The Chupacabra isn’t a creature from some long ago legend. It isn’t something some ancient culture told stories about, and it isn’t some creature in some great piece of fiction. The Chupacabra is a creature of todays stories and legends. We aren’t sure if it really exists, there has been no definitive proof, at least for skeptics. For those that claim to have seen it, or who have their own evidence, it is very real.

The name Chupacabra literally means goat sucker in Spanish. The name was coined in Puerto Rico in 1987 after several of the towns goats were found dead with their blood drained. The goats (and other animals latter alleged victims of the Chupacabra) had their blood drained from one or two pierced wholes in their neck. The Chupacabra is a vampire like creature. While the name is new (at least as far as legends go) the animal attacks date back to the 1950’s. They were very similar and often the creature responsible was called the Vampiro de Moca. The Vampiro de Moca is believed to be the Chupacabra.

Descriptions vary (as they often do in these types of situations), however from my vast research I think I can sum the descriptions into two major types.

The first is the most radical, a beast described as having large slanted alien like eyes, spines along its neck and down to its rump, and often a forked tongue. This creature is said to stand on two feet, be about four to five feet tall, and have a grayish to black coloration with skin that is often described as scaly or lizard like.

The second type of creature that many call a Chupacabra is much more animal like, usually being seen on all fours, with little to no hair, and grayish to blueish skin. It is often described as having massive teeth, a smaller lower jaw, and either looks like a canine with kangaroo like hops or a canine with longer back legs then front ones. Several of these types of animals have been photographed, video taped, and even shown up dead. Many have been said to be coyotes or foxes with mange, which is a burrowing mite that causes hair loss and itching. Whether or not these animals are indeed a new species or existing ones with mange is not quite clear. Many of them have not had their DNA tested and there are several who do not believe that it is true when they are told that their “creature” is a coyote or a fox. These animals are also often referred to as the Elmendorf Beast because of a few found in the Elmendorf county, Texas.

No matter which description you follow, both are said to suck the blood right out of livestock and family pets. They have been sighted numerous times in Peurto Rico as well as well as
the southwestern United States (primarily Texas), Maine and other East Coast states, Brazil, Chili, Mexico, Central America and not too long ago the first ever report came from Russia.

There are several beliefs for the origin of this creature. One such belief is that he is alien in nature, either a pet left behind by intelligent extraterrestrials or a genetic experiment mixing aliens with common animals found on earth. Many people believe that there is a conspiracy to hide this creature and evidence of it’s existence. This belief is often held up by the quick dismissals of dead animals and by the lack of DNA testing on animals that have been shown to the authorities.

Whether there is indeed an animal or a few creatures out there who suck the blood from animals through their necks only time will tell. This story doesn't show any signs of dying down any time soon.