The purported Bigfoot skull shared by Peterson to Facebook. *(Coyote Peterson / Facebook)*

Update 7/9/22: This has confirmed to be a viral marketing stunt to drive traffic to Coyote Peterson’s YouTube channel. See the video below for details.

Nathaniel “Coyote” Peterson—YouTube personality, wildlife educator, and host of Animal Planet’s Coyote Peterson: Brave the Wild—posted a series of photographs to Facebook yesterday that he is claiming could be of a large primate skull.

Peterson said he found the skull in British Columbia.

Naturally, given the location of the reported discovery, the intimation is that the skull might belong to Bigfoot.

British Columbia is renowned for its Bigfoot sightings, with 134 sightings having been currently reported to the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization.

"Leaking pics here before they are taken down and before government/official try to cease our footage," Peterson wrote in a statement accompanying the photos. "Found a large primate skull in British Columbia—filmed it, cut the footage, releasing on [YouTube show Brave Wilderness] this weekend. Have kept this secret for several weeks… YES I have the skull, its [sic] currently in a secure location awaiting primatologist review. Absolutely unreal… we thought it was a bear skull when we found it, I can 100% guarantee it is not. The skull was found partially buried under ground [sic] in deep back forest ravine after a massive storm in the [Pacific Northwest] where clearly a bunch of trees and earth were disturbed. I’m sure these pics will be taken down… as will probably the video by government or state park officials… but the skull is safe. I don’t know if its [sic] what you all think it might be… but I cannot explain finding a primate skull in the [Pacific Northwest] without wondering! What do you believe?"

Reactions to the news of Peterson’s supposed discovery have been mixed.

Some seem excited to see what the primatologist review promised by Peterson might turn up, while others are exceedingly skeptical that the photos represent anything other than a hoax.

Bigfoot researcher Aleksandar Petakov was quick to point out the similarities between the skull Peterson claimed to have found in British Columbia and a replica lowland gorilla skull.

"Nice try. Here is the exact skull replica used in this stunt," he said in response to the images before sharing a link to a seemingly identical skull available for sale online.

Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum, a Professor of Anatomy and Anthropology at Idaho State University, published a statement to social media, saying, “Before everyone gets their knickers in a knot, in my opinion this is most likely a model of a gorilla skull obtained from a source such as Boneclones or Skullduggery. There is no question it is a gorilla—not a Sasquatch or a bear! The burden of proof rests with Coyote. Until such time as it is examined and possibly analyzed by a professional, it is more likely Clickbait."

Those skeptical of Peterson’s photos have also pointed out that the skull featured in them has a suspicious hole in its side, similar to what one might expect would be present for mounting.

Others have speculated that the hole might represent the creature’s cause of death, such as a bullet wound.

The hole in the side of this skull could indicate that it is a replica suited for mounting on a display, although some speculate that it might be a bullet wound. *(Coyote Peterson / Facebook)*

The biggest question for those who have deemed this a hoax is whether Peterson is in on it, or if he himself is being hoaxed by someone who planted the skull.

And for those who hold out hope it might actually belong to Bigfoot, only time (and examination by a credible primatologist) will tell.

The Singular Fortean Society has contacted Peterson regarding the photographs, and any response will be published as it is received.

Update 7/9/22: This has been confirmed to be a viral marketing stunt to drive traffic to Coyote Peterson’s YouTube channel. The entire event was staged. There is no truth to the claim that a large primate skull was found in British Columbia by Peterson. See the video below for more details.

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