While Punxsutawney Phil may have said six more weeks of winter and Big Al went for an early spring, one thing is certain—the FBI released the Bigfoot file!
As Texans remain cautiously hopeful that we might be through the coldest part of the season, there’s one creature out there that doesn’t need to bundle up. Whether we call them Bigfoot, Sasquatch, or Skunk Ape, there is a general consensus that this cryptid is huge and has the kind of fur that probably provides better insulation than the winter jacket the average Houstonian digs out twice a year. Bigfoot is said to live in the forests of North America, and apparently, the FBI has a file on them, which was released late 2025.
The file focuses on a request the FBI received back in 1976, to test a possible Bigfoot hair and tissue sample. Although this kind of testing was not in the FBI’s wheelhouse, they accepted the request and processed the sample. It turned out to be from the deer family. You can read about it yourself here.
How did the public get access to this file? And why was everyone so excited by the existence of it?
Well, the public’s access is owed to the public! This file is in the FBI’s Vault, their FOIA Library. FOIA, refers to the Freedom of Information Act, which allows anyone to request access to records from any federal agency. The Vault is a collection of all the FOIA requests the FBI has received, which you can access here, no login required!
As to why people were so excited, well, finding out a government agency, such as the FBI, has an actual file on Bigfoot seems to lend credence to the idea that they’re real. Add to that, the fact that FOIA requests are generally only released to the public after the people of interest have passed—some took it to mean, not only did Bigfoot exist, they passed away.
However, the file only confirmed that tests of supposed Bigfoot samples had lackluster results. Meanwhile, Bigfoot enthusiasts remain hopeful and FOIA requests remain a right for us all.
For more information on FOIA and on the Texas Public Information Act, check out these links:
How to File a Freedom of Information Request
FOIA - Frequently Asked Questions