A Michigan biologist believes he has cracked the mystery of the legendary chupacabra, an enigmatic mammal that strikes at night and drains the blood of defenseless livestock.
The mythical beast recently found its way into popular culture and television. CNN's Ed Lavandera called it the "Bigfoot of Latino culture."
Chupacabra literally means "goat sucker" in Spanish.
Farmers in Puerto Rico said more than 150 farm animals were found with puncture wounds and were drained of blood during the early 1990s. Since then, sightings have been reported from Chile to Maine.
A sheriff’s deputy in Texas caught one on video with his dash cam.
University of Michigan biologist Barry O’Connor said he believes there is a scientific explanation. ”The description of these animals clearly matches that of mange-infested coyote or dog,” said O’Connor
O’Connor said a wild dog infected with mites would lose its fur, the mouth and teeth would look more prominent, and since it was sick, the predator would prey on livestock instead of something faster such as rabbits.
Alex Hearn, of the Arizona Cryptozoological Research Organization, agrees with O’Connor. “I try to figure out what logically would be the simplest answer, because that's usually going to be the correct answer," said Hearn.
But the diseased dog theory only works for the American chupacabra, Hearn added.
The original chupacabra, believed to be from Puerto Rico, is said to be an even more menacing-looking creature with two legs and spikes on its back.
Hearn said he believes the Puerto Rican chupacabras are manged monkeys whose ancestors escaped from a lab during a hurricane.
“The lab was abandoned, the humans left, the windows broke, the cages broke and the monkeys got out,” Hearn said.
The legend of the Chupacabra will live on. “Can you ever put to rest a myth, fully?" asked Hearn.
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Experts: Mystery contrail was from Chinese missile
WND - Although the U.S. Defense Department and North American Aerospace Defense Command have speculated publicly that the unidentified contrail of a projectile soaring into the skies off the California coast – and recorded by a KCBS television crew – came from a jet and posed no security threat to the U.S., several experts are raising provocative and disturbing questions about the government's official response, reports Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.
Two governmental military experts with extensive experience working with missiles and computer security systems have examined the television video and conclude the mysterious contrail originating some 30 miles off the coast near Los Angeles did not come from a jet – but rather, they say the exhaust and the billowing plume emanated from a single source nozzle of a missile, probably made in China.
They further suggest the missile was fired from a submerged Chinese nuclear submarine off America's coast, and point out that the timing of the alleged Chinese missile shot coincided with an increasing confrontation between the U.S. and China, and was likely meant to send a message to Washington.
Indeed, the Federal Aviation Administration documents that there were no aircraft flying in the area at that time, the night of Nov. 8.
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Ohio Mystery Leads to 3 Bodies in Hollow Tree
indiepropub - After a teenage girl, Sarah Maynard was found bound and gagged in the basement of an unemployed tree-trimmer, Matthew Hoffman’s basement. Thursday he directed authorities to the location of other victims. “The bodies of the girl’s brother, mother and another woman were found stuffed into garbage bags within a hollow tree.”
The teen girl, 13, was reported missing over a week ago. Her home was reported to be splattered with the blood of the three additional victims. Authorities reported that all were killed in the home, but did not know how they were killed or the location of their bodies.
“Part of the tree had to be cut away to remove the remains,” said Knox County Ohio’s Sheriff David Barber.
30-year-old, Matthew Hoffman, an ex-con who spent six years in prison for arson and other charges, returned to Ohio in 2007 after his release. He currently remains in jail for the kidnapping of the teen girl and is the only suspect in the killings of her family. The third person’s identity is believed to be Stephanie Sprang, a family friend, whom was reported missing after she failed to show up for work on November 10th.
Matthew Hoffman was questioned the next day, when he was found sitting in a vehicle of a pickup related to the case. Just after, authorities found large quantities of blood inside the missing teen’s home.
SWAT found the teen girl, Sarah, “over the weekend in the basement of Hoffman’s home in Mount Vernon. Sheriff Barber would not elaborate on her ordeal, but that “she was at home when the killings occurred and doing well, considering the circumstances”.
The bodies of the girl’s family and family friend, were found “in a wildlife preserve in Fredericktown, about 15 miles from Hoffman’s home. The bodies were taken to a nearby country coroner’s office which expects to release “results on Saturday”.
It is not known how Hoffman knew the family, but it is believed he had been “watching them”. His own split level home is said to be about 10 miles from the victim’s home, but his parents “live less than a mile away”.
At the home of the Maynard children’s father, “men stood in the yard and asked a reporter to stay off the property”. Stephanie Sprang, the family friend and third victim whom worked for a local Dairy Queen had “people gathered on her father’s porch declining to comment”.
A neighbor of Matthew Hoffman’s parents, Paul Manter, relayed the parents “can’t believe their son did this”. Manter also stated the couple “wanted to help with the searching and he advised against it.” He further stated, “I wouldn’t have suspected that he would do something like this.” Going on, Manter said at a candlelight vigil, “It gives us closure, but sad closure.”
Other neighbors described odd behavior of Matthew Hoffman. “He collected leaves in the park.” “He would sit up in a tree and listen to people.”
Hoffman’s ex-girlfriend had a police confrontation due to an argument on October 24th at his home. She told police he “choked her, pushed her against a wall and pinned her against a wall with his forearm.” She further stated, “she thought he was going to kill her”. According to the report, she “did not want to press charges”.
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Rabid bat warning issued by Los Angeles health office
BBC - Los Angeles county health officials have issued a warning to residents, telling them to be on the lookout for rabid bats.
The Department of Public Health said 21 rabid bats had been found in the county this year so far, twice the number typically found in the region.
Health director Jonathan Fielding said it was unclear why the number of rabid bats had increased.
Rabies is a viral disease that can cause death.
It was important for all residents to "understand the potential dangers posed to themselves and their pets, as most of these rabid bats have been found in and around homes", Mr Fielding said.
He urged residents to keep their children and pets away from bats and other wildlife.
One resident, who was attempting to nurse a bat back to health, was bitten and was treated for rabies, county officials said.