Pigrate Funding

Back at Dukerd University, the team and I are in tight negotiations with Professor Fumbleton in an effort to secure funding for another pigrate expedition. A recent email tip about the possible marketing of pigrate feet can only support our position.

Attached to the email was the following photo taken in a small coastal grocery store, apparently selling supposed pigrate parts.




If the claim is true, we could have a conservation crisis on our hands. Since there is no account of an accurate number of pigrates, we may have a store marketing parts of an animal that very well likely should be protected by the Endangered Species Act.

The negotiations seem to be going well and we are hopeful to receive funding for another expedition by mid to late July.

Pigrate Theories



Another illustration by nature artist Christian Gray based on a theory by animal behaviorist Cole Saphone. Cole believes that the pigrate may spend much of the day sleeping under docks or other hidden places to avoid the heat of the summer sun.

He further believes that the pigrate spends much of the later evening hours forging for food, either scavenging left over sandwiches or whatever else it can find on the beach, or diving for sea grass and kelp.

The Hunt for Pigrates
Day One: Evening

Our team, consisting of animal behaviorist Cole Saphone, nature photographer Becky Bernard and naturalist/artist Christian Gray, reached base camp tonight. We are staying at a little motel in the small fishing town of Surfsail Village.

Our mission, spend the next three days searching for proof of the existence of a salt water swimming pig know as the pigrate.

As eager as we are to start the hunt, rain has already begun to fall and it looks like it is going to be a very stormy night. We’re disappointed but hopefully, after a good night’s sleep, we can start fresh in the morning.




(only know photo of a pigrate)

The Hunt for Pigrates
Day Three: Afternoon, Last Day

The afternoon turned up nothing. It was time we called off the search and headed back to base camp. We tried to encourage each other by talking about the successes of the previous day. Though discussing yesterday’s near sighting and hoof print tracks lifted our spirits, we were still disappointed in the thought of packing up base camp and returning home, empty-handed.

It was animal behaviorist Cole Saphone who spied the creature first. A large, orange animal was rooting through the sand, some 2000 yards up the coast.



Photographer Becky Bernard immediately pulled out her camera. However, she was only able to capture this one photo before the shy creature caught wind of us and leaped into the waves. Though we can’t be positive, the entire team feels this creature is the elusive salt water, swimming pig called the pigrate.

Though we are out of time and money for this trip, our team is filled with excitement as we head back to camp. Armed with new evidence of the existence of the pigrate, we feel certain we will receive continued funding from the university to conduct future explorations.

Pigrate Funding Come through

Last minute notice!!! Our team received funding for another pigrate hunting expedition. We are leaving at the crack of dawn... uhmm.. first thing tomorrow morning... after church....

Next update; upon our return. ETA: one week

The Hunt for Pigrates:
The Return Trip

While driving back to Dukerd University we noticed quite a few yard ornaments in Surfsail Village that celebrate the pigrate. Becky snapped this photo of a wooded pigrate that was sitting on a fish table in the side yard of a house on the sound. The patch over the eye and the wooden peg leg show how the people of this village revere the pigrates as national heros.



If your are not familiar with the story you might be interested to learn that the pigrates first learned to swim while aboard a fishing vessel during the Revolutionary War. One legend describes a battle between the ship carrying the pigs and a British battle ship. The pigs are noted as having single hoofedly sinking a fleet of British ships.



Naturalist and artist Christian Gray created this illustration from memory of what he saw on day three of our exploration.

Toys



When all the critters have been collected and the idea of drinking hot coffee starts to sound appealing again, I'll be exhibiting at Wake Forest Coffee.

This year I want to incorporate all the arts, not just visual. Along with a healthy collection of foam board moose there will be the illustrated book The Mooseifesto, the music CD, and interactive games and toys.

One of the toy ideas is to create collectible action figures. Here are a few of the pieces I've started work on.



The Pigrate... Here we see the Pigrate sort of stuffed into his plastic casing. I still need to work on the illustrated board that goes behind.



One of the moose from Moosifesto. This one will be on display in Wake Forest.



Moose stuffed into his plastic casing.

The Hunt for Pigrates
Day Two: Morning

The waves pound against the sand as our team patrols the beach. Last night’s storm scattered debris up and down the coast. We sort through sticks and seaweed looking for signs that a pigrate may be near.

Apple cores and empty grape stems would both be signs that the elusive swimming swine was here, but we find neither. We do spy small holes in the sand that seem to indicate rutting may have occurred.

The holes on the beach, and the fact that we can’t find a decent seashell after last night’s storm, keeps the team ever hopeful that we might see something before night.

The Hunt for Pigrates
Day Two: Evening

Nature photographer Becky Bernard has seen something about 100 yards up the beach. She calls to the team and points, indicating the spot where she says she saw a creature trot down a dune and disappear into the sea.

The rest of our team arrives at the location, searching the waves for a peak and possibly capturing a photo of a swimming pig. However, after fifteen minutes of staring at the sea, we come up empty handed.



are these the tracks of a pigrate?

Reluctantly, we call off the search but as we turn to head back to camp, naturalist/artist Christian Gray draws are attention to a set of tracks that lead down the dunes and into the ocean. Becky hurries to photograph what appears to be hoof prints before they are washed away by the rising tide.

The near sighting and the fresh tracks have energized our team. We’ll head back to camp now filled with excitement about what a new day will bring.

The Hunt for Pigrates
Day Three: Morning, Last Day

After walking the beach for five hours this morning, our team heads back to camp for lunch empty-handed. From the excitement of a near sighting and hoof print tracks yesterday, we find ourselves disappointed in having found nothing today.

We’ll have one last chance this afternoon but without so much as the discovery of a rutting hole, the chances of us picking up the trail of a pigrate seems doubtful.

Newimals: The Pigrate Hunt
By Ian Sands

Chapter One: A New Room

Becky and I took two steps into the cold room.

“This is where you’ll sleep,” said Aunt Sax, our new guardian. “At least, when we are here.”

I glanced around. If it weren’t for the two beds and a small wooden dresser, the room would be empty. No toys, no posters, not even a clock. I placed my square, blue suitcase on the end of the first bed. It contained everything I owned.

“Don’t bother unpacking,” said Aunt Sax. “We leave in the morning.” She turned and left but the tangerine smell of her perfume stayed in the room.



Becky sat on the edge of the bed. She removed the heart-shaped sunglasses that matched her pink sparkle jeans. “This sucks,” she said.

“Mom wouldn’t like you saying that word.”

“Well Kaden, mom’s not here.”

Becky was right. Mom wasn’t here and mom wasn’t going to be here. Not now, not soon, not ever. Becky’s eyes watered. She put her glasses back on.
I thought I should change the subject. I stuck my nose in the air and took a big sniff.

“At least Aunt Sax smells nice.” I said, which was furthest from the truth.
Becky released a laugh that ended in a sniffle. “Yeah, if you like the smell of grapefruit.”

I flipped open the latch of my suitcase then quickly shut it again. “I get the feeling Aunt Sax thinks this sucks too.”

Becky fiddled with the strap that held a camera around her neck. “Kaden, mom wouldn’t like you using that word.”

“Mom’s not here,” I said. We had gone full circle.