What Class A and Class B Mean in bigfootinfo.org Sighting Reports

Updated

On bigfootinfo.org, the class label attached to a sighting is a shorthand for how direct the encounter was. Class A reports describe a firsthand, close-range observation of a figure or creature — the witness says they saw it themselves. Class B reports describe indirect or secondhand evidence: tracks, structures, sounds, distant movement, or accounts passed along by someone other than the primary witness. The class tells you what kind of claim you are reading, not how believable it is.

The distinction in practice

The site's own listings show the pattern clearly. A report from Atlanta, Georgia, dated 2026-08-29, is filed as Class A: the witness describes being on a solo hike and seeing "an ape like figure bending down." That is a direct visual encounter. A report from Berclair, Texas, dated 2005-04-10, is filed as Class B: the observer found a "newly constructed structure" beside a creek while showing property. Nothing was seen — only a physical trace was found.

So the split is roughly:

Class What the report is based on Typical content
Class A Direct, firsthand observation by the witness A figure seen at close range, with movement or behavior described
Class B Indirect or secondary evidence Tracks, nests or structures, vocalizations, distant sightings, retold accounts

What the class does not tell you

A class label is a categorization of the type of encounter, not a rating of quality. A Class A report can still be a brief, unverifiable glimpse, and a Class B report can rest on detailed physical evidence. The site does not publish a scoring rubric, so treat the class as a filter for "what kind of claim is this" rather than "how strong is this claim."

How to use the classes when reading reports

  • If you want eyewitness accounts, filter for Class A and read the description for distance, duration, lighting, and whether the witness was alone.
  • If you are interested in physical or trace evidence, Class B entries are where tracks, structures, and audio tend to appear.
  • Cross-check the date and location. The site maps sightings, so a cluster of reports in the same area and period is more informative than any single entry.
  • Read the full report, not the class. The class is one field; the narrative usually contains the details that actually determine how much weight to give it.

The site currently shows 85 mapped sightings, and the newest entries mix both classes — which is a useful reminder that the classification is applied consistently across old and new submissions rather than being reserved for a particular era or region.