Hunt for the Skinwalker

Here's some info on a book I've heard of but haven't read:

'Hunt for the Skinwalker' story details discussed

By Roger MarshThe Coast to Coast radio show with George Noory discussed the Hunt for the Skinwalker case.

The show audio was posted on YouTube by 3rdKrypton.

From the YouTube site, a little background if you're unfamiliar with this case:

Journalist George Knapp and research scientist Colm Kelleher, the authors of Hunt for the Skinwalker, shared details about a ranch in Utah where the "Gorman" (a pseudonym) family was terrorized by a series of unexplainable encounters that included UFOs of various shapes, mutilated cattle, disembodied voices, poltergeist activity and invincible creatures. The isolated location in northeastern Utah has a history of bizarre reports dating back at least 50 years, with many of the accounts being catalogued by a science teacher, Junior Hicks.Hunt for the Skinwalker: Science Confronts the Unexplained at a Remote Ranch in Utah (Paperback)From Booklist

Rarely do scientists have the opportunity to study and measure a recurring series of mysterious and inexplicable events in the field. So, in 1996 a team of open-minded researchers from the National Institute for Discovery Science, founded and funded by Las Vegas businessman Robert Bigelow, jumped at the chance to investigate weird phenomena still occurring on a cattle ranch in Uintah County, Utah. Its owner had been plagued for the past two years by odd disappearances, manifestations of a shape-shifting entity the Ute Indians called a "skinwalker," floating blue orbs of light, cattle mutilations, a giant wolf that seemed unaffected by bullets, and a sinister, hyena-like creature. Biochemist Kelleher tells the story of the team's experiences on the ranch as "an ambitious if unconventional example of what science is supposed to do--explore the unknown." Unfortunately, after a few intriguing observations, the phenomena ceased and the scientists were left to speculate about shamanic and interdimensional realities intersecting with our own. An interesting and sometimes frightening narrative of events, though ultimately short on final answers. --George Eberhart

A Unified Theory Of High Strangeness?, January 15, 2006
By Saint Dubricius "Alan" (Eastern Seaboard, USA)

I still have to withhold judgment as to whether the story actually is true. The book contains many anecdotes and theories as to the cause of the paranormal events, but we are not treated to one picture or even one simple report form from one of the scientists who witnessed any of the events.

Plus, for scientists, they surprisingly appear to lack imagination on how to conduct active research. For example, none of the farm animals were chipped and tagged so they could be located with a GPS system if needed.

The result is a book no different from the popular Amityville Horror books (which themselves were eventually proven to be fabrications): simply a listing of anecdotes with nothing to really convince the reader there is any truth to them which belies the subtitle: Science Confronts The Unexplained At A Utah Ranch.

There is simply no science present.

An entertaining but ultimately frustrating read... , December 3, 2006
By Shofixti (TX USA)

Ok... I ask you... if you were routinely harried by a bullet-proof wolf the size of a Ford Supervan, if you encountered a 400 lb. pterodactyl sitting in a tree, if you and your prized cattle were constantly under assault by glowing gobs of light, if you witnessed a portal to an alternate dimension suddenly appear in the night sky, if you saw a refrigerator-shaped craft soundlessly take flight, what is the ONE ITEM that you might (just might) want to consider taking along with you next time you headed out to the pasture? Perhaps... a camera!?!? Better yet, maybe even a video camera! I mean, c'mon, if I saw 1/100th of the crap alleged to have been witnessed by this bunch I'd take out a second mortgage acquiring every type of surveillance gear imaginable. Yet, as mentioned in some other reviews, the book contains not a SINGLE photograph or video still of any of the fantastic events alleged to have been seen.Comment:  I don't take books like this seriously unless they present hard evidence. No doubt people imagined or invented most of the unexplained phenomena.

Sounds like the book is using Indian stereotypes to hype sales. Skinwalkers, UFOs, and "shamanic and interdimensional realities"...oh my! No doubt there's an Indian burial ground, too.

For more on the subject, see The Best Indian Books.