Ken Gerhard

I’m excited to report that I’ve just wrapped up a Chupacabras expedition for the History Channel’s second season of the hit TV series Monster Quest. The expedition took place in a southeast Texas location where there have been many reports of strange, hairless doglike animals which apperently dispatch their prey in a most heinous manner… by draining them of all of their blood. Livestock owners have reported losses similar to those in Puerto Rico during the mid nineteen nineties. In Puerto Rico and throughout Latin America, people have described the Chupacabras as being a grey, three to five foot animal with large, red almond shaped eyes, upright posture with shorter forelimbs and long hind limbs. Some witnesses have described a row of spikes running down the length of its back or even wings. It seems to possess an interesting combination of both mammalian and reptilian characteristics and somehow UFOs have gotten involved as well. Irregardless, there seem to be some highly irregular canines roaming the Texas brush, some might say mutations. Aside from using an arsenal of high tech gadgets and cameras in order to collect more evidence, I was able to examine the remains of the Cuero Chupacabras and the Elmendorf Beast, as well as interview Phyllis Canion and Devin McAnally, who discovered the mystery animals. Stay tuned to see what we found!

My apologies on the obvious lag between posts. Technical problems, along with a tumultuous personal life are to blame for the sidetrack. The good news is that I am back with many exciting research projects for 2008. First off, I’m currently involved in two, different documentaries for the same major television station. While I’m not allowed to divulge too much information, one topic centers on a cryptid that has only really gained notoriety over the past decade or so, while the other tackles a creature that has captured our imaginations for centuries. Look for those specials to air later this year. Also, I’ve begun research on a new book which will cover many types of cryptids, but with a certain local flavor. For that, I’m very excited to be co-writing with one of the top best-selling authors in the paranormal field. In addition, I will be speaking at the GhostTech Conference in San Antonio on May 31st.

This Wednesday November 21st, the History Channel’s Monster Quest series will feature yours truly in an episode titled Birdzilla. The episode, which was produced by notable cryptozoology company White Wolf Entertainment, will of course feature reports of gigantic, winged creatures throughout North America… from Alaska, to Illinois and finally to Texas where I have documented dozens of encounters with the infamous Big Bird. The notion of Thunderbirds, or birds who can mimic the sound of thunder with the beating of their enourmous wings, is one that is held in high regard by numerous native tribes, many of whom incorporate these animals into their ceremonies and artwork. In modern times, several witnesses have described airplane sized birds, capable of preying on humans. These reports are unfortunately the only evidence that exists for these elusive giants. However the sheer number of reports that continue to surface, casts doubt on theories about simple misidentifications. After years of research, I am of the opinion that there is really something out there. Watch the History Channel this Wednesday at 10:00pm EST and decide for yourself.

Tonight at 10:00pm on Eyewitness News KENS5 San Antonio, Joe Conger will be doing a story on continuing reports of giant birdlike creatures. Since the last story they ran back in July (featuring yours truly) several more eyewitnesses have come forward… confirming that there is indeed a flying, mystery animal native to these parts. I’m not sure if I will make an appearance in this latest edition, although I did play an active part in helping to put it all together. Stay tuned for a major television event coming up next week!

This being the birthday of the late Dr. Grover Krantz, I just thought I’d pay tribute by writing a few words in his honor. For those who don’t know, Dr. Krantz was a respected physical anthropologist at Washington State University who became interested in the Bigfoot phenomena and really put his reputation on the line by attacking such a controversial subject. He is considered one of the original, four horsemen of Bigfoot research along with John Green, Peter Byrne and the late Rene Dahinden. Krantz always took an even, scientific approach to Bigfoot and wrote one definitive book titled Big Footprints, which has been revised as Bigfoot Sasquatch Evidence. It is a simply brilliant must-read for anyone on the fence about the subject. His theories on everything from the Patterson film, to the unfakeable anatomy of the tracks, to Gigantopithecus as the ancestor of Bigfoot are extremely sound. He often carried a rifle in the field, as he explained how mankind would have to collect a specimen in order to conclusively prove Bigfoot’s existence. Apparently Grover had planned at one time to build a one man helicopter in order to overfly Bigfoot territory, but was talked out of it by his loved ones. On a personal note, Dr. Krantz was teaching at the University of Minnesota in the late 1960s, when my father was also a professor there in the Forestry Department.

After a flurry of international broadcasts, I am excited to announce that the Travel Channel has started to air the episode of Legend Hunters in which I am featured. In the show I visit Monster Central for the first time. This area is a virtual hotspot of Bigfoot activity and a prime area of research for the Gulf Coast Bigfoot Research Organization, a group of passionate researchers who I have had the pleasure of working with for several years. We did find some tantalizing evidence during the filming (despite dragging a television crew through the swamp). On two recent visits to the area I clearly heard loud, bipedal footsteps in a deep thicket, as well as deep moaning when I was walking a trail at night with my shotgun instead of my usual camcorder. As a result, I am more convinced than ever that something strange is afoot up there!

I’ll get right to the point. The infamous film clip, which purports to show an unknown, hairy biped strolling near a California creek back in 1967, has never been definitively disproven, despite the numerous confessions by dubious characters. Bob Gimlin, the only known, living eyewitness to the event is convinced and also convincing when he recounts how the giant manlike creature which he rode up on that October day was not a man. The filmer Roger Patterson died of cancer at a young age, but not before pressing the importance of the film before the scientific community at the time. Several great minds including the great physical anthropologist Dr. Grover Krantz, studied the film and were convinced that the film was unfaked… the genuine article. Sadly, the controvery swirling around the film has engulfed it. No amount of digital enhancement and subsuquent study will change the public perception in this, the age of CGI and PhotoShop. If nothing else, the Patterson film remains as a compelling if not absolutely convincing glimpse of what seemingly resembles a remarkable and rare primate or humanoid.

I am pleased to announce that after three years of research, my book about Texas’ flying mystery animals has come to print. Published by the Centre for Fortean Zoology with my greatest appreciation, it is now available through Amazon.com. I must also thank my good friends Jon Downes, Bill Rebsamen and Lee Hales who all made valuable contributions. It was just about thirty-one years ago, when the Rio Grande Valley became the sight of numerous reports over a two month period. Many of the eyewitnesses described airborne prehistoric terrors with airplane-sized wingspans. Through my extensive research in the Valley, I have since come to know many people from that area who were in some way impacted by the creature’s appearance. The sightings of 1976 more or less ended with a dramatic sighting by three school teachers just south of San Antonio, which is incidently the beautiful city that I now call home. Interestingly, just within the past few weeks I have learned of a Big Bird sighting which occurred just a couple of miles from where I am now currently residing on the city’s northwest side. In addition, there have been reports of leathery, winged creatures coming out of Wisconsin and New Mexico very recently, which indicates that these modern dragons may be flying around still.

On this date thirty-seven years ago, one of the most important monster sightings in modern times took place. It happened on the shore of Lake Worth, in an area known as the Pit within the Greer Island Nature Center. The previous evening, some couples parked by the lake had been startled by a “scaly goat-man” that had dropped on to their car from an overhanging branch. The distraught couples quickly high tailed it to the local police station where they reported their unbelievable ordeal. Local newspapers picked up on the item and the following evening a crowd had gathered at the spot in order catch a glimpse of the monster. Their wish was soon granted when a white, apelike creature was seen on a cliff overlooking the Pit (see photo gallery). According to mutltiple witnesses, the monster then hurled a spare tire about five hundred feet at the crowd, causing people to flee for the safety of their cars. Supposedly, even some sherrif’s officers that were present retreated in disbelief. While considered to be a hoax by some, evidence of strange happenings can still be found on Greer Island. Check out the Photo Gallery to see images of our investigation last July. Also, a chapter in Nick Redfern’s outstanding new book titled Memoirs of a Monster Hunter, recounts our expedition in more detail.

is the mystery hominid that is reported in the Altai Mountains of Mongolia, as well as the adjacent Tien Shan Mountains of China. These beings are said to be hairy, but more man-sized than Bigfoot. They are described as having a prominent eyebrow ridge, with massive jaws and a receding chin. They have also been attributed with some intelligent characteristics such as having their own primitive form of speech, though they apparently don’t use fire. A respected Russian doctor claimed to have seen an Alma family in the mountains during 1963. The region is essentially very remote and unpopulated, with the local nomads still living in a very primitive state themselves. Perhaps the Almas are the last living representatives of Homo erectus.