No Big Deal

Tolland finds a unique way to raise big funds

Bigfoot, Bigfoot, where art thou Bigfoot? The mysterious creature is among the Glawackus and other mystical creatures rumored to make Connecticut their home. And while most of the state is well settled, there are pockets of the unknown that may be home to the cryptids of all sorts. These preserved tracts of land can be host to many creatures, not just cryptids. This is a big part of the reason why the Tolland Conservation Commission sold Bigfoot Trapping Licenses.

The one-time hunt took place on April 6, and invited all those with the proper licenses to tour the Luce Conservation Property to hunt for Bigfoot as well as Unicorns. All proceeds from the sale of the licenses did go to the Conservation Commission to maintain and preserve these areas.

Unfortunately, there is no ancient legend of Bigfoots in the Tolland area – unless former Municipal Voice guest, Jeff Belanger of New England Legends, has any to share – so Tolland also went about to make sure that one existed. Open through March 11 of this year, the Tolland Conservation Commission held a writing contest for the “The Legend of the Tolland Bigfoot,” to ensure that there would be a real fake story to pass down. It was open to all ages and read on the day of the hunt.

Reports that a bigfoot was awake and angry – presumably after a winter hibernation – could not be verified as real, but footage was shared to the Tolland Conservation Commission facebook page, for folks that might be interested.

The Tolland Conservation Commission and Conservation Corps are dedicated to these properties, and since 2000, they have been “crucial in the conservation of hundreds of acres by helping to raise $6million through referenda that enabled the town to purchase land or development rights.” Stating further that “they’ve made it possible for future generations to know what it’s like to walk in the woods, see deer or turkey, or look across an open field.” No mention of Bigfoot or Unicorns, which can be seen as plausible deniability.

According to one members Reddit post, “the license is for trap-and-release only… these are endangered creatures after all, so if we catch any of you grilling up unicorn steaks, there’s gonna be hell to pay with the State authorities (plus the glitter gets stuck in your teeth).” No matter the healing properties of Unicorn blood or the untold riches from catching the first verified Bigfoot in America, what matters is the preservation and conservation of their natural territories. Thanks to these hunting licenses, the cryptids that call Tolland home will be able to sleep a little better at night.