![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/skunk-ape-alleged-sighting.jpg\")
Origins of the Skunk Ape<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nSimilar to Bigfoot<\/a>, the Skunk Ape may have originated from centuries-old indigenous stories about Sasquatch. According to some, that history dates back to the indigenous peoples who called the Everglades home long before any European settlers moved in. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, their creature went by a different name \u2013 Esti Capcaki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Esti Capcaki was an extremely tall, hairy, cannibalistic giant who roamed around the Everglades and stole food from the people who lived there. Now, did this really form part of the American Indian culture? Or was it an invention of the European settlers who came later? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whatever the case, it seems that at least by the early 19th century, we have our first recorded and verifiable sighting of a giant hairy, upright creature<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe sighting comes not from Florida, but from Arkansas, where a local newspaper reported in 1818 that a \u201cman-sized monkey\u201d stole food from some fishermen who were camped on the banks of a river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sightings of the Skunk Ape Begin Again<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThen in 1823, an American named David Porter recorded this sighting: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cI could see it was larger than a bear and yet clearly not a man but not unlike a large ape. When the shot fired off, the creature seemed to duck before turning and disappearing into the trees\u2026and then, in the moments that followed, a powerful odor washed over our gathering as if a great skunk had sprayed us with its disapproval.\u201d<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.countere.com\/home\/floridas-bigfoot-everglades-dave-shealy-legend-of-the-skunk-ape<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nIn the 20th century, the sightings increased. In 1942, someone was driving along a dirt road when all of a sudden a hairy ape-like creature apparently leaped onto the running board of their car. It pounded on the window, and then just as suddenly, jumped off and disappeared from view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then a few years later, there was the \u201cBardin Booger\u201d named after the town (Bardin, Florida) where it was seen on several occasions. The first of these sightings occurred when a woman was riding her horse through the woods and thought she spotted a strangely tall man in a raincoat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As she stared at him though, she realized that what she thought was a raincoat was thick fur and that the creature it was covering was not even human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the year 1977 had possibly the most sightings of any other year. First, there was the bus full of tourists who all stared slack-jawed when they saw the giant hairy creature standing near a bridge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then there was the woman who saw a \u201cvery shaggy looking\u201d thing jump out in front of her car as she was driving. Finally, a local police officer caught sight of something strange in Key Largo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He gave the following vivid description:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cIt had a huge head and shoulders. Long fur all over and it stank like a dirty wet dog. The noise he made was a high-pitched wailing.\u201d <\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.countere.com\/home\/floridas-bigfoot-everglades-dave-shealy-legend-of-the-skunk-ape<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nSince then there have been hundreds more sightings. One of the most compelling occurred in the early 2000s. In the midst of urban development, which gnawed away at Myakka State Park, a family witnessed what they could only describe as an orangutan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Albeit, an orangutan with an unusually powerful stench. They sent a letter to the county sheriff explaining what they had seen:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cEnclosed please find some pictures I took. My husband thinks it is an orangutan. Is someone missing an orangutan? …Why haven\u2019t people been told that an animal this size is loose? Please look after this situation. I don\u2019t want my backyard to turn into someone else\u2019s circus.\u201d<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/science-nature\/trail-floridas-bigfoot-skunk-ape-180949981\/<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nThey also pointed out that, \u201cIt had an awful smell that lasted well after it had left my yard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But of all the sightings and all of the believers over the years, there is one man who stands out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
His name is Dave Shealy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/shealy-1024x683.jpg\")
Shealy poses with a cast of a Skunk Ape footprint he says he made in 1998. Photo by Joseph Stromberg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe \u201cJane Goodall of Skunk Apes\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAlthough you can call him Dave, he likes to refer to himself as \u201cthe Jane Goodall of Skunk Apes.\u201d And for good reason. He has been an ardent believer ever since he first saw one with his brother when he was ten years old. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, their creature went by a different name \u2013 Esti Capcaki.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Esti Capcaki was an extremely tall, hairy, cannibalistic giant who roamed around the Everglades and stole food from the people who lived there. Now, did this really form part of the American Indian culture? Or was it an invention of the European settlers who came later? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whatever the case, it seems that at least by the early 19th century, we have our first recorded and verifiable sighting of a giant hairy, upright creature<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The sighting comes not from Florida, but from Arkansas, where a local newspaper reported in 1818 that a \u201cman-sized monkey\u201d stole food from some fishermen who were camped on the banks of a river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then in 1823, an American named David Porter recorded this sighting: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI could see it was larger than a bear and yet clearly not a man but not unlike a large ape. When the shot fired off, the creature seemed to duck before turning and disappearing into the trees\u2026and then, in the moments that followed, a powerful odor washed over our gathering as if a great skunk had sprayed us with its disapproval.\u201d<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.countere.com\/home\/floridas-bigfoot-everglades-dave-shealy-legend-of-the-skunk-ape<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n In the 20th century, the sightings increased. In 1942, someone was driving along a dirt road when all of a sudden a hairy ape-like creature apparently leaped onto the running board of their car. It pounded on the window, and then just as suddenly, jumped off and disappeared from view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then a few years later, there was the \u201cBardin Booger\u201d named after the town (Bardin, Florida) where it was seen on several occasions. The first of these sightings occurred when a woman was riding her horse through the woods and thought she spotted a strangely tall man in a raincoat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As she stared at him though, she realized that what she thought was a raincoat was thick fur and that the creature it was covering was not even human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the year 1977 had possibly the most sightings of any other year. First, there was the bus full of tourists who all stared slack-jawed when they saw the giant hairy creature standing near a bridge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then there was the woman who saw a \u201cvery shaggy looking\u201d thing jump out in front of her car as she was driving. Finally, a local police officer caught sight of something strange in Key Largo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He gave the following vivid description:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt had a huge head and shoulders. Long fur all over and it stank like a dirty wet dog. The noise he made was a high-pitched wailing.\u201d <\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.countere.com\/home\/floridas-bigfoot-everglades-dave-shealy-legend-of-the-skunk-ape<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Since then there have been hundreds more sightings. One of the most compelling occurred in the early 2000s. In the midst of urban development, which gnawed away at Myakka State Park, a family witnessed what they could only describe as an orangutan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Albeit, an orangutan with an unusually powerful stench. They sent a letter to the county sheriff explaining what they had seen:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEnclosed please find some pictures I took. My husband thinks it is an orangutan. Is someone missing an orangutan? …Why haven\u2019t people been told that an animal this size is loose? Please look after this situation. I don\u2019t want my backyard to turn into someone else\u2019s circus.\u201d<\/p>\nhttps:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/science-nature\/trail-floridas-bigfoot-skunk-ape-180949981\/<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n They also pointed out that, \u201cIt had an awful smell that lasted well after it had left my yard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But of all the sightings and all of the believers over the years, there is one man who stands out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n His name is Dave Shealy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although you can call him Dave, he likes to refer to himself as \u201cthe Jane Goodall of Skunk Apes.\u201d And for good reason. He has been an ardent believer ever since he first saw one with his brother when he was ten years old. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSightings of the Skunk Ape Begin Again<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The \u201cJane Goodall of Skunk Apes\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n