An 8-foot “Bigfoot” named Dack drew tens of thousands of curious fairgoers this summer. Then one of the biggest names in New York science weighed in, and the story took a sharp turn.
The Claim
Charles “Snake” Stuart, a self-described Bigfoot hunter from Saranac Lake, says he found the decomposing remains of a Bigfoot while camping in the Adirondack Mountains in October 2024. He named the specimen Dack, after the park, and says it stands about 8 feet tall and weighs roughly 300 pounds.
Stuart says teeth testing put Dack somewhere between the late teens and early 20s, and that footprints of several different sizes were found beside the body.
The “DNA Proof”
This summer, Stuart told a Detroit TV station that DNA testing at Cornell’s Veterinary DNA Lab showed the remains were 58.5% Neanderthal and 41.5% human. He says that makes Bigfoot a Neanderthal-human hybrid. His website displays a document that appears to be a Cornell report.
Cornell Pushes Back
The university told the New York Post it never tested the remains. A spokesperson said, “Cornell did not conduct any testing” for Stuart or presented a report. Stuart responded by suggesting a cover-up and promising a documentary featuring a whistleblower.
Other Bigfoot researchers were skeptical long before the DNA claim. Matt Moneymaker of the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization dismissed the specimen as a fake as soon as the 2025 state fair display was announced.
Dack Goes Back to the State Fair
None of this slowed the show. Stuart’s exhibit returned to the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse, with a press release calling it “one of the most monumental biological discoveries in recorded history.” Admission was a separate $9.31 charge on top of the fair ticket. One fan account of the 2026 run says the exhibit drew crowds of more than 60,000 people.
No independent scientific review has validated the claims.
Planning Your Own Adirondack Adventure
You don’t need a cryptid to enjoy Adirondack Park, one of the largest protected areas in the lower 48 states. If the story has you itching to head north:
- Book early. Compare cabin rentals, lodges and campground reservations for fall foliage season.
- Gear up. Good hiking boots, a waterproof jacket and a trail GPS matter in remote terrain.
- Protect the trip. Travel insurance can cover cancellations and gear loss.
- Curious about your own ancestry? Consumer DNA ancestry kits compare prices and features; most people of non-African descent carry only a small percentage of Neanderthal DNA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Cornell test the Bigfoot remains? No. Cornell told the New York Post that it did not conduct any testing for Stuart or present a report, which contradicts his claim.
What is Dack? Dack is the name Stuart gave to an 8-foot, 300-pound specimen he says he found in the Adirondacks in 2024; he claims it is the body of a Bigfoot.
What do Bigfoot researchers say? Some prominent researchers, including Matt Moneymaker of the BFRO, have called the specimen a fake.
Has any independent scientist confirmed the findings? No independent scientific review has validated the claims.
Sources: Fox News, Hoodline, Rome Sentinel, and Coast to Coast AM, all covering Snake the Bigfoot Hunter’s 2026 claims about the Adirondack specimen Dack, the disputed Cornell DNA test, and the New York State Fair exhibit.
Leave a Reply