CFZ's Next Generation Initiative

In 2013, Daniel Loxton and Donald R. Prothero's book  Abominable Science! Origins of the Yeti, Nessie, and Other Famous Cryptids  was published.  This book caused quite a bit on controversy within the cryptozoological field at the time of its release and continues to do so today. Loxton is someone who became interested in cryptids as a kid and believed in the existence of Bigfoot, Nessie, and other monsters at the time, but then became skeptical of their existence, but still interested. Prothero is a paleontologist. I decided to get  Abominable Science!  after hearing Donald Prothero on Colin Schneider's Crypto-Kid podcast a few months ago. I thought Prothero made some really great points about cryptids and the people who search for them, and he and Loxton both do in this book. But then, why do so many people in the cryptozoological community hate it so much? I decided to look into this while the book was on its way. So, I went to the best place to fi...

The Secret History of the Jersey Devil: How Quakers, Hucksters, and Benjamin Franklin Created a Monster  is a brand-new book by Brian Regal and Frank J. Esposito. Below is the book description: Legend has it that in 1735, a witch named Mother Leeds gave birth to a horrifying monster - a deformed flying horse with glowing red eyes - that flew up the chimney of her New Jersey home and disappeared into the Pine Barrens. Ever since, this nightmarish beast has haunted these woods, presaging catastrophe and frightening innocent passersby - or so the story goes. In The Secret History of the Jersey Devil, Brian Regal and Frank J. Esposito examine the genesis of this popular myth, which is also one of the oldest monster legends in the United States. According to Regal and Esposito, everything you think you know about the Jersey Devil is wrong. The real story of the Jersey Devil's birth is far more interesting, complex, and important than most people - believers and skeptics alike -...

Roland Watson, who runs the excellent Loch Ness Monster blog, has a new book out on a specific aspect of the mystery - the land sightings of Nessie. The book is called When Monsters Come Ashore: Stories of the Loch Ness Monster on Land . As far as I know, this is the first book to focus fully on the land sightings of the LNM. Below is the book description: "For centuries, people have claimed to have seen a strange creature swimming in the murky waters of Britain's biggest body of water - Loch Ness. However, a small but sensational number of these witnesses have claimed to have seen the same creature lurking on the beaches, lying on the fields and crossing the roads surrounding the loch. What are we to make of these extraordinary accounts of a normally aquatic beast? Hoax, misidentification or the real deal? What do they tell us about the nature and habits of this most mysterious of animals? In this first work dedicated to this aspect of the Loch Ness story, Roland W...

One of the main things I recommend to upcoming cryptozoologists is to read. A lot. Besides actually working with other researchers, this is probably the best way to learn about the field. There are hundreds of books out there on cryptozoological subjects, though many are not on par with others. In this post, I decided to put together a list of books both I and Colin recommend for those getting into the field. General Cryptozoology Recommendations Hunting Monsters: Cryptozoology and the Reality Behind the Myths By Darren Naish Naish's book is one of the best examinations of cryptozoology that I have ever read. He examines whether cryptozoology is really about animals or more about the human mind and why 'monsters' are reported all over the world and what likely inspired tales of them. It also tells readers that cryptozoology can be done scientifically and how to do so. Naish has a background as a paleontologist and science writer to back him up. ...

CFZ Director Jon Downes asks the question:  How does one become a cryptozoologist? 1. Becoming a cryptozoologist is easy, because there are no professional qualifications in the field. So, in many ways, one becomes a cryptozoologist by simply saying one is. But, it doesn't end there. There are lots of people who claim to be cryptozoologists, but very few who actually fulfil on these claims. The way that one gets respect and a position within the field is by being scrupulously scientific in one's methodology, and rigorous in what one publishes. My organisation, the Centre for Fortean Zoology, was started 25yrs ago, primarily to encourage a pursuit of excellence within the cryptozoological field. From your position do you encounter many young people entering the field? 2. We always encourage young people to get involved in cryptozoology and - indeed - a young man from Ohio, Colin Schneider, is currently in the process of starting the 'Next Generation Initiative...