The Chupacabra is a legendary creature that has been spotted in various parts of North America since the 1970’s. The name Chupacabra translates to “goat sucker” in Spanish.
This legend first occurred in Puerto Rico. Today the creature has became popular mainly in the southwest, US, especially Texas. There’s been various sightings that have contributed to its popularity. The roots of this legend are important to explore, so let’s take a look at the origin.
In 1975, there were a series of livestock killings in the small town of Moca, PR. At first, the people suspected that the killings were satanic is nature but that same year, more killings in a similar fashion were reported around the island, as many animals were slaughtered and their blood was drained. It was said their bodies were drained through a series of small circular incisions.
20 years later in March 1995, in Puerto Rico, eight sheep were discovered with three puncture wounds around the chest area and all of the animals were drained of blood.
Since these first early reports, Chupacabra has been spotted all throughout central America and throughout the US as well. Sightings are most common in the southwest part of the country, but sightings have even occurred up north in states like Maine.
(read about the Beast of Bladenboro here)
The Chupacabra is generally described two different ways.
First, the chupacabra is described to be a reptile like creature with leathery or scaly greenish-gray skin. It is said to have sharp spines or quills running down its back. Eyewitnesses report the height as being between 3 and 4 feet, and that the creature hops like a Kangaroo. Some people report the Chupacabra has big red eyes.
The second description is that of a wild dog. Eyewitnesses report the animal is mostly hairless and has a pronounced spinal ridge and also has fangs and claws. It is said that hair loss from these creatures is the result of mange, which an infestation of the mite Sarcoptes Scabiei.
The first popular recorded sighting of this cryptid occurred in August of 1995 in Canovanas, Puerto Rico by Madelyne Tolentino. Tolentino described the creature as being about 4 feet tall with thin arms and legs, and having three fingers and three toes, and large red eyes. It had long spikes down its back and no nose or years. As she screamed, the animal scurried into the jungle.
Perhaps the next most famous case around the Chupacabra and Phylis Canion. Ms. Canion owned a ranch in Cuero Texas and discovered three 40-pound bodies of some unknown animals.
She saved the head of one the animals.
Ms. Canion wasn’t your average citizen; she was a hunter and spent years in Africa. As such, there was definitely reason to pay attention to her story. She pointed out that her chickens weren’t eaten, but the blood was drained. This led her to believe that the bodies were not coyotes. She guessed somewhere in the range of 25 chickens had been killed over the years with their blood drained.
Ms. Canion has stated she has seen the Chupacabra on her ranch multiple times.
Today Ms. Canion has the body of one of the Chupacabra stuffed and on display at her home. Experts refute her claim it is real and state it is a coyote.
Other theories on Chupacabra are that some sort of dog, that it descended from a mutilated litter and has remained undiscovered.
Chupacabra is one of the more well-known cryptids today. Often, there’s been countless sightings throughout Central and North America. Compared to other cryptids, it is relatively new as well, just coming into the spotlight recently.
There are many questions though surrounding this creature. If so, many people have reported blood being drained, what it is doing this?
U of Michigan Biology Barry O’Connor claims that the chupacabra is simply an coyote infected with the parasite Sarcoptes Scabiei. This would explain the hairlessness and foul odor. Also, he theorized they attack the animals because they are weak due to the parasite.
But how do we explain the eyewitness accounts where Chupacabra is standing on two legs? Many experienced outdoorsmen claim to have seen the creature, and surely, they would be familiar with the local wildlife.
Others speculate that these events are related to alien phenomena. There are well documented cases of cattle mutilation and strange animal behavior which has been attributed to extraterrestrial activity. We’ve seen this in places such as Skinwalker ranch.
Chupacabra seems to have the same dilemma that faces so many other cryptids. Skeptics won’t acknowledge the species until a body is found.
