Todd Neiss and his wife, Angela, recently moved to Jasper from Oregon. "We purchased a small ranch just out of town and absolutely love it here! We are both retired, myself after over 20 years serving in the Army, he said introducing himself tot he community, recently.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, one can't help but hear about the legendary creatures known as "Bigfoot" or "Sasquatch," Todd said. "Be that as it may, I never once gave these stories any credibility; that was until April 3, 1993."
Here is his story:
As a combat engineer in the Army, we depend on explosives as part of our mission. On that day, my unit (the 1249th Combat Engineers) were conducting explosives training in the Oregon Coast Range when I, and three other Soldiers, came face to face with three of these amazing creatures.
Since that day, I have devoted myself to researching this elusive and incredible species. My research has led to a life of public speaking, numerous television and documentary appearances, over 100 podcast interviews, and published writing.
Sharing his information
Having settled here in the Ozarks for eight months, I have decided to "come out" publicly regarding my research, in part as a way of sharing my story with the community, as well as offering a serious and confidential resource for my neighbors to share their own experiences.
This Thursday, Sept. 26, I am holding a "Bigfoot Town Hall" from 6-7p.m. at JJ's Buffalo bar & Grill in Harrison. I will emcee the event, spending approximately 20 to 30 minutes discussing my work before turning the program over to the audience in an "open mic" format. Door prizes will also be given out.
I will have with me the film crew from the "Searching for Sasquatch" documentary series, as well as the host of the "Drunken Cryptids" podcast show. Director Jason Kenzie (British Columbia) plans to film the event for an upcoming episode, while Matt Orton (North Little Rock) will do a live podcast following the Town Hall.
My non-profit organization, the American Primate Conservancy, will be sponsoring this event free of charge.
Bigfoot witness-turned-researcher, Todd Neiss has been an active investigator for over 30 years. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, he grew up hearing of these legendary creatures, alternately known as Bigfoot or Sasquatch, but gave it little credibility beyond that of an urban legend or just a good old-fashioned campfire tale designed to frighten young campers. All of that changed for Todd in the spring of 1993.
As a Sergeant in the Army's 1249th Combat Engineer Battalion, he came face to face with, not one, but three of the elusive giants in the temperate rain forest of Oregon's Coast Range while conducting high-explosives training. His sighting was independently corroborated by three fellow soldiers who also witnessed these creatures.
About his work Since that fateful day, Neiss has conducted numerous investigations including several long-term expeditions in the Coastal, Cascade and Blue Mountain Ranges of Oregon & Washington, as well as Northern California, Arizona, Alaska, Ohio, Nebraska, Arkansas, Oklahoma and British Columbia.
Todd believes that, in the tradition of Jane Goodall, Biruté Galdikas and Diane Fossey, the best way to obtain credible evidence of the existence of these fascinating beings is to insert a small research team into the heart of prime Bigfoot habitat for an extended period of time; ideally for 45 to 60-day rotations. In doing so, he hopes to acclimatize the creatures to their presence and eventually overcome their inherent apprehension of humans.
It is his opinion that these creatures possess a relatively high IQ in comparison to recognized great apes. In 2022, he coined the term “Primal Intelligence Quotient” (PIQ) as a means to distinguish it from human intelligence or the Academic Intelligence Quotient (AIQ). By making this distinction, Todd hopes to level the playing field between the two species.
Neiss’ current theory focuses on the presumed intelligence which he believes fosters an irresistible sense of curiosity...a weakness Neiss intends to exploit. By presenting a variety of baits as well as an array of unconventional, non-threatening lures within a pre-designated area, he hopes to successfully collect irrefutable evidence of these creature’s existence. "It is my goal to entice these animals by presenting a non-threatening posture and piquing their curiosity, thereby luring them into a specified area where irrefutable evidence can then be obtained," says Neiss. Once the creatures are officially recognized, his ultimate goal is to establish a management program to ensure their perpetual existence for future generations to appreciate. Over the years, his research has garnered him international attention. He has been the subject of numerous documentaries and TV programs from the US and Canada to the UK and Germany. He has been featured on such programs as: Unsolved Mysteries, Encounters, To the Ends of the Earth, The UnXpected and has been featured on the Discovery Channel, Travel Channel and National Geographic. He has also appeared on numerous radio & TV talk shows, local newscasts, podcasts and newspapers. He is currently producing a documentary about his recent expedition in the uninhabited Broughton Archipelago of British Columbia called “Operation: Sea Monkey” completed on Oct. 1, 2016.
He has been a featured speaker at several colleges and universities and was a regular contributor to the annual Sasquatch Symposium series held in British Columbia, Canada from 1996 through 1999. Neiss has instructed classes on Bigfoot for the Audubon Society as well as the Campfire Boys & Girls Society; the former involving both classroom and field work and culminating with an overnight working camp in the "Dark Divide" of Washington State's Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Todd instructed a class on Bigfoot for the Scappoose Middle School’s outdoor school in 2020, 2022 and 2023.
Recently, Neiss was a featured on the History Channel’s “The UnXplained” with William Shatner filmed in Hollywood, California in August 2020.
Todd is the host of the annual, invitation-only gathering of international Bigfoot researchers called “Beachfoot.” This retreat is held every summer in Oregon’s temperate Coast Range. This unique event has drawn noted researchers from as far away as Australia, Russia, England, Canada, New Zeeland and nearly every state in the U.S. This year will mark their 17th anniversary of the event.
Founder and president of the American Primate Conservancy, which was granted a “Domestic Non-Profit Corporation” status by the state of Oregon on October 15, 2015. Their primary mission is “The discovery, knowledge, research, recognition, and protection of the Sasquatch.” The organization has been quietly organizing expeditions, conducting investigations, and participating in multi-media and public speaking engagements in an effort to promote their agenda. They have been actively pursuing grants, donations, sponsorships and volunteers for ongoing research projects.
Ultimately, they plan to establish a world-class “Bigfoot Interpretive Center” in the Pacific Northwest as a showcase for promoting public awareness and education regarding these amazing creatures. The facility would include: an interactive museum, auditorium/conference center, art gallery, multi-media studio, classrooms, library, forensics laboratory, nature walk and outdoor amphitheater.
A veteran of the Iraq War, Neiss recently retired with meritorious honors from the U.S. Army, where he served for over 20 years.
When not working on the project, writing, or conducting research, Todd enjoys fishing, hunting, hiking, camping and working on his ranch high above the Buffalo National River in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas.
