Bigfoot Team Captures Rare Bear Nursing Footage via Thermal Drone

Posted Thursday, August 06, 2026

By Squatchable.com staff

When a group of dedicated researchers heads into some of the most rugged terrain in Washington State with thermal drones and a determination to document what might be lurking in the deep woods, you know things are about to get interesting. That's exactly what happened in a recent expedition featured on The Tall Ones YouTube channel, where they teamed up with the Study Sasquatch group to explore the remote wilderness south of Mount Rainier. The footage gives a fascinating look at how modern Sasquatch research has evolved. Gone are the days of simply tromping through the forest with a flashlight and a hope. Today's investigators are bringing serious tech to the table, including high-resolution thermal drones capable of scanning vast stretches of wilderness in minutes and detecting heat signatures in complete darkness. One researcher, Damon Irons, piloted the drone through narrow mountain ridges with impressive precision, combining thermal imaging with conventional cameras to document whatever they might find. The setting itself is the kind of place that gets the imagination going. We're talking about steep ridges, valleys carved by time, and forests that have burned and are slowly recovering. The area south of Mount Rainier has long been a hotspot for Sasquatch stories, with locals reporting unexplained sounds, towering figures glimpsed between trees, and encounters that defy easy explanation. The dense evergreen canopy acts as a natural shield, concealing whatever moves below. It's a living thing's best friend when it comes to staying hidden. What makes this expedition particularly compelling is the honest, methodical approach the team takes. They're not out there looking to confirm what they already believe. They're letting the evidence guide them, which is exactly how serious research should be conducted. The thermal drone footage captured something unusual on the ridge, and the team spent considerable time analyzing what they were seeing. At first glance, the shape was bizarre, almost like something waving or moving in an unnatural way. The researchers debated whether it could be a Sasquatch, noting how it didn't quite look like a bear and seemed to be in an odd position. After careful examination, they concluded it was likely a mother bear with cubs, lying on her side and nursing or grooming her young. The footage is still remarkable, showing what appears to be three cubs with the mother, and the team noted this kind of infrared drone documentation of bear family behavior might never have been captured before. It's a great example of how thermal technology is changing the game for wildlife research in general. But here's the thing that really stands out about this video: even with all that cutting-edge equipment, the forest still holds its secrets. The canopy conceals so much, and the researchers openly acknowledge that technology alone isn't enough. The combination of traditional fieldwork, modern surveillance, and genuine curiosity about what might be out there is what makes expeditions like this so valuable to the broader Sasquatch research community. The video also touches on something important: the recovery of fire-damaged landscapes. The area had been hit by fires years ago, and the team discusses how the ecosystem is bouncing back. Fireweed is seeding naturally on the wind, and edible plants are returning. This kind of habitat recovery is significant because it creates new opportunities for wildlife, including potentially Sasquatch, to thrive in areas that might have been temporarily disrupted. For anyone interested in how serious Sasquatch research is conducted today, this video is worth watching. It shows the patience, the technology, and the honest analysis that goes into investigating reports in some of the most remote corners of the Pacific Northwest. The team even discusses trail cameras and surveillance equipment placement, noting how an old closed-off road could provide a pathway for something to approach their camp undetected. Check out the full video on The Tall Ones channel for the complete expedition footage and the team's analysis of what they discovered. It's a solid look at the evolving methodology of Sasquatch research and a reminder that the forest still has plenty of mysteries to share with those willing to look.