By Bob Price

A pair of photos from a highway video camera in a remote part of Arizona, apparently showing a large group of unidentified bipedal creatures making their way along the brush on the side of the road, has ignited conjecture and controversy worldwide among Bigfoot enthusiasts and cryptozoological researchers.

The Arizona Department of Transportation posted the video screen shot to their Facebook page on Jan. 1st, with the caption “We might have spotted a family of sasquatches on SR 260 near Heber this afternoon. What do you think?”

The first photo released appear to show a large creature standing by the side of the road while traffic passes nearby. The second photo shows a group of at least six creatures on the opposite side moving together. Some appear to be walking upright.

The department tried to downplay the photos after they went viral, with spokesman Tim Tait saying “We always try to have a little fun with our Facebook and Twitter feeds, that way, we don’t just post news about crashes and road conditions, but a little something to engage our audience in different ways. This posting was one of those efforts, something that caught our attention, and we thought it might make some people chuckle.”

But the department has offered no comment as to what the creatures might be. Arizona does have a population of black bears, but many remain skeptical that this is a satisfactory explanation for the sighting.