Despite a lack of hard evidence showing that Bigfoot is anything more than a fable, 70 scientists from around the world have been committed to searching for the mythical creature for the last four decades.

Rhettman Mullis, a Bellevue psychologist and the founder of Bigfootology.com, co-authored a scientific report published over the summer that concluded that multiple DNA samples allegedly extracted from different Bigfoots actually belonged to other animals. Still, Mullis says that he and his team of researchers at the Western Bigfoot Society are determined to find proof that Sasquatch exists.

"We are different from other Bigfoot researchers in the sense that we start with the certainty that Bigfoot exists, so we focus our studies on its behavior and classification within the animal kingdom," Rhettman told EFE.

The Bigfoot Society, which Mullis chairs, is located in the Pacific Northwest and Washington state, two areas with the largest number of Bigfoot sightings in dense forests and mountainous regions.

"It is impossible to estimate how many of these creatures live in the world, but I would say that just in North America there may be about 100,000 of them," said the psychologist.

According to him, his fascination with the ape-like beast began after he saw a Bigfoot as a child.

"I saw one with my own eyes," Mullis said. "It was 1977 and it happened in Puget Sound (in Washington state). That changed my life forever."

The 70-member team is comprised of experts in genetics, primates, zoology and biology from the United States, Canada, Britain, Russia and Australia, who share the common goal to classify Bigfoot among animal species.

So far, Mullis says the team has collected "extensive evidence" of Bigfoot's presence, includes footprints and hair samples.

"Bigfoots are related to both humans and apes," Mullis said. "Their hair is similar to that of humans and they walk like humans, but they have long arms and short legs like apes."

"I have seen two of them, and have had hundreds of interactions with them," said Mullis, adding that even though the results from his study came back negative, his belief in Bigfoot has not been deterred, reports the Union-Bulletin.com.