Northwest residents dividedon belief in Sasquatch

SEATTLE - Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, there's no denying that the Northwest is home to folklore that preserves the possibility of 8-foot bipedal creatures roaming our Western forests.

According to the PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll, many residents believe that Sasquatch is more than just a myth - one in three people in Washington and the Portland, Ore., area believe it's possible the hairy hominids exist.

Seattle-based PEMCO Insurance surveyed Northwest residents about one of their region's most prolific mysteries and found 33 percent believe it's possible Sasquatch exists, and about one in 10 say they've actually seen one or know someone who has.

Portland-area residents are less convinced, though, than their Washington counterparts. More than half of Portlanders - 55 percent - doubt that the creature exists and 85 percent are certain they've never seen one themselves. Still, more than a quarter of those polled in Portland - 28 percent - embrace the possibility that Sasquatch is out there.

To the north, Washington residents continue to believe. PEMCO first asked them about Sasquatch in 2009, and more than one-third maintain their view that Sasquatch is real, while less than half think otherwise.

"People might wonder, 'Why is an insurance company even bothering with something so silly?' Is PEMCO pondering Sasquatch-protection coverage? No. Does it matter to our business if they exist? No. Is it a fun and whimsical topic for a survey? Absolutely! Especially here in the quirky Northwest where Sasquatch is part of our culture," said PEMCO spokesman Jon Osterberg.

When it comes to Sasquatch encounters, 14 percent of Washingtonians said they or someone they know has seen one, while just 9 percent of Portlanders count themselves as eyewitnesses.

Interestingly, younger people in Washington are more inclined to say they've seen a living Sasquatch - 22 percent of Sasquatch spotters are under 35 in Washington. In Portland, 12 percent of those under 35 have seen a Sasquatch or know somebody who has.

"As a local company, we like to celebrate Northwest folklore. Customers tell us they love our 'Desperately Seeking Sasquatch' Northwest Profile, and now we know there are a few neighbors out there who relate to him," Osterberg said.

To learn more about the PEMCO Insurance Northwest Poll and to view a summary of the results, visit www.pemco.com/poll.