Ranae Holland
As a kid in the 1970s, research biologist Ranae Holland was introduced to the Bigfoot craze by her father, a sasquatch enthusiast. So it’s fitting that last year, Holland joined Animal Planet’s series Finding Bigfoot as a co-host and its sole skeptical scientist, and now travels the globe searching for evidence of the elusive creature. “Joining the Finding Bigfoot team was a completely unexpected opportunity to combine the work I love with a longstanding hobby and curiosity,” Holland says. Even though she doesn’t personally believe in the mythical beast, “the fear of the unknown, of gigantic monsters in the woods, speaks to our rudimentary basic human instincts. And people love the mystery of the unknown.” At her alma mater, the University of Washington, Holland was chosen for its distinguished Alaska Salmon Program, and has conducted fisheries research throughout the Pacific Northwest and Alaska for more than a decade. “I became a scientist because I’m curious by nature, possess a strong desire to make a difference in the world, and find a sense of serenity in strenuous fieldwork,” says Holland, who often works with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “There’s nothing like a grueling hike that is rewarded with a breathtaking natural view. These are the little things in life that literally ground me.”
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