Family Films 'Creepy' Silent, Monkey-Like Creature On Hike Through Snow-Covered Woods

Bitterly cold in January, the north-eastern U.S. state of Maine is not known for its monkey population. So when a family hiking through snow-covered woods claimed they had spotted a strange, ape-like creature sitting silently in a tree, it was not long before the suggestion that Bigfoot had been spotted was made. The unidentified family managed to capture what they said was a monkey-like creature on video. The footage, posted on YouTube by American user webtech88 five days ago, has been continuously clicked on ever since and become one of the first internet hits of 2010. It opens with a shot of the creature, sitting high in a tree in a snow-covered forest. A woman can be heard telling a child to look at 'the bear' in the branches. 'I don't like bears,' the child tearfully replies - understandably so. Strangely, the prospect of coming across a bear in the woods while walking with a child does not seem to perturb the adults in the group. The group appear to have approached the creature from behind and the cameraman can even be heard whistling, presumably in an effort to attract the 'bear's' attention. 'I think its face is the other way,' remarks one of the party before a new angle emerges showing the creature's face. As the camera closes in, however, the adults grow a little concerned as they realise it might not be a bear. Without moving a muscle the creature steadfastly gazes back at the party.'I see an ape,' says the confused woman. 'It does look like a monkey,' the cameraman agrees. 'I can't believe we saw a porcupine bear,' the woman jokes. 'That really looks like a monkey,' says the cameraman, adding: 'Creepy.' The creature remains perched in the tree. Although hair on the top of what appears to be its head is visible, its face remains obscured in shadow. 'I'm going to climb the tree,' the woman announces. The cameraman laughs at the suggestion. 'Did his mouth just open?' he says as the creature shifts position. 'That looks like a freaking monkey.' 'I think it's a snow monkey,' the woman says as the footage comes to an end. The family has not come forward to speak about the incident. Maine has had a plethora of Bigfoot sightings over the years. Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, is a creature which supposedly lives in forests, predominately in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Maine is on the opposite side of the U.S., in the top north-east corner of the country. It is usually described as a large, hairy creature which most consider to be a figment of folklore and hoaxes.