1
00:00:00,667 --> 00:00:02,133
[droning]
2
00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:09,300
Look. What is that?
3
00:00:10,166 --> 00:00:12,867
[Phil]
Is that another hot spot
right there?
4
00:00:12,867 --> 00:00:15,133
-It's moving. It's moving.
-[Heather gasps] Oh, my God.
5
00:00:16,467 --> 00:00:20,166
[Josh] On this episode
of Expedition X...
6
00:00:20,166 --> 00:00:22,767
There's no doubt in my mind
it was a wild animal.
7
00:00:22,767 --> 00:00:24,600
Some type of primate creature.
8
00:00:25,500 --> 00:00:28,000
[Josh] My team tracks
a terrifying beast,
9
00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,900
said to stalk
Florida's Everglades.
10
00:00:30,900 --> 00:00:32,066
[Phil] Do you guys mind
going in there with us
11
00:00:32,066 --> 00:00:34,200
and showing us
what direction it went?
12
00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:35,500
I'd rather not.
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They're crazy.
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00:00:38,734 --> 00:00:41,867
[Josh] They'll battle
the extreme wilderness...
15
00:00:41,867 --> 00:00:43,867
There's a honeybee hive
right here.
16
00:00:43,867 --> 00:00:44,867
Let's get out of here.
17
00:00:44,867 --> 00:00:45,834
Go, go, go!
18
00:00:46,100 --> 00:00:47,567
[groans]
19
00:00:47,567 --> 00:00:50,433
[Josh] ...chasing
a horrifying monster
in size...
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00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:53,000
[Heather] I think
I've got a nest.
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00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:54,100
[Josh] ...and in stench.
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00:00:54,100 --> 00:00:54,967
Ugh.
23
00:00:54,967 --> 00:00:55,900
Hoo.
24
00:00:56,300 --> 00:00:58,266
[Josh] The dreaded Skunk Ape.
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00:00:58,266 --> 00:00:59,500
[Heather] I found something.
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00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:01,900
-[water splashing]
-[screaming]
27
00:01:02,066 --> 00:01:03,233
Oh, [bleep].
28
00:01:11,867 --> 00:01:14,500
Over a decade ago,
I investigated reports
29
00:01:14,500 --> 00:01:17,100
of a monster
in the swamps of Florida,
30
00:01:17,100 --> 00:01:20,000
and the... the sights
and the sounds and the smells
31
00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,166
of that expedition
have stayed with me
ever since.
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00:01:22,166 --> 00:01:23,100
Wait a second. "Smells"?
33
00:01:23,100 --> 00:01:25,367
-Yes.
-You forgot
your deodorant again.
34
00:01:25,367 --> 00:01:26,667
Nope. It wasn't my smell.
35
00:01:26,667 --> 00:01:28,867
It was the smell
of the creature
I was looking for,
36
00:01:28,867 --> 00:01:30,400
known as the Skunk Ape.
37
00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:31,467
And for good reason.
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00:01:31,467 --> 00:01:32,800
I've heard of this.
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00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:36,066
Kind of like, a hairy, smelly,
Bigfoot-like beast
40
00:01:36,066 --> 00:01:37,767
that lives
in the swamps of Florida.
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00:01:37,767 --> 00:01:39,300
Like, a stinky swamp thing.
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00:01:39,300 --> 00:01:43,000
That's exactly right.
And we found really compelling
evidence that something
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00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:44,400
was living
out in those swamps.
44
00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:46,166
But it was
ultimately inconclusive,
45
00:01:46,166 --> 00:01:48,767
but I've kept tabs on the case
in the years since.
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00:01:48,767 --> 00:01:50,867
And now,
things are heating up.
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00:01:50,867 --> 00:01:54,166
There has been
a huge uptick in sightings
of the Skunk Ape,
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00:01:54,166 --> 00:01:57,066
and in fact, there have been
hundreds of sightings
of this creature
49
00:01:57,066 --> 00:01:59,200
that date back
hundreds of years.
50
00:02:03,300 --> 00:02:06,300
Stories of the Skunk Ape,
or Esti Capcaki,
51
00:02:06,300 --> 00:02:08,200
go back centuries,
52
00:02:09,567 --> 00:02:13,100
with the Seminole Tribe
telling of a foul-smelling
giant
53
00:02:13,100 --> 00:02:16,500
stalking the murky wetlands
of modern day Florida.
54
00:02:17,700 --> 00:02:21,000
The first documented sighting
comes in 1818,
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00:02:21,667 --> 00:02:23,567
when a man-sized monkey
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00:02:23,567 --> 00:02:25,367
reportedly pursues fishermen
57
00:02:25,367 --> 00:02:27,000
along the edge
of the Everglades.
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00:02:28,867 --> 00:02:32,100
The 20th century brings
more disturbing incidents.
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00:02:33,667 --> 00:02:35,867
Reports of
slaughtered livestock,
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00:02:35,867 --> 00:02:37,500
monstrous howls.
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00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,800
Even two police officers
in 1974
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00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,767
confirming they sighted
a seven-foot monster
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00:02:44,767 --> 00:02:46,233
and opened fire.
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00:02:48,500 --> 00:02:51,000
In the years since,
hundreds of harrowing reports
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00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,300
have been corroborated
by photos and videos.
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00:02:55,500 --> 00:02:58,867
Two things are common
throughout all these reports.
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00:02:58,867 --> 00:03:01,467
The size,
usually seven feet tall,
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00:03:01,467 --> 00:03:04,800
with an estimated weight
of more than 400 pounds,
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00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:06,200
and the smell,
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00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:09,000
described as a revolting blend
of skunk,
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00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:11,634
wet dog and rotten eggs.
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00:03:12,567 --> 00:03:15,567
This year has seen
a record number of encounters.
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00:03:15,567 --> 00:03:18,200
Now, a construction worker
has reached out to me,
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00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:22,600
reporting his own terrifying
face-to-beast encounter.
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00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:27,433
Is the Florida Skunk Ape
truly stinking up
the Everglades?
76
00:03:30,867 --> 00:03:34,000
So what do you think?
Does the Skunk Ape
pass the sniff test?
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00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:34,867
Well, listen.
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00:03:34,867 --> 00:03:36,166
Florida swamps and wetlands,
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00:03:36,166 --> 00:03:38,166
including
Everglades National Park,
80
00:03:38,166 --> 00:03:42,767
make up millions
of acres of dangerous,
difficult-to-explore terrain.
81
00:03:42,767 --> 00:03:44,900
But a seven-foot tall primate?
82
00:03:44,900 --> 00:03:47,000
I mean, sure, they could be
seeing something real,
83
00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:48,467
but it's...
it's more likely a...
84
00:03:48,467 --> 00:03:50,300
An escaped exotic pet,
85
00:03:50,300 --> 00:03:51,867
a... a circus bear.
86
00:03:51,867 --> 00:03:54,967
-Go on.
-This is the usual
Phil Torres poo-poo platter
87
00:03:54,967 --> 00:03:56,266
of crypted counter arguments.
88
00:03:56,266 --> 00:03:58,066
[Phil] You're finally
learning my ways, Josh.
89
00:03:58,066 --> 00:03:59,500
But here's the deal.
90
00:03:59,500 --> 00:04:03,000
Scientists are still
actually making some pretty
remarkable discoveries
91
00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:04,100
in the swamps of Florida,
92
00:04:04,100 --> 00:04:05,667
including, just
a few years ago,
93
00:04:05,667 --> 00:04:08,066
-the Siren reticulata.
-The what now?
94
00:04:08,066 --> 00:04:09,200
You guys
didn't hear about this?
95
00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:11,000
It's a giant
two-foot salamander
96
00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:12,567
with these
teeny tiny front legs.
97
00:04:12,567 --> 00:04:14,834
It was once considered a myth.
98
00:04:15,166 --> 00:04:16,266
But it's real.
99
00:04:16,266 --> 00:04:18,667
So, maybe the Skunk Ape
is real, too.
100
00:04:18,667 --> 00:04:20,066
But, I doubt it.
101
00:04:20,066 --> 00:04:22,300
Well, whether or not
you're right, Torres,
102
00:04:22,300 --> 00:04:24,567
it sure feels like there
could be something out there.
103
00:04:24,567 --> 00:04:26,266
And, Southern girl that I am,
104
00:04:26,266 --> 00:04:28,767
I know the swamp
has a ton of wildlife.
105
00:04:28,767 --> 00:04:31,600
Snakes, panthers, gators.
106
00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:33,667
-This could be fun.
-Why not a Skunk Ape, too?
107
00:04:33,667 --> 00:04:35,266
All right. The hunt is on.
108
00:04:35,266 --> 00:04:38,000
Your mission is to get down
to the swamps of Florida
and investigate.
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00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:40,000
I want you to talk
to this construction worker
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00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:42,567
who claims
to have had a run-in
with the Skunk Ape.
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00:04:42,567 --> 00:04:45,800
And I am arranging
for a very special tracker
to join you.
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00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:47,000
His name is Whiskey.
113
00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:48,066
That is not a nickname.
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00:04:48,066 --> 00:04:50,000
His actual name is Whiskey.
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00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:53,500
-Ooh, whiskey is exactly
what this adventure needs.
-Cheers to that.
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00:04:53,500 --> 00:04:57,166
And while you're gone,
I'm gonna go through our old
Skunk Ape case files
117
00:04:57,166 --> 00:04:59,000
and see if there's anything
there that can help.
118
00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:00,300
-Perfect.
-Sounds good.
119
00:05:00,300 --> 00:05:01,767
All right.
Well, smell you later.
120
00:05:01,767 --> 00:05:03,000
-Oh.
-Oh, man.
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00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:03,767
[Josh] Couldn't help.
122
00:05:03,767 --> 00:05:05,400
-Oh.
-Terrible.
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00:05:06,100 --> 00:05:09,400
[Josh] The flight
from New York to Orlando
is about three hours.
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00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:12,567
Phil and Heather then drive
45 minutes east
125
00:05:12,567 --> 00:05:16,266
to the edge
of the Canaveral Marshes
Conservation Area.
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00:05:16,266 --> 00:05:20,100
Here. I've arranged
for them to meet their new
investigation partner.
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00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,133
-[Heather] You are off
the grid out here.
-[Phil] Yeah.
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00:05:25,266 --> 00:05:26,700
[Heather] Is this
a good time to mention
129
00:05:26,700 --> 00:05:29,467
that I'm absolutely
terrified of gators?
130
00:05:29,467 --> 00:05:31,400
-What? Like...
-Yes, I am.
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00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:33,367
Like, what kind of terrified
are we talking about?
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00:05:33,367 --> 00:05:35,300
-On a scale of,
like, one to ten?
-Yeah.
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00:05:35,300 --> 00:05:37,500
[Heather] One hundred.
They're living dinosaurs.
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00:05:37,500 --> 00:05:39,800
I mean, technically,
birds are living dinosaurs,
135
00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:41,500
so, like, you should
be afraid of a pigeon.
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00:05:41,500 --> 00:05:43,667
-Ha!
-Alligators,
other whole thing.
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00:05:43,667 --> 00:05:45,567
[Heather] Alligators
have a lot more teeth.
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00:05:45,567 --> 00:05:46,634
[Phil] I'll give you that.
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00:05:48,467 --> 00:05:50,000
[Heather] Okay.
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00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:51,700
This is where
Josh dropped the pin.
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00:05:53,667 --> 00:05:55,600
[Phil] Didn't Josh say
we were meeting with Whiskey?
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00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:56,700
[Heather] We are.
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00:06:02,266 --> 00:06:03,367
-[woman] Hi.
-Hi.
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00:06:03,367 --> 00:06:05,300
I'm Tiffany. This is Whiskey.
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00:06:05,500 --> 00:06:06,600
[Phil] Whiskey.
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00:06:06,867 --> 00:06:08,133
You're a dog.
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00:06:09,500 --> 00:06:12,400
Whiskey. That is so sweet.
148
00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:13,767
-Look at you.
-[Heather] That is...
149
00:06:13,767 --> 00:06:15,800
[Tiffany] He is a bloodhound
search and rescue dog.
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00:06:16,300 --> 00:06:17,700
We're part
of a volunteer team.
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00:06:17,700 --> 00:06:20,200
So if somebody
comes up missing,
we get called out
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00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:22,300
and find that person
that's missing, so...
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00:06:22,300 --> 00:06:23,333
[Heather] Can you tell me
a little bit about
154
00:06:23,333 --> 00:06:24,967
what his search and rescue
technique looks like?
155
00:06:24,967 --> 00:06:26,166
Um, it's off his scent.
156
00:06:26,166 --> 00:06:28,600
So we get the scent article
from the person that's missing
157
00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:31,400
and then he will find
the trail that we're tracking
158
00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:33,400
and takes off after it.
159
00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:37,066
So, hypothetically,
if we found a unique scent
in the forest
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00:06:37,066 --> 00:06:38,700
that we wanted to track
either where it came from
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00:06:38,700 --> 00:06:41,367
or where it went afterwards,
could Whiskey help us?
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00:06:41,367 --> 00:06:42,800
[Tiffany]
As long as you've got
the scent article,
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00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:44,400
he... he will be able
to help you.
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00:06:45,300 --> 00:06:47,500
Bloodhounds are bred
for tracking,
165
00:06:47,500 --> 00:06:49,467
and that's actually
how they got their names.
166
00:06:49,467 --> 00:06:51,567
They would hunt
the blood scent of the game.
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00:06:51,567 --> 00:06:52,867
Wow.
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00:06:54,166 --> 00:06:55,767
[Phil] While most humans
have around five million
169
00:06:55,767 --> 00:06:57,800
scent receptors
in their noses,
170
00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:00,166
bloodhounds have 300 million.
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00:07:00,166 --> 00:07:02,600
More than any other
breed of dog.
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00:07:02,600 --> 00:07:06,000
This allows them to track
smells over 100 miles.
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00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,467
Even if that scent
is over 10 days old.
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00:07:09,467 --> 00:07:11,400
What's the longest
he's tracked?
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00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:13,100
[Tiffany] Miles and miles.
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00:07:13,100 --> 00:07:14,867
I would probably run out
before he would.
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00:07:14,867 --> 00:07:17,567
As they get older,
the better they get.
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00:07:17,567 --> 00:07:20,667
If we were to put Whiskey
into action...
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00:07:20,667 --> 00:07:22,600
-Yes?
-...what does that look like?
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00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:23,867
It's a lot of fun,
181
00:07:23,867 --> 00:07:26,100
and you better
be ready to run.
[laughs]
182
00:07:26,100 --> 00:07:27,600
You're heading with them, bud.
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00:07:28,767 --> 00:07:29,900
[Phil] Come on.
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00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:32,533
[grunts]
185
00:07:33,367 --> 00:07:34,367
[Heather] Good boy.
186
00:07:34,367 --> 00:07:37,500
[Phil] You ready, bud?
Let's go.
187
00:07:37,500 --> 00:07:39,867
[Phil] With our ace tracker
Whiskey along for the ride,
188
00:07:39,867 --> 00:07:41,667
we set out
to meet two witnesses
189
00:07:41,667 --> 00:07:46,900
who believe they've
had a recent encounter
with the Skunk Ape.
190
00:07:46,900 --> 00:07:49,500
[Phil] Hey, Whiskey,
what's the smelliest thing
you've ever smelled?
191
00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:51,233
You.
192
00:07:52,100 --> 00:07:53,367
-Ha.
-[Heather laughing]
193
00:07:53,367 --> 00:07:54,367
So funny.
194
00:07:54,367 --> 00:07:55,667
[Heather laughing]
195
00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:00,600
[Heather] We're meeting
with Frank Constantino
196
00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:02,767
and his son-in-law,
Chris Smith.
197
00:08:02,767 --> 00:08:04,367
[Frank] Hi.
Good to meet y'all.
198
00:08:04,367 --> 00:08:07,100
[Heather] These two
construction workers claim
to have had a recent run-in
199
00:08:07,100 --> 00:08:10,300
with a Skunk Ape-like creature
while out fishing.
200
00:08:10,300 --> 00:08:12,567
I heard you had an encounter
somewhere around here?
201
00:08:12,567 --> 00:08:15,767
Yeah, it's actually not
too far away from here.
202
00:08:15,767 --> 00:08:18,400
I could take you
to the exact spot.
203
00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:19,934
Are you going
to take us on that?
204
00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:21,800
Absolutely.
205
00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:23,967
I hope you brought
your mud boots with you.
206
00:08:23,967 --> 00:08:26,400
-[Phil] We'll grab
and meet you on the boat?
-[Frank] Awesome.
207
00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:31,867
[Heather]
Frank takes us on his airboat
up the St. John's River,
208
00:08:31,867 --> 00:08:35,300
into the gator-infested waters
of the Canaveral Marshes.
209
00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:55,700
Our airboat begins to slow
as we head deeper
into the swamp.
210
00:08:57,867 --> 00:09:00,233
Far from any signs
of civilization.
211
00:09:07,300 --> 00:09:10,667
[Frank] Okay, guys.
This is the spot right here
where we've seen it.
212
00:09:10,667 --> 00:09:11,400
[Phil] Where?
213
00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:12,634
[Frank]
See right back in there
214
00:09:12,634 --> 00:09:14,700
-where that mound
is in the bushes?
-[Phil] Mm-hmm.
215
00:09:14,700 --> 00:09:16,700
He was right on top
of that mound.
216
00:09:19,767 --> 00:09:20,900
We were fishing,
217
00:09:22,467 --> 00:09:24,266
and I shined up in there,
218
00:09:24,266 --> 00:09:26,300
and I could see
a set of red eyes.
219
00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:33,467
I thought it was an alligator.
220
00:09:33,467 --> 00:09:36,900
The next thing you know,
these red eyes just stood up.
221
00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:40,133
Six feet tall.
222
00:09:41,100 --> 00:09:42,367
-Six feet tall?
-[Frank] Yeah.
223
00:09:42,367 --> 00:09:44,500
-[Phil] That thing is...
-Was big.
224
00:09:45,500 --> 00:09:47,900
I did not want
to get off the boat.
225
00:09:47,900 --> 00:09:49,100
[Heather]
And then what happened?
226
00:09:49,100 --> 00:09:50,700
[Frank]
It took off immediately.
227
00:09:50,700 --> 00:09:52,400
It was like we spooked it.
228
00:09:56,667 --> 00:09:57,400
[Heather] It was fast?
229
00:09:57,400 --> 00:09:59,600
-Oh, yeah.
-Oh, yes. Real fast.
230
00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:05,066
And when it took off,
did it go down on all fours
when it ran away?
231
00:10:05,066 --> 00:10:06,867
No, it more, like,
leaped like this.
232
00:10:06,867 --> 00:10:08,667
And then, after that,
you couldn't see it no more.
233
00:10:08,667 --> 00:10:11,000
It was like,
gone off in the bushes.
234
00:10:11,000 --> 00:10:14,900
[Frank] It was scary.
I mean, it was almost
demonic scary.
235
00:10:14,900 --> 00:10:17,967
-This is just a mind-blower.
-[Phil] Hmm.
236
00:10:17,967 --> 00:10:21,066
You see it down low
and you think alligator.
237
00:10:21,066 --> 00:10:22,133
You see it stand up,
238
00:10:22,133 --> 00:10:24,967
and the first thing
you must think is, what? Bear?
239
00:10:24,967 --> 00:10:26,800
It wasn't like a bear's build.
240
00:10:27,100 --> 00:10:28,500
It was skinnier.
241
00:10:28,500 --> 00:10:30,900
And there's no animals
that illuminate red eyes,
242
00:10:30,900 --> 00:10:32,767
other than an alligator.
243
00:10:32,767 --> 00:10:34,600
And bears do not light up red.
244
00:10:35,166 --> 00:10:36,166
Then what do you think it was?
245
00:10:37,467 --> 00:10:39,967
The only thing I can think of
is a Skunk Ape.
246
00:10:39,967 --> 00:10:43,166
Is that something you thought
could actually be out here?
247
00:10:43,166 --> 00:10:45,467
I'm that guy
that teases people
when they tell me
248
00:10:45,467 --> 00:10:47,166
-they see stuff like this.
-[Chris] Yes.
249
00:10:47,166 --> 00:10:50,000
I mean, I've been
an avid woodsman since birth.
250
00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:51,900
I've stepped on alligators.
251
00:10:51,900 --> 00:10:53,700
And this freaked me out.
252
00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:55,967
[Phil] Do you guys mind
going in there with us
253
00:10:55,967 --> 00:10:58,000
and showing us
what direction it went?
254
00:10:58,300 --> 00:10:59,700
I'd rather not.
255
00:10:59,700 --> 00:11:01,400
I'll pick you up
in the morning.
256
00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:02,700
-[Chris] Good luck.
-Okay.
257
00:11:03,367 --> 00:11:04,533
Let's go, Whiskey.
258
00:11:09,467 --> 00:11:11,000
They're crazy.
259
00:11:16,667 --> 00:11:19,500
[Phil]
With Frank and Chris's warning
fresh in our minds,
260
00:11:19,500 --> 00:11:22,600
we head into the thick brush
of the remote island,
261
00:11:22,600 --> 00:11:25,900
leaving behind our only ride
out of here till morning.
262
00:11:26,900 --> 00:11:28,567
We are in it now.
263
00:11:28,567 --> 00:11:31,467
So we've gotta
look out for everything
from rattlesnakes to bears
264
00:11:31,467 --> 00:11:33,767
to alligators.
265
00:11:33,767 --> 00:11:36,600
Let's think about it.
If this is a primate
that we're going for,
266
00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,100
let's look for recent trails,
267
00:11:39,100 --> 00:11:41,500
look for recent branch breaks.
268
00:11:41,500 --> 00:11:43,266
Some of the bigger apes,
like orangutans,
269
00:11:43,266 --> 00:11:46,300
are known to make nests
that are made of branches
and leaves.
270
00:11:46,300 --> 00:11:48,567
They can be on the ground.
They can be up in the trees.
271
00:11:48,567 --> 00:11:50,467
And let's use our ears.
272
00:11:50,467 --> 00:11:53,166
Let's listen for things
moving next to us.
273
00:11:53,166 --> 00:11:55,767
[Heather] And don't forget,
they say it stinks
like a skunk.
274
00:11:55,767 --> 00:11:57,600
Let's see if we can find
some scent article
275
00:11:57,600 --> 00:11:58,934
we can get Whiskey on.
276
00:12:00,266 --> 00:12:01,667
Um, it's off his scent.
277
00:12:01,667 --> 00:12:03,266
don't get eaten by a gator.
278
00:12:08,567 --> 00:12:11,367
Phil will take Whiskey
to search the perimeter
of the island,
279
00:12:11,367 --> 00:12:14,900
while I head to the exact spot
where Frank had his sighting.
280
00:12:14,900 --> 00:12:17,100
[Phil] Let's use that nose.
See what we can find.
281
00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:28,700
[Heather] What?
282
00:12:29,867 --> 00:12:31,300
I found something.
283
00:12:31,900 --> 00:12:33,233
I'm over by the shore.
284
00:12:36,900 --> 00:12:37,934
Look at this.
285
00:12:38,667 --> 00:12:39,800
[Phil] Look at that.
286
00:12:40,667 --> 00:12:41,433
I mean,
look at the size of this.
287
00:12:41,433 --> 00:12:43,667
So it's about
five feet across,
288
00:12:43,667 --> 00:12:47,367
I would say.
So, sizeable something
lying down here.
289
00:12:47,367 --> 00:12:49,300
And, Phil, smell this.
290
00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:52,000
-Ripe?
-That's ripe!
291
00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:53,400
I mean, it's... it's...
292
00:12:53,967 --> 00:12:55,367
Skunk-ish?
293
00:12:55,367 --> 00:12:57,300
-A little more musky?
-Yeah.
294
00:12:57,300 --> 00:12:59,900
-Not... Not enjoyable.
-[Heather] No.
295
00:12:59,900 --> 00:13:01,100
[Phil]
And that was just where?
296
00:13:01,100 --> 00:13:03,300
It was just sitting
right there.
297
00:13:03,300 --> 00:13:06,266
It almost looks like something
hunkered down there
for the night.
298
00:13:06,266 --> 00:13:09,500
So I guess the question is,
where did this thing go?
299
00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:11,400
That's why we got Whiskey.
300
00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:14,767
Whiskey's handler
instructed us that if we found
a scent article,
301
00:13:14,767 --> 00:13:16,700
we should
have Whiskey sniff it,
302
00:13:16,700 --> 00:13:18,133
and then give the command...
303
00:13:18,266 --> 00:13:19,367
Find!
304
00:13:19,367 --> 00:13:21,000
If a matching scent is nearby,
305
00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:24,333
Whiskey will jump into action
and lead us to the source.
306
00:13:24,900 --> 00:13:26,000
All right. We're moving.
307
00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:27,133
[Whiskey barking]
308
00:13:27,133 --> 00:13:29,100
[Heather]
He is walking with purpose.
He's sniffing.
309
00:13:29,100 --> 00:13:30,367
[Phil] Oh, yeah.
310
00:13:31,166 --> 00:13:33,233
-[Whiskey barking]
-I think he's got something.
311
00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:35,266
[Heather] Oh, my God.
312
00:13:35,266 --> 00:13:37,900
-[Whiskey barking]
-[Phil] Right here.
313
00:13:39,767 --> 00:13:40,867
Heather...
314
00:13:40,867 --> 00:13:42,600
What did we just find?
315
00:13:43,500 --> 00:13:44,934
[Whiskey whining]
316
00:13:50,066 --> 00:13:52,166
[Phil] That looks like a nest.
317
00:13:52,166 --> 00:13:53,400
Good job, Whiskey.
318
00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:55,400
-Good boy.
-[Heather] Good boy.
319
00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:56,634
Talking about nests.
320
00:13:57,166 --> 00:13:58,767
Bald eagles.
321
00:13:58,767 --> 00:14:01,900
Actually, Florida has one
of the largest concentrations
of nesting bald eagles.
322
00:14:01,900 --> 00:14:04,867
Bald eagles make
the biggest bird nest
in the entire world.
323
00:14:04,867 --> 00:14:06,166
Could be up to 10 feet.
324
00:14:06,166 --> 00:14:08,500
Although they're usually
way up higher in a tree.
325
00:14:09,166 --> 00:14:10,200
Don't forget.
326
00:14:10,967 --> 00:14:12,266
-The smell.
-Yeah.
327
00:14:12,266 --> 00:14:14,100
This does not smell
like an eagle nest.
328
00:14:14,100 --> 00:14:15,900
I think we gotta
get up into that tree
329
00:14:15,900 --> 00:14:18,634
and figure out
who lives in this nest.
330
00:14:19,166 --> 00:14:20,233
-Let's do it.
-[Phil] Okay.
331
00:14:21,467 --> 00:14:22,967
If Whiskey's right,
332
00:14:22,967 --> 00:14:26,266
this nest matches the scent
that Heather found.
333
00:14:26,266 --> 00:14:29,367
I'll be looking
for any traces of food,
hairs, or scat
334
00:14:29,367 --> 00:14:32,500
that could determine
what creature
we're looking at.
335
00:14:32,500 --> 00:14:33,800
Show us your skills, Heather.
336
00:14:35,100 --> 00:14:37,133
[both exclaiming]
337
00:14:38,166 --> 00:14:39,400
This thing's rolling?
338
00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:40,667
Yep. We're rolling.
339
00:14:40,667 --> 00:14:42,133
[Phil] Okay.
340
00:14:43,300 --> 00:14:46,166
I've never climbed
in snake boots before.
There's a first.
341
00:14:46,166 --> 00:14:47,900
[Heather] Better snake boots
than snake bite.
342
00:14:47,900 --> 00:14:49,000
[Phil] True.
343
00:14:49,767 --> 00:14:51,667
As the sun
gets lower in the sky,
344
00:14:51,667 --> 00:14:52,667
Heather will spot for me
345
00:14:52,667 --> 00:14:56,066
as I climb to the nest
and take a look around.
346
00:14:56,066 --> 00:14:58,100
-[Phil exhaling]
-[Heather] What are
you seeing?
347
00:14:58,100 --> 00:14:59,200
[Phil] Oh, my God.
348
00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:01,700
-[Heather] What is it?
-[Phil laughs]
349
00:15:01,700 --> 00:15:04,000
[Phil] There's a bunch
of fronds laid flat,
350
00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:05,300
and right in the middle...
351
00:15:06,100 --> 00:15:09,734
we got fish scales,
some bones, some wings.
352
00:15:12,667 --> 00:15:16,600
All these fronds
laid perfectly sideways here.
353
00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:18,300
[Heather] So,
laid with design.
354
00:15:18,300 --> 00:15:20,600
[Phil] Absolutely.
Something laid these up here.
355
00:15:20,867 --> 00:15:21,700
Wow.
356
00:15:22,800 --> 00:15:24,433
I've never seen
anything like this.
357
00:15:26,700 --> 00:15:28,500
So these are gar fish.
358
00:15:29,066 --> 00:15:30,800
The fish
look completely eaten.
359
00:15:31,767 --> 00:15:33,367
Bird looks completely eaten.
360
00:15:33,367 --> 00:15:36,533
You see any hairs?
Any evidence of anyone
that lives there?
361
00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:37,734
[Phil] I'm looking close.
362
00:15:37,734 --> 00:15:41,100
I just don't see
any right now.
363
00:15:41,100 --> 00:15:43,367
This clearly gets used
by something,
364
00:15:43,367 --> 00:15:46,900
and I think that something...
is probably big
365
00:15:46,900 --> 00:15:48,567
and it smells.
366
00:15:48,567 --> 00:15:49,867
So, this is our area.
367
00:15:49,867 --> 00:15:52,567
I think this
should be the center
of our investigation tonight.
368
00:15:52,567 --> 00:15:56,467
[Heather] Skunk Ape or not,
it's clear something powerful
constructed this tree nest.
369
00:15:56,467 --> 00:15:57,767
And with night falling,
370
00:15:57,767 --> 00:16:01,166
that something
could be returning home
from a day of hunting
371
00:16:01,166 --> 00:16:03,800
and heading right towards us.
372
00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:06,266
Not wanting to miss
any movement in the woods,
373
00:16:06,266 --> 00:16:08,734
we set up motion-activated
trail cameras.
374
00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:10,567
Now it's ready.
375
00:16:10,567 --> 00:16:11,734
We have one facing inward.
376
00:16:11,734 --> 00:16:14,600
Now we need
to set up a perimeter
that faces outward.
377
00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:17,100
I want these game cams
to overlap by at least
10 yards.
378
00:16:17,100 --> 00:16:18,767
I don't want anything
to slip through.
379
00:16:18,767 --> 00:16:20,800
Okay. I'll cover,
starting over there,
380
00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:22,567
working counterclockwise.
You start over there.
381
00:16:22,567 --> 00:16:23,667
Sounds good.
382
00:16:23,667 --> 00:16:26,667
Phil and I split up to place
several more trail cams
383
00:16:26,667 --> 00:16:28,266
facing away from the nest.
384
00:16:28,266 --> 00:16:30,367
Positioning them 10 yards
apart from each other
385
00:16:30,367 --> 00:16:32,600
will create an overlapping
field of view.
386
00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:35,567
This will ensure anything
moving into the perimeter
we've established
387
00:16:35,567 --> 00:16:37,700
will be caught on camera.
388
00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:46,667
Oh, okay.
389
00:16:46,667 --> 00:16:48,900
Let's go walk
through a swamp at night.
390
00:17:01,700 --> 00:17:03,467
-[water splashing]
-[Heather screaming]
391
00:17:03,467 --> 00:17:04,734
Oh, [bleep].
392
00:17:05,166 --> 00:17:06,400
You good?
393
00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:08,967
There's a huge splash
over here.
394
00:17:08,967 --> 00:17:09,934
[Phil] Right,
heading that way.
395
00:17:18,066 --> 00:17:19,467
-You just hear a big splash?
-[Heather] Yeah.
396
00:17:19,467 --> 00:17:20,533
-Like, this huge--
-[Phil] Did you see anything?
397
00:17:20,533 --> 00:17:22,400
[Heather]
I didn't see anything.
But I heard it.
398
00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:24,200
It was huge.
399
00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:25,667
[Phil] Well,
there's only a few options
400
00:17:25,667 --> 00:17:28,066
of what could be big
out here at night.
401
00:17:28,066 --> 00:17:30,400
There's gators, there's bears,
402
00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:32,567
or whatever Frank saw.
403
00:17:32,567 --> 00:17:33,867
You have the FLIR?
404
00:17:33,867 --> 00:17:35,000
I have the FLIR, yeah.
405
00:17:38,667 --> 00:17:39,734
[device beeping]
406
00:18:03,266 --> 00:18:04,166
[twigs breaking]
407
00:18:06,567 --> 00:18:08,066
I heard some, like,
chuffing out there.
408
00:18:08,066 --> 00:18:09,600
Did you hear that?
It was like...
[mimics chuffing]
409
00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:10,600
Yeah.
410
00:18:12,700 --> 00:18:14,133
-[twigs breaking]
-[Heather gasps]
411
00:18:17,567 --> 00:18:19,133
More branches are breaking.
412
00:18:20,266 --> 00:18:21,467
It's right that direction.
413
00:18:21,467 --> 00:18:22,433
[twigs breaking]
414
00:18:23,500 --> 00:18:24,934
I think we should get closer.
415
00:18:31,166 --> 00:18:32,800
See for eye shine, okay?
416
00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:34,333
[Heather] Eye shine.
417
00:18:38,767 --> 00:18:40,667
-[Phil] Right back there.
Look, look, look.
-[Heather] What?
418
00:18:40,667 --> 00:18:41,900
Right there. See that?
419
00:18:42,700 --> 00:18:43,967
It's an area
of flattened grass.
420
00:18:43,967 --> 00:18:46,800
[Heather]
It looks like some leftover
heat signature there.
421
00:18:47,567 --> 00:18:48,634
[Phil] You see
how those are folded down?
422
00:18:48,634 --> 00:18:51,133
-[Heather] Yeah.
-[Phil] Folded down
right there.
423
00:18:54,367 --> 00:18:56,367
I'm gonna jump ahead
and see...
424
00:18:56,367 --> 00:18:57,500
[Heather] Okay.
425
00:18:57,500 --> 00:18:59,500
...if there's any hairs
or anything.
426
00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:03,400
Show yourself.
427
00:19:17,066 --> 00:19:18,400
-[twig breaks]
-Oh, my God!
428
00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:19,700
[Heather gasps]
What the [bleep]?
429
00:19:24,967 --> 00:19:26,300
[Phil] That was close.
430
00:19:27,367 --> 00:19:29,634
It's really thick back here.
I can't see very far.
431
00:19:31,467 --> 00:19:32,367
They must move quick.
432
00:19:33,300 --> 00:19:35,166
I feel like we're pushing it
farther away
433
00:19:35,166 --> 00:19:37,000
just by being out here.
434
00:19:37,000 --> 00:19:38,133
The game cams are set up.
435
00:19:38,133 --> 00:19:40,500
Let's let them do their job
and let's get out of here.
436
00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:41,533
Okay.
437
00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:47,400
[Heather] As the sun comes up,
438
00:19:47,400 --> 00:19:50,100
we meet up with our witnesses
Frank and Chris,
439
00:19:50,100 --> 00:19:52,900
who take us back
to safer ground
and wifi access
440
00:19:54,467 --> 00:19:57,600
where we update Josh
on what we found so far.
441
00:19:57,867 --> 00:19:58,667
Hey, Gates.
442
00:19:58,667 --> 00:20:00,166
-Hey, Josh.
-Hey.
443
00:20:00,166 --> 00:20:02,567
Sending you a shot of whiskey.
444
00:20:02,567 --> 00:20:04,700
A shot of whiskey.
Oh, Whiskey!
445
00:20:04,700 --> 00:20:06,000
Phil, you made it funny.
446
00:20:06,500 --> 00:20:07,867
You know what's not a joke?
447
00:20:07,867 --> 00:20:09,000
-The Skunk Ape.
-Really?
448
00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:11,166
Was Whiskey able to track
something down?
449
00:20:11,166 --> 00:20:12,867
Yeah. He picked up his scent.
450
00:20:12,867 --> 00:20:14,100
We followed this trail,
451
00:20:14,100 --> 00:20:15,800
and we ended up
at a giant tree,
452
00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:17,467
where I think we found a nest.
453
00:20:17,467 --> 00:20:20,967
A nest? Like, giant enough
for a Skunk Ape?
454
00:20:20,967 --> 00:20:22,767
Listen,
my first impression was
455
00:20:22,767 --> 00:20:23,800
this has to be the nest
456
00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:25,800
of one of the larger
bird species around here.
457
00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:27,166
But when I climbed up in it,
458
00:20:27,166 --> 00:20:29,567
there was no bird poop
to be seen.
459
00:20:29,567 --> 00:20:31,667
And the way that
the fronds were laid out
460
00:20:31,667 --> 00:20:34,500
seemed like
a very intentional design, so.
461
00:20:34,500 --> 00:20:38,000
Honestly, I don't know
what could've made it.
462
00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:38,800
Okay, wow.
463
00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:39,800
Well, while you've been
on the hunt,
464
00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:41,967
I went back
through my old case files
465
00:20:41,967 --> 00:20:43,767
from when I investigated
this story.
466
00:20:43,767 --> 00:20:46,100
and I reconnected with someone
that I interviewed back then.
467
00:20:46,100 --> 00:20:47,867
A guy named Dave Shealy.
468
00:20:47,867 --> 00:20:49,100
And since that time,
469
00:20:49,100 --> 00:20:51,667
he says that he has had
many more sightings
of the Skunk Ape
470
00:20:51,667 --> 00:20:54,200
and says that
he captured this video.
471
00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:54,900
Check it out.
472
00:20:58,100 --> 00:20:59,634
[Heather] He's moving fast.
473
00:21:00,367 --> 00:21:01,367
[Phil] Hmm.
474
00:21:01,367 --> 00:21:03,400
I mean, it kind of looks
like a guy in a suit.
475
00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:06,100
Dave is convinced that
that is a Skunk Ape.
476
00:21:06,100 --> 00:21:08,367
And what's more,
he says he can prove it.
477
00:21:08,367 --> 00:21:09,567
You've gotta meet this guy.
478
00:21:09,567 --> 00:21:11,467
Well, Heather,
why don't you meet with him?
479
00:21:11,467 --> 00:21:13,800
I wanna try to track down
a primatologist
480
00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:15,700
and get an expert opinion
on the evidence
481
00:21:15,700 --> 00:21:17,266
that we've gathered so far,
482
00:21:17,266 --> 00:21:18,467
including this video.
483
00:21:18,467 --> 00:21:19,567
Sounds like a plan.
484
00:21:19,567 --> 00:21:21,133
I'll see you later,
alligators.
485
00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:28,867
-[Heather] Dave.
-[David] Heather.
486
00:21:28,867 --> 00:21:31,300
[Heather]
David Shealy and his family
have been gladesmen.
487
00:21:31,300 --> 00:21:33,467
Essentially the taxis
of the Everglades
488
00:21:33,467 --> 00:21:35,100
for four generations.
489
00:21:35,100 --> 00:21:36,767
What a cool boat.
490
00:21:36,767 --> 00:21:37,934
It's called a pole boat.
491
00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:40,567
Some good transportation.
492
00:21:40,567 --> 00:21:42,000
[Heather] He's dedicated
much of his life
493
00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:44,900
to trying to prove skunk apes
are a very real part
494
00:21:44,900 --> 00:21:46,900
of Florida's ecosystem.
495
00:21:46,900 --> 00:21:48,800
I saw a really
compelling video.
496
00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:51,700
Was that video taken here
on the property?
497
00:21:51,700 --> 00:21:56,166
Yeah, I took the video
about two miles out back here
on the marsh.
498
00:21:56,166 --> 00:21:58,600
A lot of people
discount it, but...
499
00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:02,000
And when you get out there
and see the conditions, uh,
500
00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,500
there's no doubt in my mind
it was a wild animal,
501
00:22:04,500 --> 00:22:07,600
-some type
of primate creature.
-Oh, no way.
502
00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:10,400
I'd love to take you out there
and show you that area
503
00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:11,900
so you can see it
for yourself.
504
00:22:11,900 --> 00:22:13,567
[Heather] I would love to go.
505
00:22:13,567 --> 00:22:15,834
[David] Let's do that.
I, I welcome that.
506
00:22:18,567 --> 00:22:20,700
[Phil]
With witness descriptions
of the Skunk Ape
507
00:22:20,700 --> 00:22:23,367
suggesting it's some sort
of large primate,
508
00:22:23,367 --> 00:22:25,166
I need to know
if an animal that big
509
00:22:25,166 --> 00:22:27,734
could even survive
in the Everglades.
510
00:22:28,100 --> 00:22:28,867
[Phil] Hey, Andrew.
511
00:22:28,867 --> 00:22:31,166
Hey, Phil.
Nice to meet you, man.
512
00:22:31,166 --> 00:22:33,667
[Phil] I'm meeting
with Dr. Andrew Zamora,
513
00:22:33,667 --> 00:22:37,367
a biological anthropologist
specializing in primatology
514
00:22:37,367 --> 00:22:39,567
at the Naples Zoo.
515
00:22:39,567 --> 00:22:43,567
Someone recently saw
what they can only describe
as a Skunk Ape.
516
00:22:43,567 --> 00:22:45,000
-So, I went to investigate it.
-Okay?
517
00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:46,834
And what we found up in a tree
518
00:22:47,667 --> 00:22:50,100
was something
I'm still trying
to figure out.
519
00:22:50,100 --> 00:22:53,066
When I climbed up there,
right in the middle,
520
00:22:53,066 --> 00:22:54,667
there was a gar.
521
00:22:54,667 --> 00:22:56,667
-[Andrew chuckles] Oh, nice.
Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
-And...
522
00:22:56,667 --> 00:22:58,900
-some wings from a dead bird.
-[Andrew] Mmm-hmm.
523
00:22:58,900 --> 00:23:00,900
Does that look like something
an ape would do?
524
00:23:00,900 --> 00:23:03,467
Uh, that does look
like something a great ape
could do.
525
00:23:03,467 --> 00:23:04,800
It's a decent size nest.
526
00:23:04,800 --> 00:23:05,900
They'll lay a cross hatch
527
00:23:05,900 --> 00:23:07,767
of branches and leaves
on the ground.
528
00:23:07,767 --> 00:23:09,367
They build a rim around that
529
00:23:09,367 --> 00:23:11,567
and then they'll start
filling it with leaves
and twigs,
530
00:23:11,567 --> 00:23:14,300
softer materials that's nice
and easy for them to sleep on.
531
00:23:14,300 --> 00:23:17,800
But the fact that
you're finding a gar in there,
532
00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:19,867
feathers and,
and bird remains...
533
00:23:19,867 --> 00:23:24,266
Meat tends to not really be
a popular fare for primates,
534
00:23:24,266 --> 00:23:25,567
especially your great apes.
535
00:23:25,567 --> 00:23:26,700
That being said,
536
00:23:26,700 --> 00:23:28,467
chimpanzees are pretty famous
for doing active hunting
537
00:23:28,467 --> 00:23:29,867
from time to time.
538
00:23:29,867 --> 00:23:32,467
Long tailed macaques
that actually forage
in the water.
539
00:23:32,467 --> 00:23:35,100
So, it's definitely
not impossible.
540
00:23:35,100 --> 00:23:36,400
One other thing
that stood out about this
541
00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:40,467
-is that the base of the tree
smelled pretty awful.
-Mmm-hmm.
542
00:23:40,467 --> 00:23:41,667
When it comes to primates,
543
00:23:41,667 --> 00:23:44,600
do any of them
use scent markings for their,
their nests,
544
00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:45,800
their home turf,
their territory?
545
00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:48,333
Yeah, well, I mean,
you have a great example
right here.
546
00:23:49,166 --> 00:23:51,967
These are our three
red ruffed lemur boys.
547
00:23:51,967 --> 00:23:55,266
They rely on
scent based communication
quite a lot
548
00:23:55,266 --> 00:23:58,400
to demarcate territories,
to communicate,
549
00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:00,300
their age,
or reproductive status.
550
00:24:00,667 --> 00:24:01,867
[Phil] Cool.
551
00:24:01,867 --> 00:24:03,367
So, we've been collecting
some evidence.
552
00:24:03,367 --> 00:24:06,300
Some of this is from, uh,
previous eyewitnesses.
553
00:24:06,300 --> 00:24:08,033
If you see
something like this,
554
00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:09,300
what's your gut say?
555
00:24:09,300 --> 00:24:10,800
[Andrew]
It's quite difficult to tell.
556
00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:13,166
But that arm motion
seems, like,
557
00:24:13,166 --> 00:24:14,767
really exaggerated to me.
558
00:24:14,767 --> 00:24:16,867
That definitely strikes me
as a bit curious.
559
00:24:16,867 --> 00:24:18,400
So, you're a little
suspicious?
560
00:24:18,400 --> 00:24:19,233
Great apes,
561
00:24:19,233 --> 00:24:20,500
when you see them
walking bipedally,
562
00:24:20,500 --> 00:24:22,166
which they will do
from time to time,
563
00:24:22,166 --> 00:24:24,166
one, they have this kind of
bent knee gaits
564
00:24:24,166 --> 00:24:26,000
and their knees
are also more out.
565
00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:27,200
As a result, when they walk,
566
00:24:27,200 --> 00:24:29,467
-they almost shuffle a bit
from side to side.
-[Phil] Mmm.
567
00:24:29,467 --> 00:24:31,300
This animal or whatever it is,
568
00:24:31,300 --> 00:24:35,066
you can definitely tell
it's walking with kind of that
human-like gait, right?
569
00:24:35,066 --> 00:24:36,166
It's upright
570
00:24:36,166 --> 00:24:39,000
and using its arms as,
as balances
571
00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:39,867
much like we do.
572
00:24:39,867 --> 00:24:41,900
It's definitely a little fishy
to me.
573
00:24:51,100 --> 00:24:52,467
Don't grab this grass,
574
00:24:52,467 --> 00:24:54,266
-because this
is called sawgrass.
-[Heather] Okay.
575
00:24:54,266 --> 00:24:55,834
-Yeah.
-[David] It'll cut your hands.
576
00:24:58,100 --> 00:24:59,467
Well, this is it.
577
00:24:59,467 --> 00:25:00,667
This is the exact spot?
578
00:25:00,667 --> 00:25:02,467
This is the spot
where I took the video.
579
00:25:02,467 --> 00:25:04,634
It crossed from
the hammock over here
580
00:25:04,867 --> 00:25:06,567
and ran across
581
00:25:06,567 --> 00:25:08,700
and went into this hammock
over here.
582
00:25:11,900 --> 00:25:13,667
[Heather] I'd love to do
an experiment myself
583
00:25:13,667 --> 00:25:17,000
-and see if I can run
the exact same path.
-[David] Okay.
584
00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:18,400
We'll just compare
the two videos.
585
00:25:18,400 --> 00:25:19,734
All right, let's do it.
586
00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:21,967
[Heather]
The supposed creature
in the video
587
00:25:21,967 --> 00:25:23,166
had its arms held up,
588
00:25:23,166 --> 00:25:25,100
like it was trying
to avoid getting cut
589
00:25:25,100 --> 00:25:27,100
by the swamp's sharp sawgrass.
590
00:25:27,100 --> 00:25:28,634
I'll aim to copy it exactly.
591
00:25:39,500 --> 00:25:42,467
The marsh's muddy waters
are exhausting to run in,
592
00:25:42,467 --> 00:25:46,000
and I barely complete
three quarters of the path
seen in the original video
593
00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:47,967
before I'm unable to continue.
594
00:25:47,967 --> 00:25:49,934
[breathing heavily]
595
00:25:52,066 --> 00:25:53,200
And just keep in mind.
596
00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:55,767
When it happened,
the water out here
was even higher.
597
00:25:55,767 --> 00:25:58,333
And today, it's still,
you know, difficult.
598
00:25:59,567 --> 00:26:00,867
[Heather] We compare
the two videos
599
00:26:00,867 --> 00:26:03,000
and the results
are not even close.
600
00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:07,100
The figure
covered the entire distance
in 26 seconds.
601
00:26:07,100 --> 00:26:08,867
I've always been
a pretty good athlete,
602
00:26:08,867 --> 00:26:10,867
but could only complete
three quarters
603
00:26:10,867 --> 00:26:11,567
of the same distance
604
00:26:11,567 --> 00:26:15,000
in one minute and 23 seconds.
605
00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:18,800
There's no way a human being
can run that far,
606
00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:21,300
that fast in this terrain.
607
00:26:21,300 --> 00:26:24,634
In my mind,
all questions are put to bed.
608
00:26:26,100 --> 00:26:27,600
If we wanted to find
the Skunk Ape,
609
00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:29,367
what areas should we look in?
610
00:26:29,367 --> 00:26:31,000
What should we be looking for?
611
00:26:31,567 --> 00:26:33,100
This time of year,
612
00:26:33,100 --> 00:26:36,200
skunk apes tend to get back
into swamps.
613
00:26:36,200 --> 00:26:38,266
The water levels are falling,
614
00:26:38,266 --> 00:26:41,266
uh, the pond apples are,
are starting to produce,
615
00:26:41,266 --> 00:26:43,500
which is a major food source.
616
00:26:43,500 --> 00:26:46,133
These would be the areas
I would be looking.
617
00:26:47,767 --> 00:26:49,000
[Heather] David gives me
a set of coordinates
618
00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:50,800
he believes offers
our best chance
619
00:26:50,800 --> 00:26:52,667
at finding a Skunk Ape.
620
00:26:52,667 --> 00:26:55,100
A remote patch of land
deep in the Florida marsh,
621
00:26:55,100 --> 00:26:57,367
surrounded by water
and thick brush.
622
00:26:57,367 --> 00:27:01,367
David believes it provides
the perfect ecosystem
for this potential creature.
623
00:27:01,367 --> 00:27:03,300
It will be tough terrain
to get to.
624
00:27:03,300 --> 00:27:06,233
So, I pick up Phil
in a vehicle built
for the task.
625
00:27:09,066 --> 00:27:09,834
[Phil] What is this thing?
626
00:27:11,367 --> 00:27:12,667
[Heather] This is
a swamp buggy.
627
00:27:12,667 --> 00:27:15,066
They've been around
for 100 years.
628
00:27:15,066 --> 00:27:17,567
They were specifically made
for the Everglades
629
00:27:17,567 --> 00:27:20,166
as a way to transport people,
630
00:27:20,166 --> 00:27:22,734
and obviously to stay away
from gators.
631
00:27:23,667 --> 00:27:25,233
[Phil] It's hauling.
632
00:27:30,500 --> 00:27:31,367
What is that?
633
00:27:31,367 --> 00:27:33,000
-[Phil] On that tree?
-[Heather] Yeah.
634
00:27:33,266 --> 00:27:35,133
[Phil] Whoa, okay.
635
00:27:38,100 --> 00:27:40,233
What happened to this tree?
636
00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:43,634
This is completely torn up
by something.
637
00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:45,000
[buzzing]
638
00:27:45,166 --> 00:27:46,700
Oh, [bleep].
639
00:27:46,700 --> 00:27:48,266
Oh, geez, I just realized why.
640
00:27:48,266 --> 00:27:49,166
What?
641
00:27:49,166 --> 00:27:51,767
[grunts] I was just thinking.
642
00:27:51,767 --> 00:27:55,700
This looks like a tree
that a bear tore up
to get to honeybees.
643
00:27:56,767 --> 00:27:58,800
There's the honeybee hive
right here.
644
00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,100
I'm gonna try to document it
before I get stung.
645
00:28:03,100 --> 00:28:04,100
[Heather] Yeah,
you better hustle, Phil.
646
00:28:04,100 --> 00:28:05,634
Get ready, set.
647
00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:07,767
-[camera shutter clicks]
-[Phil] Got it.
648
00:28:08,367 --> 00:28:10,700
-Okay. Let's get outta here.
-All right.
649
00:28:10,700 --> 00:28:11,567
[Phil] Whoo!
650
00:28:11,567 --> 00:28:13,100
Ooh, they're on to me.
651
00:28:13,100 --> 00:28:13,900
Oh, [bleep].
652
00:28:13,900 --> 00:28:15,300
Let's get it going.
Get it going.
653
00:28:15,300 --> 00:28:17,066
Go, go, go, go, go, go, go!
654
00:28:17,066 --> 00:28:18,400
[engine sputtering]
655
00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:20,600
Go, go, go! Ah!
656
00:28:21,300 --> 00:28:22,433
-Go, go, go!
-[engine revs]
657
00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:27,900
[Phil] Go, go!
658
00:28:28,567 --> 00:28:31,667
Whoo! [sighs]
659
00:28:31,667 --> 00:28:33,100
Keep going, keep going,
keep going.
660
00:28:33,100 --> 00:28:34,533
They're onto us,
they're onto us.
661
00:28:36,100 --> 00:28:37,800
[sighs] I hear one buzzing.
662
00:28:37,800 --> 00:28:38,567
Is it in my hair?
663
00:28:38,567 --> 00:28:39,800
-Yes. Yes.
-Okay.
664
00:28:40,266 --> 00:28:42,100
-I got hit once.
-[buzzing]
665
00:28:42,100 --> 00:28:42,867
[Heather] Oof.
666
00:28:42,867 --> 00:28:44,667
Even while getting stung
by a bee,
667
00:28:44,667 --> 00:28:46,300
you still got the shot.
668
00:28:46,300 --> 00:28:48,700
[Phil] Anything for science,
you know?
669
00:28:50,100 --> 00:28:52,100
We pushed deeper
into the marsh,
670
00:28:52,100 --> 00:28:53,900
eventually reaching
the coordinates
671
00:28:53,900 --> 00:28:55,500
David Shealy gave us.
672
00:29:01,367 --> 00:29:03,767
We park the swamp buggy
and continue on foot
673
00:29:03,767 --> 00:29:06,000
to avoid alerting
any creatures.
674
00:29:10,600 --> 00:29:12,233
-[Phil] After you.
-[Heather] Thank you, sir.
675
00:29:13,467 --> 00:29:14,367
[Phil] As the sun sets,
676
00:29:14,367 --> 00:29:16,867
we throw on our waders,
grab our gear
677
00:29:16,867 --> 00:29:19,066
and continue on foot.
678
00:29:19,066 --> 00:29:20,600
[crickets chirping]
679
00:29:21,500 --> 00:29:25,000
[Heather] Gosh,
that is a bright, full moon.
680
00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:27,266
[Phil]
You know what they say about
skunk apes on a full moon?
681
00:29:27,266 --> 00:29:28,500
[Heather] What?
682
00:29:28,500 --> 00:29:30,767
-[Phil] That's when
they're at their stinkiest.
-Oh, Lord.
683
00:29:30,767 --> 00:29:32,700
[Phil] Wait till you get
a sniff of what I got.
684
00:29:33,567 --> 00:29:35,834
-You ready for this?
-[Heather] I'm not sure.
685
00:29:36,300 --> 00:29:38,033
[Phil] So...
686
00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:40,667
Can you hold my jars?
687
00:29:40,667 --> 00:29:43,467
-I have...
-[Heather] It's leaking.
What is this?
688
00:29:43,467 --> 00:29:45,000
We have skunk,
689
00:29:45,467 --> 00:29:47,867
we have boar glands,
690
00:29:47,867 --> 00:29:50,800
and we have bear scent marks.
691
00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:52,867
Are you trying to out skunk
the Skunk Ape though?
692
00:29:52,867 --> 00:29:55,200
100% that's what
I'm trying to do.
693
00:29:55,767 --> 00:29:58,266
So, my plan involves this.
694
00:29:58,266 --> 00:30:02,567
It is a laser guided
slingshot.
695
00:30:02,567 --> 00:30:03,967
[Heather] Laser guided?
696
00:30:03,967 --> 00:30:05,867
[Phil] It was the only one
they had in the store.
697
00:30:05,867 --> 00:30:07,467
Each of these
wooden balls in here?
698
00:30:07,467 --> 00:30:10,333
-[Heather] Yeah?
-I've been soaking it
for about 48 hours.
699
00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:12,467
I'm using the slingshot
700
00:30:12,467 --> 00:30:16,700
to launch
animal scented objects
in multiple directions.
701
00:30:16,700 --> 00:30:18,867
Different reactions
can be triggered in primates
702
00:30:18,867 --> 00:30:21,000
by presenting them
with different scents,
703
00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,667
particularly if the scent
arrives suddenly,
704
00:30:23,667 --> 00:30:27,000
like the slingshot
will ensure.
705
00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:28,200
I wanna see what's coming
towards us.
706
00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:29,700
-So, let me get my FLIR out.
-[Phil] Okay.
707
00:30:31,767 --> 00:30:33,500
[Heather] You got that for me?
Thank you.
708
00:30:36,900 --> 00:30:38,000
We are recording.
709
00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:39,333
[Phil] Okay.
710
00:30:39,333 --> 00:30:41,667
Time to get out
these stinky wooden balls.
711
00:30:41,667 --> 00:30:43,300
I'm gonna start with bear.
712
00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:48,400
-Yeah, up close. Come on.
-Ugh.
713
00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:49,900
[clears throat]
714
00:30:50,567 --> 00:30:51,900
It is not pleasant.
715
00:30:54,467 --> 00:30:56,500
I'm guessing
bear scent will trigger
716
00:30:56,500 --> 00:30:58,667
an aggressive behavior
in apes.
717
00:30:58,667 --> 00:31:01,300
Let's see what response
we get here.
718
00:31:01,300 --> 00:31:03,400
Looks like we got some
good distance right there.
719
00:31:04,567 --> 00:31:07,600
Bear scent. Ready to launch.
720
00:31:12,100 --> 00:31:13,700
Okay, there's one.
721
00:31:15,800 --> 00:31:17,467
Now we got skunk.
722
00:31:17,467 --> 00:31:18,667
[Heather] Oof.
723
00:31:18,667 --> 00:31:19,767
[Phil] If what we're tracking
724
00:31:19,767 --> 00:31:22,767
marks its territory
with a scent similar to skunk,
725
00:31:22,767 --> 00:31:24,800
I'm hoping launching
this skunk smell
726
00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:27,867
will trigger
a territorial response.
727
00:31:27,867 --> 00:31:28,934
Stink bomb away.
728
00:31:32,567 --> 00:31:34,333
[Heather] Nice.
729
00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:36,400
[Phil softly] Okay.
730
00:31:36,400 --> 00:31:37,934
And finally, wild boar.
731
00:31:39,767 --> 00:31:40,800
Uh-oh.
732
00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:43,600
The idea here is four
could serve two purposes.
733
00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:45,000
One, could be prey item,
734
00:31:45,000 --> 00:31:46,867
and two,
boar eat about everything.
735
00:31:46,867 --> 00:31:49,667
So, definitely,
it could be some competition.
736
00:31:49,667 --> 00:31:51,567
I'm gonna shoot this
in a slightly different
direction.
737
00:31:51,567 --> 00:31:53,700
-[Heather] Okay.
-[Phil] Keep each one
at space.
738
00:31:58,567 --> 00:32:00,700
[whispering]
Okay, let's hunker down
and just see what comes.
739
00:32:05,900 --> 00:32:07,300
[Heather]
Nothing on the camera yet.
740
00:32:08,100 --> 00:32:09,700
[Phil speaking softly]
Let's give it a second.
741
00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:21,467
[twig snaps]
742
00:32:21,467 --> 00:32:22,734
[Phil] Ooh.
743
00:32:23,867 --> 00:32:25,433
That was a big branch
falling down.
744
00:32:27,467 --> 00:32:28,867
[whispers] You shot a ball
in that direction.
745
00:32:28,867 --> 00:32:29,700
[thwack]
746
00:32:32,567 --> 00:32:35,000
[whispers]
747
00:32:42,567 --> 00:32:43,400
Oh, my God.
748
00:32:44,500 --> 00:32:45,467
[thwack]
749
00:32:45,467 --> 00:32:46,734
[Phil whispering]
750
00:32:49,300 --> 00:32:51,300
Can you see it?
Up in the trees, up there?
751
00:32:52,967 --> 00:32:54,300
Lower, a little bit lower.
752
00:32:56,266 --> 00:32:57,333
[thwack]
753
00:32:57,333 --> 00:32:59,567
-[gasps]
-There, again.
That sounds like a knock.
754
00:32:59,567 --> 00:33:00,634
Like, it's just,
755
00:33:00,634 --> 00:33:02,867
someone just banging a stick
against something.
756
00:33:02,867 --> 00:33:03,900
[Heather] Oh, my gosh.
757
00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:09,000
[Phil speaking]
758
00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:12,867
I can't see anything
past 40 feet on this.
759
00:33:12,867 --> 00:33:15,300
'Cause it's so thick
and heavy, this brush.
760
00:33:15,300 --> 00:33:16,467
[Phil] Yeah.
761
00:33:16,467 --> 00:33:19,467
I think you need to put
the thermal drone
up in the air.
762
00:33:19,467 --> 00:33:21,533
-Okay. I'll get it out.
-Okay.
763
00:33:24,467 --> 00:33:27,266
[beeping]
764
00:33:27,266 --> 00:33:29,467
Right, you hold that.
765
00:33:29,467 --> 00:33:31,266
Looks like we have
a little break in the canopy
right here.
766
00:33:31,266 --> 00:33:33,333
-So, you wanna stand
underneath that.
-Yeah.
767
00:33:34,000 --> 00:33:35,667
-[Phil] You ready?
-[Heather] Yeah.
768
00:33:35,667 --> 00:33:38,000
In three, two, one.
769
00:33:38,567 --> 00:33:40,033
[drone whirrs]
770
00:33:48,567 --> 00:33:50,867
-At least we know
that we're lighting up.
-[Heather] Yeah.
771
00:33:50,867 --> 00:33:52,667
We're definitely
showing up on there.
772
00:33:52,667 --> 00:33:53,700
[Phil] I'm gonna push
to the direction
773
00:33:53,700 --> 00:33:55,000
of what we just heard.
774
00:33:59,100 --> 00:34:02,200
That just looks like treetops.
775
00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:03,033
[Heather]
I don't see anything.
776
00:34:06,066 --> 00:34:07,700
[Phil] Swing back around
a little bit.
777
00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:09,934
Let's keep pushing.
778
00:34:12,467 --> 00:34:14,734
[Heather] Look. What is that?
779
00:34:15,700 --> 00:34:17,233
[Phil] It's another hot spot
right there.
780
00:34:21,400 --> 00:34:22,800
-It's moving. It's moving.
-[Heather gasps]
781
00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:24,367
Oh, my God.
782
00:34:30,367 --> 00:34:33,867
Heather and Phil's
search for the Skunk Ape
was almost illegal.
783
00:34:33,867 --> 00:34:35,567
It all starts in 1974,
784
00:34:35,567 --> 00:34:38,300
when Palm Beach County
deputies report shooting
785
00:34:38,300 --> 00:34:41,867
at a monstrous,
ape-like creature
that gets away.
786
00:34:41,867 --> 00:34:45,700
It seems this story
then opened some
very swampy floodgates.
787
00:34:45,700 --> 00:34:47,400
The police
were suddenly inundated
788
00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:50,266
with claims of a giant,
red furred ape
789
00:34:50,266 --> 00:34:53,100
breaking into homes,
feeding on livestock,
790
00:34:53,100 --> 00:34:55,700
and even stalking people.
791
00:34:55,700 --> 00:34:57,300
Locals became so enraged,
792
00:34:57,300 --> 00:34:59,400
that posses formed
to start stalking
793
00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:01,567
this so called monster back.
794
00:35:01,567 --> 00:35:02,667
Concern for the Skunk Ape
795
00:35:02,667 --> 00:35:04,700
ultimately reached
such a peak,
796
00:35:04,700 --> 00:35:06,266
that in 1977,
797
00:35:06,266 --> 00:35:09,066
Florida State representative
Hugh Paul Nuckolls
798
00:35:09,066 --> 00:35:13,567
proposed a bill
to make it illegal to possess,
harm or molest
799
00:35:13,567 --> 00:35:15,100
any humanoid animal
800
00:35:15,100 --> 00:35:17,400
popularly known
as the Skunk Ape.
801
00:35:20,367 --> 00:35:21,667
The bill never became law,
802
00:35:21,667 --> 00:35:24,000
but if there are
any skunk apes out there,
803
00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:27,300
you clearly had a friend
in representative Nuckolls.
804
00:35:33,700 --> 00:35:34,600
[Phil] Let's follow it.
805
00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:36,166
Maybe we can get signs
of whatever it is.
806
00:35:36,166 --> 00:35:37,300
Okay.
807
00:35:39,867 --> 00:35:40,900
[Phil] It's going quick.
808
00:35:41,500 --> 00:35:42,700
[Heather]
I'm right behind you.
809
00:35:46,166 --> 00:35:48,066
[Phil] It's still going.
It's still going.
810
00:35:48,066 --> 00:35:49,000
[Heather] It's moving fast.
811
00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:50,700
[Phil] Keep going,
keep going, keep going.
812
00:35:50,700 --> 00:35:52,500
Okay, we're getting close.
We're getting close.
813
00:35:53,467 --> 00:35:55,500
I'm gonna keep
the drone following.
814
00:35:59,100 --> 00:36:00,533
[whispering] Stop right here.
Stop right here.
815
00:36:04,166 --> 00:36:05,133
Hang on.
816
00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:08,767
I'm not seeing it right now.
817
00:36:08,767 --> 00:36:09,900
It was right over here.
818
00:36:12,066 --> 00:36:14,200
I don't get it,
it just disappeared.
819
00:36:14,200 --> 00:36:15,333
[Heather] Yeah, it's gone.
820
00:36:16,767 --> 00:36:17,634
That thing was moving.
821
00:36:17,634 --> 00:36:19,133
[Phil whispers]
I think it was moving.
822
00:36:20,066 --> 00:36:21,467
I cannot find it.
823
00:36:21,467 --> 00:36:24,867
We don't know where it is,
but we know where it's been.
824
00:36:24,867 --> 00:36:27,066
We can backtrack
along this path,
825
00:36:27,066 --> 00:36:28,500
the exact same way
that it came
826
00:36:28,500 --> 00:36:30,300
and we can try
to find evidence of it.
827
00:36:30,300 --> 00:36:31,767
Should we spread out
a little bit?
828
00:36:31,767 --> 00:36:33,367
I think
that's our best chance.
829
00:36:33,367 --> 00:36:35,400
Why don't you start
on that side of it's trail,
830
00:36:35,667 --> 00:36:36,667
move slowly,
831
00:36:36,667 --> 00:36:38,767
and I'm gonna find a place
to land this drone.
832
00:36:38,767 --> 00:36:40,433
But let's stay
within shouting distance.
833
00:36:50,266 --> 00:36:52,700
It's gonna be tough
to find any traces of it.
834
00:36:55,800 --> 00:36:57,900
I'm getting this feeling
where he could be
right above us
835
00:36:58,266 --> 00:36:59,500
at any moment.
836
00:37:04,166 --> 00:37:07,000
[Heather] What is that?
837
00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:09,400
Look at those ferns
lying on the ground like that.
838
00:37:10,700 --> 00:37:12,066
Phil, come here.
839
00:37:12,066 --> 00:37:13,066
You got something?
840
00:37:13,066 --> 00:37:15,100
[Heather] I think
I've got a nest.
841
00:37:15,100 --> 00:37:16,200
[Phil] Up in a tree?
842
00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:17,433
[Heather] No, on the ground.
843
00:37:19,667 --> 00:37:20,934
-This?
-[Heather] Yeah.
844
00:37:21,667 --> 00:37:22,834
[Phil] Whoa!
845
00:37:23,600 --> 00:37:26,400
Okay. Okay.
846
00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:28,767
I mean,
look at this indent
right here.
847
00:37:28,767 --> 00:37:31,500
Something has spent
a lot of time on the ground.
848
00:37:32,567 --> 00:37:35,233
Well, my first instinct
is I gotta wonder.
849
00:37:36,200 --> 00:37:38,033
Could this just be
a hunter's blind?
850
00:37:38,767 --> 00:37:40,467
They would be
really well camouflaged.
851
00:37:40,467 --> 00:37:42,166
I almost walked
right by this thing.
852
00:37:42,166 --> 00:37:44,066
[Heather] I mean,
in the path we took,
853
00:37:44,066 --> 00:37:45,767
we are in the middle
of nowhere.
854
00:37:45,767 --> 00:37:47,433
Think about what we did
to get out here.
855
00:37:47,967 --> 00:37:49,233
Wait, wait, wait. [sniffs]
856
00:37:50,667 --> 00:37:51,600
Ugh.
857
00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:52,967
Oh!
858
00:37:53,367 --> 00:37:54,700
-[Heather] That is awful.
-That is ripe.
859
00:37:55,467 --> 00:37:57,367
But that just came on
all of a sudden.
860
00:37:57,367 --> 00:37:58,333
What does that mean?
861
00:38:00,100 --> 00:38:01,533
[Phil whispers]
I don't know what that means.
862
00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:10,000
That was not a nice smell.
863
00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:11,834
I'm gonna get
some photos of this thing.
864
00:38:23,500 --> 00:38:25,500
-Oh, Heather.
-[Heather] What do you have?
865
00:38:25,500 --> 00:38:28,266
-[Phil] I found hairs.
-[Heather gasps] No.
866
00:38:28,266 --> 00:38:29,133
[Phil] Yes.
867
00:38:30,367 --> 00:38:32,800
Look at this right-- Oh.
868
00:38:33,166 --> 00:38:34,834
Holy [bleep].
869
00:38:35,700 --> 00:38:38,467
It's like that damn thing
is booby trapped.
870
00:38:38,467 --> 00:38:41,734
It really did just fall
right when you picked that up.
871
00:38:42,100 --> 00:38:43,567
[Phil] Okay.
872
00:38:43,567 --> 00:38:45,000
But at least we got the hairs.
873
00:38:45,967 --> 00:38:48,367
Okay, I'm gonna bag these.
874
00:38:48,367 --> 00:38:49,567
Actually, can you come here?
Can you help me?
875
00:38:49,567 --> 00:38:51,166
-[Heather] Yeah.
-[Phil] Hold this.
876
00:38:51,166 --> 00:38:52,233
[Heather softly] Okay.
877
00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:57,433
[Phil] Okay.
Got a bag right here.
878
00:38:58,066 --> 00:38:59,300
That is so weird.
879
00:39:00,367 --> 00:39:01,400
Okay.
880
00:39:01,800 --> 00:39:02,734
Well...
881
00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:04,934
Figure out what this was,
882
00:39:04,934 --> 00:39:08,500
whether it was a person,
or something else.
883
00:39:12,166 --> 00:39:14,266
[Josh] My team braved
the Florida Everglades,
884
00:39:14,266 --> 00:39:18,000
investigating the potent
legend of the Skunk Ape.
885
00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:22,100
We sent
the hairs Phil gathered
for DNA analysis.
886
00:39:22,100 --> 00:39:24,266
And while it wasn't
an ideal sample,
887
00:39:24,266 --> 00:39:27,400
they said it was most likely
a match for human.
888
00:39:27,400 --> 00:39:29,000
Phil counts that as a win.
889
00:39:29,000 --> 00:39:30,033
But Heather argues that
890
00:39:30,033 --> 00:39:32,767
this doesn't necessarily
rule out the Skunk Ape.
891
00:39:32,767 --> 00:39:38,200
Because human and ape DNA
match by a staggering 98.8%.
892
00:39:38,200 --> 00:39:40,266
-This wasn't the only
intriguing evidence...
-[Whiskey barks]
893
00:39:40,266 --> 00:39:41,467
[Josh] ...my team uncovered.
894
00:39:41,467 --> 00:39:42,367
[Phil] I think
he's got something.
895
00:39:42,367 --> 00:39:44,166
[Josh] Images of these
so called nests
896
00:39:44,166 --> 00:39:46,667
discovered by
our four-legged friend
Whiskey,
897
00:39:46,667 --> 00:39:49,000
were analyzed
by wildlife experts.
898
00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:50,300
[man] This is crazy.
899
00:39:50,300 --> 00:39:53,867
[Josh] They confirmed
it was not constructed
by a large bird.
900
00:39:53,867 --> 00:39:56,867
And just like our expert
from the Naples Zoo indicated,
901
00:39:56,867 --> 00:39:58,967
fascinatingly,
it does appear similar
902
00:39:58,967 --> 00:40:02,100
to nests constructed
by large primates.
903
00:40:02,100 --> 00:40:04,867
That does look like something
a great ape could do.
904
00:40:04,867 --> 00:40:06,567
[Josh] However,
analysis of the video
905
00:40:06,567 --> 00:40:09,300
of the supposed cryptid
crossing the swamp
906
00:40:09,300 --> 00:40:11,800
alongside Heather's
expert reenactment
907
00:40:11,800 --> 00:40:13,467
was inconclusive.
908
00:40:13,467 --> 00:40:16,300
Although the figure moves
much faster than Heather,
909
00:40:16,300 --> 00:40:17,800
under detailed analysis,
910
00:40:17,800 --> 00:40:21,100
its gait does appear
distinctly human.
911
00:40:21,100 --> 00:40:23,900
Far from this being
a super speeding cryptid,
912
00:40:23,900 --> 00:40:26,867
this really could just be
a person in a suit.
913
00:40:26,867 --> 00:40:29,967
And Heather may simply need
to work on her cardio.
914
00:40:29,967 --> 00:40:32,100
[Heather] I'm exhausted.
915
00:40:32,100 --> 00:40:36,066
[Josh]
It's our final video evidence
that is the most remarkable.
916
00:40:36,066 --> 00:40:39,066
The heat seeking drone
clearly shows Phil and Heather
917
00:40:39,066 --> 00:40:42,400
on the trail
of a very fast bipedal figure.
918
00:40:43,066 --> 00:40:43,767
[Heather] It's moving fast.
919
00:40:43,767 --> 00:40:45,133
[Phil] Keep going, keep going.
920
00:40:45,133 --> 00:40:48,467
[Josh]
We estimated they tracked it
for about 400 meters.
921
00:40:48,467 --> 00:40:52,100
After analyzing
the exact route
and speed of this figure,
922
00:40:52,100 --> 00:40:54,567
we determined
it cleared 400 meters
923
00:40:54,567 --> 00:40:56,900
in around 40 seconds.
924
00:40:56,900 --> 00:40:58,367
The fastest track athletes
925
00:40:58,367 --> 00:41:01,700
can travel 400 meters
in about 43 seconds.
926
00:41:01,700 --> 00:41:04,066
But crucially,
that is on flat ground.
927
00:41:04,066 --> 00:41:05,767
Not sodden swamp.
928
00:41:05,767 --> 00:41:07,166
Which begs the question.
929
00:41:07,166 --> 00:41:10,867
If this fast bipedal figure
is not likely human,
930
00:41:10,867 --> 00:41:12,400
what is it?
931
00:41:12,400 --> 00:41:15,266
While we certainly haven't
found definitive proof,
932
00:41:15,266 --> 00:41:16,867
it does seem
there's enough evidence
933
00:41:16,867 --> 00:41:20,100
to ensure the Skunk Ape
will be a part of Florida lore
934
00:41:20,100 --> 00:41:21,600
for years to come,
935
00:41:22,467 --> 00:41:27,000
casting a long shadow
and an even longer stench.