Is this a Chupacabra? Legendary beast may have made its way to North Carolina as mangy, dog-like creature is spotted
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER PUBLISHED: 15:47 GMT, 28 July 2013 | UPDATED: 15:47 GMT, 28 July 2013
Since the legend of the mythical Mexican predator first emerged, there have been 'sightings' of the chupacabra all over the country.The most recent of these took place yesterday in Piedmont, North Carolina, after a local spotted a mangy, fox-like creature fitting with the description bestowed on the 'goat-sucker' or 'devil-dog' as it is sometimes known as. The picture was taken by a woman called Ramona who sent it into a local news site with the caption, 'Chupacabras do exist!
Someone in Piedmont, North Carolina, sent this picture into a local TV station with the caption: 'Chupacabra's do exist'
Legend has it that the Latin American monster attacks livestock, usually goats, and drinks their blood. The name itself is derived from the Spanish 'chupar' ('to suck') and 'cabra' ('goat'). Descriptions of them vary from reptilian with spikes or quills on its back to hairless dogs with fangs and claws.
Scientists have speculated the creatures could be coyotes infected by parasites after one animal was discovered last July following a fatal attack on livestock. The first reported sighting was in 1995, when eight sheep were found dead in Puerto Rico with identical puncture wounds to the chest and completely drained of blood. It was their mysterious deaths supposedly spawned the legend of the chupacabra in Latin America.
Months later, the creature was allegedly spotted in Canóvanas, where as many as 150 animals had been killed. Since then, there have been attacks allegedly carried out by the creature across South and Central America, and even into New Mexico and Texas.
