HELENA – Helena’s Parks & Recreation Department is on the hunt for Sasquatch (often referred to as Bigfoot) after a cardboard cutout of the mythical creature was stolen sometime within the last few days.
The Sasquatch was stationed near the Beattie Street Trailhead on the Pay Dirt trail as part of a campaign by the Parks Department to encourage people to explore trails, learn about Helena, and take selfies with the cutout.
Someone notified the city on Tuesday about the disappearance after discovering the cable locks and zip ties securing the Sasquatch near Mount Ascension had been severed and the cutout was missing.
Parks & Recreation director Amy Teegarden said her department notified Helena police to be on the lookout for the stolen property. She added that she’s disappointed in the theft considering how popular Sasquatch is in the community.
The program launched at the beginning of the summer and Teegarden said she was originally concerned about the cutout’s safety, but was encouraged that no one tampered with it – until now.
“You know it spoiled some of the fun. I’m hoping that whoever decided they needed to take Sasquatch will return him. No questions asked,” Teegarden said.
The stolen Sasquatch was actually one of two cutouts out in public. The original still sits on Mount Helena. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Sasquatch is asked to email jschade@helenamt.gov or call 406-447-8463.
