. It's been 18 months since I became park on their own, and no obstacles should be placed in their manager at Staunton and things have changed paths; let them take risks...that is the right and privilege dramatically,,, some for good and some not so good. of a free American. Today I reached out to my favorite author Edward But the rest, the majority, most of them new to the Abbey who wrote my favorite book Desert Solitaire. out-of-doors, will need and welcome assistance, Between the first morning Abbey stepped out of the instruction and guidance.” park service house trailer into the desert near Moab and You and I are the minority.