El Chupacabra
We are taught from an early age — don’t approach scary looking dogs. And while no one can get a clear picture of Bigfoot, the Kraken, or the Loch Ness monster, there is one monster that is oddly not camera-shy — the legendary el Chupacabra.
The Chupacabra was first sighted in Puerto Rico in the ’70s. A wave of sightings followed in the late 1990s. During this time, livestock throughout Puerto Rico was found drained of blood. These Chupacabra or “goat-sucker” attacks caused panic with local residents who claimed a vampire was feeding on their livestock. Although descriptions have varied, most describe a hairless, alien-like monster with spikes going down its back and glowing red eyes.
It sounds dubious. But how could so many people be taking pictures of the same ugly doglike creature? The answer may be found in science…
One plausible theory is that these creatures are coyotes suffering from Sarcoptic mange — an inflammatory skin condition caused by the itch-inducing parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei (scabies). Wolves, dogs, and coyotes infected with scabies will have extreme hair loss, skin shriveling and constricted blood vessels that can lead to life-threatening fatigue.
And while usually a coyote or wolf will have no problems hunting prey, once infected with Sarcoptic mange, coyotes may choose to hunt more available meals….such as livestock.
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