I wonder what it is that makes people want to believe in something mystical or other-wordly? Since last July, when an odd looking animal was discovered dead near Cuero Texas, news has traveled like wildfire and 9000 t-shirts stating, '2007 Summer of the Chupacabra' have been shipped around the globe. For months, scientists, veterinarians and regular people tried to
identify the canine. It's amazing how hair loss can make enough of a difference that even veterinarians and scientists could not identify the animal. A few days ago,
DNA testing confirmed the animal was a coyote. Further testing will be done to try to determine why the coyote's skin was a bluish gray color and hairless.
I tend to be a skeptic in matters like these and look for a practical explanation. I admit the animal looked strange but I figured it was probably the result of either a wolf and dog cross or a coyote and dog cross, with some type of mange. I guess it was fun for the world to pretend for awhile that the chupacabra had been validated but the fun is now over and everyone has to admit the poor animal was an unfortunate coyote. It will be interesting to find out from further testing what caused him to be hairless. I tend to think it was a medical condition rather than genetic. Guess we shall see. In the meantime, the chupacabra remains a myth.
