Bigfoot researchers in New York state say they cannot explain a mysterious figure captured wading in a remote pond in Onondaga County, near Syracuse. The images, dubbed the "Syracuse Figure" by the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO), have prompted debate over whether they show an unclothed elderly man cooling off or something more unusual, with the group refusing to rule out either explanation.

BFRO member Matthew Moneymaker said the figure, estimated at around 4ft 9in tall, does not resemble a "classic" Bigfoot or an ordinary human, suggesting what looks like skin could instead be wet fur lying flat. The photos were taken by a hiker photographing scenery, and the BFRO says it has verified her credibility, though it has not identified who or what appears in the images. The sighting follows recent reports of smaller "mini-Bigfoot" figures in Pennsylvania, and researchers are now appealing to the public for help identifying the figure.