2013 Vancouver Island Bigfoot Sighting Analyzed Frame-by-Frame
Posted Saturday, June 27, 2026
By Squatchable.com staff
A fascinating piece of footage has surfaced from Vancouver Island that deserves a closer look. Back in August 2013, a couple vacationing on the island decided to take an impromptu hike into the dense forest near the tiny village of Port Renfrew. What they captured on camera that day has become one of the more intriguing clips to come out of British Columbia in recent years.
The couple had stopped along a remote, narrow road flanked by thick forest on both sides, with zero signs of civilization in sight. They chose to follow a nearly dry creek bed into the bush to avoid getting lost, having only traveled about 60 meters when they heard branches snapping ahead. Looking roughly 25 to 30 meters into the forest, they spotted a massive bipedal figure swaying back and forth. The couple described a cone-shaped head, broad massive shoulders, and a stature far larger than any black bear they'd encountered on previous hikes.
What makes this footage stand out is the duration. The couple filmed the subject for over two minutes, which is unusually long for this type of encounter. The man later uploaded an update video to their channel, Gulf Island Rock, providing additional context and insisting this was not a bear.
The grey or silver coloration of the figure is particularly noteworthy. Vancouver Island is predominantly home to black bears, which are almost always black, occasionally cinnamon, but rarely grey. While grizzlies have been known to occasionally swim over from the mainland, they don't venture anywhere near Port Renfrew, which sits on the southern part of the island. The northern tip is where any visiting grizzlies would temporarily appear, and that's a considerable distance from where this footage was captured.
The frame-by-frame analysis reveals some compelling details. There's a clear conical head shape with a flat, almost horizontal forehead reminiscent of a gorilla's skull. The muscular back and squared shoulders don't match the sloped, narrow shoulder structure of a bear standing upright. Even more striking is what appears to be a long left arm extending into the vegetation on the left side of the screen, with a visible white patch that could be a hand dangling downward. The length and position of this limb is something a bear simply couldn't replicate, though it bears resemblance to the long arms of orangutans.
One of the most fascinating comparisons comes when looking at the facial features. The subject appears to have a chin, a broad flat nose consistent with reported Sasquatch sightings, and what could be an eye or eye socket. When compared to Todd Gatewood's enhanced restoration of the Patterson-Gimlin footage, the similarities are striking, not just in facial features but in the overall impression and body language. Both subjects appear to rotate their entire bodies to look back at the camera rather than just turning their heads, a characteristic often noted in credible encounters.
The narrator of the video, who goes by Capanna nel bosco, adds a personal dimension to the story. They mention having their own encounter with a Sasquatch 11 years after this footage was shot, in the very same area. That kind of repeated activity in a specific location is something researchers have noted across many hotspots, including the Pacific Northwest where Vancouver Island sits.
The swaying behavior observed during the two-minute filming is another point worth considering. Black bears typically stand on their hind legs briefly to get a better view or catch a scent, then return to all fours. Remaining upright and swaying for an extended period doesn't align with typical bear behavior.
Port Renfrew itself sits in a region that has long been associated with Sasquatch reports. The surrounding old-growth forests provide ideal habitat, and the area's remoteness makes it a place where these creatures could potentially move through without much human interference. The entire southwestern portion of Vancouver Island has produced numerous sightings over the decades, contributing to the island's reputation as one of the more active regions for these encounters.
The footage is definitely worth watching for anyone interested in this subject. The combination of duration, the physical characteristics visible in the frames, the grey coloration that doesn't match local bear populations, and the behavioral patterns all add up to something that raises more questions than it answers. Check out the full analysis on the Capanna nel bosco channel for a deeper dive into every detail of this remarkable clip.