Ohio Researchers Investigate Bigfoot Sightings in West Virginia Forest

Posted Thursday, July 16, 2026

By Squatchable.com staff

So, I just came across this video from the Small Town Monsters YouTube channel, and honestly, it's got some really compelling stuff for anyone interested in Sasquatch research. The team heads out to West Virginia, specifically around the Bruceton Mills area near Coopers Rock State Forest, which if you know anything about Bigfoot hotspots, is prime territory. West Virginia has a long history of sightings, and this region is no exception. The video features an interview with David Belelfford, who wears a lot of hats in the research community. He's part of the WV Case Collective, the North American Dogman Project, and serves as the Taylor County investigator for the Bigfoot team. Right off the bat, he drops some interesting local history, including the famous "breath monster" sighting from 1965 and an encounter with a green-eyed creature that happened just down the road from where he lives. He also mentions that Chestnut Ridge is a confirmed hot spot for sightings. One of the most fascinating parts of the interview is when David shares a story from the 1980s about a woman and her husband who had a farm in Bruceton Mills. The husband saw something come out of the woodline, cross their field, and approach their bird feeder. Thinking it was a bear, he grabbed his shotgun and went outside. He came back scared, saying it wasn't a bear at all. He described it as standing about 7 feet tall, looking human but bigger, and covered in dark fur. Unfortunately, he didn't get a look at the eyes, but the profile alone was enough to convince him it was something otherworldly. David also shares his own encounter experience, mentioning a time when he was walking along a road and heard a whistle. When he called out on the radio to ask if it was his team, there was no answer. Later, his teammates confirmed they had whistled at him, meaning something else had made that sound. He also describes seeing something dark moving through the trees and hearing something large take off into the brush that night. What I really appreciated about this video is the practical research advice David offers. He strongly advocates for being quiet and observing rather than making noise with whoops and hollers. His background in wildlife research taught him that silence often yields better results. He also breaks down what makes a good investigation location: cover, food sources, water, and shelter. He specifically mentions that open fields and bridge lanes are worth watching because if Sasquatch is hunting, they'd likely patrol the edges where prey animals feed. The hosts mention they had to adjust their usual tactics because the area has a prominent black bear population, so instead of leaving out melons or treats, they opted for apples, which David confirmed as a safer alternative that might still draw interest. Now, here's where things get really interesting. The title of the video mentions audio evidence and analysis, suggesting the team captured something worth analyzing during their investigation. The discussion cuts off before we get to hear the actual evidence, so you'll definitely want to check out the full video to hear what they found. Small Town Monsters has built a solid reputation for taking a scientific approach to their investigations while still respecting the eyewitness accounts they collect, and this one looks like it delivers some intriguing content. If you're into Sasquatch research or just love a good field investigation, this video is worth your time. The combination of local lore, practical research tips, and the promise of audio evidence makes it a solid watch.