The Florida Skunk Ape Lives
In this episode, Brian welcomes Todd, an Ohio native now living in Florida, to share how a series of unsettling experiences at Bird Rookery Swamp in October 2020 pulled him into the world of Bigfoot and Skunk Ape research. What began with the discovery of a large, deep footprint pressed into fresh cypress needles quickly turned into something harder to dismiss.
Todd describes repeated encounters with a powerful skunky, almost death-like odor, brush and small trees moving toward the trail, and the unmistakable sound of loud, bipedal splashing as something unseen retreated through the swamp.
As his curiosity grew, Todd began documenting what he found and connecting with others who had reported similar odors, sightings, and strange activity in the same area. He later formed the Explorers Network as a way to share swamp conditions, field notes, and ongoing observations. His search has since taken him to the Florida Trail, Loop Road, and other remote areas, where he has found additional large footprints, unusual tree structures, and what appeared to be a stick-triggered trap.
Todd also discusses his experimental use of sound in the field, including an artificial “howl and groan” Bigfoot call that he says consistently causes alligators to react and retreat. His current work includes long-term, fixed-location trail camera research at Myakka River State Park, where he is tracking wildlife patterns over the course of a full year.
Along the way, he has noted a sharp decline in visible wildlife, unexplained roaring sounds, booming footfalls, and the use of nearby geocache logs to help gauge human and animal activity in the area.
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