Paranatural: Chupacabra
by admin on Mar.07, 2010, under Uncategorized
Very recently, National Geographic Channel premiered a new series dealing with the unexplained, titled Paranatural. The first episode featured yours truly in search of the sinister Chupacabra, a blood-sucking creature that has been reported all over Latin America since 1995. Of course, in recent years the name has also been attached to the weird, hairless canids that have been appearing with regularity on ranches around Texas. Apparently, these vampire dogs have been preying on helpless farm animals, allegedly draining the blood out of their victim’s bodies. Despite similarities in predation, the Texas creatures differ greatly from the original Chupacabra, which was first described by residents of Puerto Rico. The Puerto Ricans characterized their monster as standing upright, with enormous, red eyes and a mixture of reptilian and mammalian characteristics. For the National Geographic investigation, we concentrated on the Texas version. I staked out a property near Fayetteville, Texas where many of these macabre canines have been sighted with regularity over the past year. The research team and I employed various gadgets and traps, including thermal imaging, night vision and a tranquilizer rifle, in an attempt to capture one of the beasts alive. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful in drawing one of the elusive animals into our hands. There was one surprising development during the filming; a road-killed chupie that had been collected by local landowner Harvey Hayek. After a brief examination, its remains were sent off to scientists at Texas Tech University for analysis. For the results of their findings, tune in to National Geographic Channel and check out Paranatural – Chupacabra!
'Chupacabra' shot near Columbus, Texas - Photo Courtesy of David Vasut ©2005
March 29th, 2010 on 5:13 pm
Harvey Hayek? Awesome, I know that guy, have to get that Geographic episode!!!!!
That said, I wish people would try to figure out what’s messing up these coyotes…..poison? Radiation? Toxic waste? The paranatural angle is getting overplayed, IMHO, it’s really starting to look like smoke and mirrors. These animals are getting into something. And if they’re getting it, the odds are that food animals are, too. Something in the water? Are people swimming there? Something to consider,
and another reason to check the episode out: Geographic should be a lot more level-headed than Unsolved Mysteries. Hope somebody’s looking into it.
Thanks for this!
March 30th, 2010 on 11:16 am
What’s making them like that? Looks dangerous…..toxic. They’re always dead or deformed or both…..are we ingesting whatever they’re getting into?
We do love our legends, Columbus had a Goat Man, years ago…..but all phantom phenomena aside, I think the sensationalism has got to go, at least where the news media is concerned.
Just my two cents.
BTW, I know Harvey and Carol from a long time ago, well, actually knew Harvey’s Pop and younger siblings better. They were fantastic people, I miss them. Anyway it was very cool running across this and seeing a familiar name. Actually picked up the phone and tried to call but it seems they’re unlisted now. I guess having National Geographic at your place makes you a big celeb around Fayetteville, haha. Hope they didn’t get mobbed!
May 2nd, 2010 on 12:48 pm
Hey Ken. It’s Jesus Sifuentes. I was the grip on The History Channel’s MonsterQuest segment – Chupacabras. Did they ever get the results on the hybrid beast we saw in Cuero? Hope all is well buddy.
May 5th, 2010 on 10:34 pm
Hi Jesus! Both of the creatures found near Phylis Canion’s property have been DNA tested. The results indicate that they are hybrids – part coyote/part wolf. They do have some other abnormalities that haven’t been explained.
June 5th, 2010 on 10:17 am
Their heads and actions almost look like a hyenia.. Very strange and yes I have to agree.. What has caused this oddity? Was this one of those scientific experments gone bad.. People have released some of those poor lab animals loose on the world without thought as to how they will survive, or evolve.. In any case its quite the mystery as to how these critters became to be.
June 5th, 2010 on 2:38 pm
Looks like the same genetic mutation which causes hairless varieties of domestic dogs – Mexican Hairless, Chinese Crested … and in cats – the Sphynx. I’d like some real science, please. NG has a reputation for real science – not going for ratings reporting.
June 16th, 2010 on 2:46 pm
Dear Ken,
Agree with Carol as far as the hairless dogs.
Have you looked into the Xochitla hairless dogs? X Coy? The first time I saw one of these, my thought was Chupacabra.
Hybridization is strange as you know. This would be a heck of a coy-dog cross.
I live in CA, have ridden all my life throughout the hills and have seen the coyotes change drastically.
What would this cross be like?
Cyndi