The Chupacabra is one of the newest famous cryptids in the world. The first reports came from the island of Puerto Rico in 1995, when farmers claimed that something was attacking their goats and other livestock at night. The animals were found with strange puncture wounds and their blood drained. The Spanish word “chupacabra” means “goat-sucker.”
Witnesses described the Chupacabra in different ways. Some said it was a small creature about the size of a dog, with spikes or quills running down its back, glowing red eyes, and sharp fangs. Others said it looked more like a hairless wild dog with a long snout. Sightings spread across Mexico and into the southern United States.
In most cases where a body has actually been found, scientists discovered that it was a coyote, dog, or other wild animal suffering from a skin disease called mange. The disease makes all the fur fall out, the skin shrink, and the animal look bony and weird. It is not glamorous, but it explains most “Chupacabra” reports.
