Most Sightings Of Chupacabras, The Mythical Monsters From Latin American Legend, Are Likely Sick Coyotes In The Late Stages Of Mange
In Latin American popular legend, the chupacabra is a monstrous creature with gray, scaly skin, spikes along its back, sharp fangs, and a taste for small livestock.
Chupacabra sightings have been reported throughout the Americas and even as far north as the United States. The first report of chupacabras came from Puerto Rico in 1995.
The creatures were blamed for attacks on goats, sheep, and other animals. Apparently, they left behind uneaten carcasses that were drained of blood. The name chupacabra translates from Spanish to mean “goat-sucker.”
The mythical monster has inspired fear across some areas in the Americas for decades. But according to wildlife experts, there is a simple and logical explanation behind the chupacabra sightings that has nothing to do with the supernatural.
One of the most common descriptions of the chupacabra is a hairless creature that stands on four feet and is generally canine-like in appearance.
Per John Tomeček, an associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management, the creature is most likely a coyote in the late stages of mange.
“Mange is a debilitating disease that can infect a wide range of fur-bearing mammals,” said Tomeček. “Depending on the animal’s ability to overcome the symptoms of mange, the condition can become chronic, leading to behavioral changes and even death.”
In canines, mange is caused by two species of tiny mites that burrow into the skin, leading to intense irritation, itching, fur loss, lesions, and scabbing and thickening of the skin.
The last place that canines usually lose their fur is between the shoulder blades, which aligns with descriptions of chupacabras having spikes along their backs. In addition, animals infested with mange look thin and emaciated.
annette shaff – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual coyote
“Infected animals can become extremely gaunt, and it’s incredibly painful in the later stages,” Tomeček said.
“At that point, the animal appears like an otherworldly beast—especially if you see it in the dusky hours of the morning or evening.”
The disease also alters the coyote’s regular behavioral patterns. When a coyote has late-stage mange, they become more desperate and will seek easy access to food, such as in residential areas.
In most cases, the small livestock that are killed during so-called chupacabra attacks are kept in cages or corrals, making them easier targets for sick predators.
The vampire-like bites on victims of the chupacabra correspond with the coyote’s hunting methods. Coyotes’ mouths can’t really get a good grip, so they have to bite their prey’s neck multiple times to kill them.
The draining of the livestock blood can be explained by how quickly the blood will clot within the dead animal, which makes it look like the blood was drained.
Mange can be transmitted from animals to humans, so experts advise keeping your pets secure and not approaching wildlife.
If you live in an area where the disease is common, it would be best to implement a regular bathing routine for both livestock and pets.
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