In case you missed it, a video captured by Instagram user @bt92.travels is going wildly viral online, capturing footage of a possible ‘Bigfoot’ sighting in southwest Colorado.

The clip was shot from the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and has been driving plenty of discussion over what the footage actually captured since being published online.

With Bigfoot sightings not unheard of in Colorado – more than 100 sightings in recent years, the clip adds to the local lore.

Here are a few leading theories related to what the ‘creature’ spotted in the video might be:

1. Prankster in a Bigfoot suit

An idea that probably gets tossed around quite a bit, it’s admittedly very funny to pull a prank in which someone dons a Bigfoot suit and successfully dupes the general public. While this most recent viral Bigfoot sighting did take place in a relatively remote corner of the state, there are nearby cities and towns and plenty of access in the area outside of Durango. Bigfoot suits can be found online for less than $100 – even elaborate options similar to what is seen in the clip. It’s likely most naysayers believe that the Bigfoot in the clip is just a person in a suit – regardless of their motive.

2. Publicity stunt

Racking up well over a million views in less than 24 hours, this begs the question of whether or not the Bigfoot sighting could just be a lucky publicity stunt. After all, the train from where the footage was shot is a commercial enterprise that has the goal of filling as many seats as possible and the chance of spotting ‘Bigfoot’ from the route is sure to generate quite a bit of buzz around the attraction. If that’s the case, kudos to the marketing team and thank you for giving everyone a break from more intense headlines to wonder “what if…”

3. A hunter in creative camouflage

This idea was proposed in a comment on X, formerly known as Twitter, by Colorado Parks and Wildlife – undoubtedly, the best source for information about what creatures are roaming around the Centennial State backcountry. “We’ll take archery hunter for $200,” wrote the department’s southwest region office in joking response to the initial post. Sure, plenty of hunters opt for more traditional camouflage, but what’s wrong with having a little fun? Granted, appearing animal-like in a place where people are hunting animals might not be such a great idea.

4. Another animal getting mistaken for Bigfoot

While bears have been known to walk on their hind legs, the creature captured in the bt92.travels video has several distinct differences from a bear – the way it walks, they way it sits, its face, its apparent shrug. There’s always a chance that animals can get misidentified, but the unobstructed view in this viral clip that’s shot in broad daylight really makes it seem like that’s not the case in this situation.

5. An actual Bigfoot

Could the ever-elusive Bigfoot finally have been captured in video footage that’s not out-of-focus, dark, or shaky? Perhaps. Skeptics are likely to still scoff at the idea, but for believers, there’s hope. If Bigfoot were to be lurking somewhere in the Continental United States, why not the remote and rugged San Juan mountain region? That being said, if the footage really is ‘Bigfoot,’ that begs the question of why the creature was suddenly spotted near a train route that hundreds travel on a regular basis.

What do you think? Was Bigfoot finally captured on video? Let us know in the comments.

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