Monster Quest, The Werewolf and the Raven

In a previous post regarding the last ever episode of Monster Quest, "Monster Quest and The Werewolf" I made the following comment.

And finally, is it just me, but did anyone else think that playing tapes of wolf howls in the middle of the night in some back wood in the middle of nowhere was not a very sensible thing to do. If there were wolves in the area, and they had heard those tapes, those wolves would have immediately thought that a rival pack was in the area, and would have investigated. Possibly creating a very dangerous situation.

I contacted Raven Meindel, the female investigator featured in the Monster Quest Episode, to ask about this.


Raven Meindel

Hi Raven,...........................one question for you regarding the part in the woods when you were playing recordings of wolf howls. I just wondered if it was a little reckless, seeing that if a pack of wolves were in the area, they may have construed the sounds as a rival pack, and may have attacked believing they were defending their territory.

Was this brought up at the time, and were measures taken to prevent this.

Ms Meindel replied with the following,

To answer your question, we were always under the watchful eye of a professional animal locator/tracker that we trust completely. There was of course an element of danger on the expedition, but never any reckless or irresponsible behavior toward human OR animal.

Too many "investigators" blunder through woods and forests looking for their favourite cryptid, without thinking about the dangers they could possibly face. Not from the cryptids themselves but from other real flesh and blood critters that inhabit these regions. It's good to see that in this case, everyone behaved in a thoroughly professional manner.

Monster Quest Gable Film Documentary Parody - Monsterish Quest Gay Bull Film

Well it didn't take long for the parody guys to start making fun of the last episode of Monster Quest.

Monster Quest and the Werewolf

As I said in my previous I post, I'd try and find somewhere to watch this episode, and thanks to the wonders of the internet I've now done so.

Well well well, there are a lot of people out there with some egg on their faces. It turns out that the Gable Werewolf film is nothing more than a simple hoax. and a very well done one at that




I see some parallels with this film and the famous Patterson Gimli film of Bigfoot. In both cases people see what they want to see. Debating crytpo-posters on various forums all looked at the Gable film, and saw gorillas, bears, cats, porcupines, oh and even werewolves. They saw rippling muscles, the sun shining off the fur, movement that no human could replicate, etc. But in reality it was just some redneck in a ghillie suit running on all fours. It wasn't even a fur suit and yet people were still fooled.

If they guy hadn't come forward, people would still be convinced it was genuine. It just shows how easy people can be fooled, and how little evidence they need to prove to themselves something exists.

The same with Patti the bigfoot. I believe it is a man in a suit. The over analysis of the grainy film may convince others, but it's not evidence to me. In fact the only difference between the two films, is that only the Gable film hoaxer has come forward.


As for the rest of the episode, just a couple of points spring to mind. On a personal level I rate the existance of werewolves up there with the Mothman and the Jersey Devil, or even the UK's own Owlman, (yet another hoax perpetrated by a CFZ member and embellished for profit by it's director). But I don't rule out the existance of larger than average wolves. Although the "investigators" claimed they had proved that wolves were in the area, they in fact did no such thing. The print they found and the scat could quite have easily come from a dog or coyote. And although their trigger cameras filmed deer, bear and coyote, they didn't film any wolves. So I think the jury is out on that one at the moment.

And finally, is it just me, but did anyone else think that playing tapes of wolf howls in the middle of the night in some back wood in the middle of nowhere was not a very sensible thing to do. If there were wolves in the area, and they had heard those tapes, those wolves would have immediately thought that a rival pack was in the area, and would have investigated. Possibly creating a very dangerous situation.


All in all it was a typical Monster Quest production. A few re-enactments, a bit of grainy footage, and a group of researchers wandering the woods pointing at things but never finding any real proof. (I know,I've been there). A bit hooky but a great way to waste an hour or so.


I'm going to miss this show.

The Demise of Monster Quest

The latest big story to hit the world of cryptozoology is two fold. The History Channel's Monster Quest is coming to an end, and like most of it's episodes it's grand finale will leave us with more questions than answers. That finale will include the showing of the Gable film. A film that purports to show a werewolf of all things.

Unfortunately, The UK will not get to see the series for a while, so unless I can find somewhere online to watch it, (and I have my ways and means of doing so), I can't really comment on the footage shown. However I'll do my best to find a copy of it.

Monster Quest has had a lot of detractors over the years, but I've got a soft spot for the program. Probably due to my involvement on a couple of programs providing background research. I've always found their researchers very friendly and always willing to listen to suggestions.

Over on cryptomundo, there is a letter from Doug Hajicek, the Monster Quest producer

Dear MonsterQuest Fans,

Like many of you, I am a bit saddened by the official cancellation of MonsterQuest. However, we will continue to produce similar programming in the future as opportunities arise.

Cryptozoology will always be passion for me personally.

The official end of MonsterQuest did not happen because of any lack of topics or for lack of viewers. The Network has decided to go another direction to assure their future as a powerful force in television. We are extremely happy to have been part of the successful growth of the History Channel.

I am forever grateful to Loren Coleman and everyone at Cryptomundo. I also thank the hundreds of researchers, scientists and the courageous witnesses we had a chance to work with over the last four years.

It was an amazing run for the topic of Cryptozoology in prime time.

I am sincerely humbled by the opportunity to have created so much programming on this fascinating topic.

Sincerely,
Doug Hajicek
Producer/ Creator/ MonsterQuest
Whitewolf Entertainment Inc.

Hopefully it won't be too long before another film company (and I don't mean CFZ.TV) takes up the baton and produces more crypto-themed programs for us to enjoy.