Vet Questions Skunk Ape Theory in Campbell Co.

By Vince Lennon

Campbell County (WATE) — After seeing reports of primate sightings in Campbell County, a Knoxville Zoo veterinary consultant said he doubts the animal is a skunk ape.

Dr. Ed Ramsey, who teaches at UT, said Thursday he thinks, "...the skunk ape looks like a new world monkey to me. So I'd say if this animal has a six-foot relative out in Campbell County, it would be, I would say, almost impossible to believe. They're typically about 15 to 25 pounds max."

But Ramsey won't totally discount the possibility that the creature is a skunk ape. But he wants more proof before believing it's a skunk ape that's behind a rash of pet deaths. Pictures of a skunk ape allegedly taken in Sarasota County, Florida three years ago do little for Ramsey and the skunk ape argument.

Ramsey also said that monkeys are plant-eaters. If they eat meat it's usually insects and eggs, not cats.

Ramsey thinks people are looking in the wrong direction. "If you have an animal that's killing pets, I would actually be more concerned that there's some sort of carnivore that might be out there, a large cat, a mean dog, aggressive dog, pack of dogs, a bear."

LaFollette resident Donna Keathley is one of the few who claim to have seen the creature who's also willing to talk about it. "Tell him if he thinks our story is so bogus, there's a trailer right there for rent. Tell him to come on down and move in with us."

"They can call me what they want to call me," Keathley added. "I know what I saw. I know what I smelt."

Over the past 24 hours, there have been no new skunk ape sightings in Campbell County. But that's not deterring a local cryptozoologist.

Chris Dotson will begin an expedition to search for the reported creature this weekend. He'll look at two caves near the property where people say they've seen a creature several times.

Ramsey said UT hasn't received any stool samples to investigate from Campbell County sightings.

From: WATE-TV, 23 October 2003.