Is that a chupacabra being stuffed by a taxidermist in Texas?

The mythical chupacabra is a hairless, nocturnal wolf-dog; the name, roughly translated, means "the goatsucker." Widely regarded as the Mexican Bigfoot, tales of the bloodsucking beast originated in Puerto Rico, but alleged sightings have been reported  over the last few years in the U.S. Last week a Texas taxidermist got what might be a chupacabra, and CNN and Telemundo rushed over to interview him faster than you can say "Look at that hairless goatsucker!"

"The phone has been ringing off the hook" at the Blanco Taxidermy School, Robert McDaniel, the chief instructor, told The Times on Wednesday. The news media and the curious -- "Good Morning America" among them -- have called in asking for interviews and to find out if they have really found a chupacabra. "We've gotten about 100 calls today," he said.

The interest is all about a dead, hairless, coyote-like creature that was captured by Lynn Butler, a former student at the school. According to McDaniel, Butler heard something in his cousin's barn "tearing up the chickens pretty bad. So he left poison out thinking it was a raccoon or other varmint." The next day he found the lifeless animal that many claim is a chupacabra.

Jerry Ayer, owner of the Blanco Taxidermy School, isn't so sure that what he has really is what everyone hopes he has. But as the man who is in the process of stuffing the beast, he does know he's working on something unique.

"To be honest, I don't know what it is. I'd probably say it's a freak-of-nature coyote, or a hybrid breed with a genetic mutation," the soft-spoken Ayer said.

Ayer says he stuffs about 15 to 20 coyotes a year, and this is no coyote. "The footpads are different. They're rather bulbous. And this has longer legs by a few inches."

But what makes it so different from other coyotes or dogs is that it is  mostly hairless. "It has a little fuzz around the feet," Ayer says. "Almost like little socks of fur. And there's a little hair up the backbone. Very odd-looking."

Clearly intrigued by the creature's abnormalities, Ayer continues, "The hairlessness is sinister because you can see the bones protruding at the hips."

It's that creepy look and scavenger-like behavior that Ayer believes leads people to buy into the myth. "These types [of animals] will zip in and out of people's backyards and eat anything live or dead. They have two big canine teeth in the front and they go for the neck." When someone hears the animal and goes out back with a flashlight to investigate, "They see this weird-looking dark creature running off. And they see two holes in the side of the neck of a goat, and they take it from there."

What they take it for is a chupacabra, whether Ayer agrees or not. "It doesn't matter what I call it," Ayer says. "It's been labeled."

But one thing does matter to Ayer. "I don't want to be known as the chupacabra quack," he said by telephone.  "People say there's a mythical beast and [that] I have one. I'll call it chupacabra because people love it, but I don't know what it is."

Two universities might help identify exactly what Ayer has. He said he has received requests from the University of Texas and UC Davis to provide tissue samples for their ongoing research.

And what of the possibility that a chupacabra might make an appearance locally -- say, at the Los Angeles Zoo? Asked if the zoo would house a chupacabra if one was captured, Jason Jacobs, the zoo’s marketing and  public relations director, put off  the issue as a matter of conjecture. "We don't have scientific proof that one exists," Jacobs noted.

Meanwhile, as the university scientists conduct their studies, the careful craft of taxidermy is being performed in Central Texas.

McDaniel and Ayer, who are half-brothers, say they have no immediate plans to charge admission to view the animal once it is properly stuffed and mounted; they're just happy that it is bringing attention to the taxidermy school. (According to McDaniel, for $3,500 the school will provide all the education anyone would need to become a professional taxidermist.)

Once the mounting is complete, Ayer says, he plans on displaying it at the school. But he'll store it at night in a safe place -- because, he says, he's sure something as rare as whatever he has would be quite valuable to thieves.

-- Tony Pierce

Photo credits: Robert McDaniel

Related chupacabra stories from the past:
Tales of Bloodthirsty Beast Terrify Mexico
Texas Woman Claims to Have Found Mythical 'Chupacabra'

Comments

[Wiko]

There are lots of strange sightings out there, but.....This is not one of them! This is a Xolo. A Mexican Hairless Dog . They have been on this continent for 3500 years. There skin is blue or black. Dog! Reported sightings of cupacabras, walk on two legs with large red eyes.

[Damon]

It's a mixture between a hairless chihuahua and another dog....maybe a dane.

[Los Angeles Larry]

This new discovery cries out for the creation of a very special museum, exhibiting the Chupacabra, a few Jackalopes, and of course a Bigfoot or two.

The museum's official title?

I nominate "Gullible's Travels"

[SD]

This is a Xoloitzcuintli, a Mexican hairless dog that dates back to the days of the Aztecs. I've seen them--they're very rare, and if someone let one loose to become feral then shame on them. A simple DNA test will clear this up.

[Hypnotron]

This infotainment tabloid "journalism" is destroying this country. No respectable periodical would publish such a story under the guise of "news."

[Xolo]

The animal is a Mexican Hairless Dog aka Xolo.
Google it and read the wikipedia article, and check out pictures of the breed.
No doubt: the dead animal in Blanco is a Mexican Hairless Dog.

The animals found in and around Cuero, TX, are the same dog breed:
Mexican Hairless aka Xoloitzcuintli aka Xolo.

The media have been shoddy in their investigating, and the individuals publicizing the finds are doing so only to further their own commerial business interests.

[Pep]

This is Texas people. She found a dead Queensland Heeler. Nice Job.

[Animal Lover]

This is probably a Peruvian Inca Orchid dog, or a Xoloitzcuintli. Regardless of what it is it doesn't appear to have died peacefully. Maybe if nothing else this whole sham will bring to light the fact that just because you don't know what something is, you don't have to kill it. Poor thing.

[emilie]

definitely a xolo! the chupacabra's description says something about scales and a scaly spine. this does not have scales.

[madupont]

YES,but what is that venomous-looking coloration of an apparently black and white "alligator" found in Trenton, New Jersey, in one of their Parks' pools? It is apparently a "youngster" at four feet in length, now captured but causing people to wonder if there are any more around, as it scares grandmothers who bring their grand-toddlers to the park.

[Tusitala]

Put this story in the file with the one about the Loch Ness Monster. Residents near the lake in Scotland do not want the scientists to find out that it is all a myth/hoax/hallucination. The tourists would all go away. The souvenir stands would dry up. The town's #1 economic draw would fold. Same here: a simple DNA test would prove that it's a ______<--fill in the blank with dog, whatever.
And then the story would not be a story at all and the school would get no more free advertising or attention.

[Delilah]

I agree just Google Xoloitzcuintli and you can see for yourself.

[johann]

If they come to Dominican republic, you find a heap of chupacabra's as this one, it is a dog with problems of the skin, here it is very much of this in the street

[Joan]

I did a search on the Mexican hairless Xolo and the pictures I found look exactly like what this gentleman found. I hope somebody tells him it's a dog before he goes on the talk shows.

[Scott]

It's either the Xoloitzcuintli or a dog with mange and other skin problems.

[hmm]

It looks like a Mexican Hairless Dog. There was a program showing a dog show in Mexico that had this type of dog as a contestant a couple of weeks ago. This one looks just like it.

[JT]

We have one of these near our house in Bodfish (Near Lake Isabella) They seem to be some kind of cross breed between a coyote and a domesticated dog. They're awake during the day, usually pretty active in the evening, and just look like a coyote with really bad mange. It's not aggressive, seems to avoid humans, and are pretty elusive it when you grab your camera. Our neighbors aren't too fond of it because of the way it looks, but it doesn't ever seem to bother anyone any more than the local coyotes do.

[Kristin Thomas]

It's a Mayan Mexican dog. They are all over down in Cozumel have several pictures of them because they looked so strage.

[dude]

It's a greyhound.

[Chris shaw]

Yeah, it's a Xolo alright. I've got two of them, and one looks almost exactly like this. True, the teeth are large and numerous compared with most xolos (most hairless dogs have very reduced dentition), but I have seen some with full sets of teeth. There is a huge variation among xolos, depending upon which part of Mexico their lineage came from. This creature is definitely a xolo, and I doubt very much whether it has been attacking livestock!

Somebody poisoned a dog. Nice going.

[Nicole, Los Angeles]

This is a Xolo - the ancient dog from Mexico. Xolo's were around during the time of the Aztecs. Frida Kahlo used to have them as pets. How horrible that this poor guy was most likely abandoned and then poisoned. They actually used to be recognized by the American Kennel Club.

[gerrrg]

A dog running down a roadway seems to me to signify domestication. No wild animal would be stupid enough to run in the open.

And that dog looks like a Peruvian hairless dog...

http://dogsites.com.au/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=982&g2_serialNumber=2

Personally, I'm waiting for the unicorn and leprechaun carcasses to show up.

[Loving Mom]

This looks to me like a dead dog with a bad case of mange.

[Citlalin]

That's a xoloitzcuintli!!!...meaning "monster dog" in the native Uto-Aztecan language of Nahuatl (Aztec language). These native dogs were domesticated by some the original inhabitants of this hemisphere, namely the Mexicah (also known as "Aztecs" or Mexicans, which is the anglicized version of Mexicah). Colonization and its continuous brutal assault on everything indigenous to this land, including people, plants, and animals, nearly drove these poor dogs into extinction!!! Miraculously, a pack of xoloitzcuintin (plural form) were found in recent times somewhere in Mexico I think. The dogs were revived and are now known for their typical hairless bodies. Google and read up for more info!

[Jenna Lindsey]

This was clearly a mexican hairless. I have two of these wonderful dogs at home as pets. They are nothing but loving devotion. It is terrible how this man intended to kill such a wonderful animal. This dog could have been somebody's pet. CNN needs to get their facts right before posting stupid stuff like this. It looks exactly like one of my dogs, so it really hurt me to see this. take this video down, CNN.

[kit]

Malibu's got a ton of these running around hitting on Pepperdine's female population!

[East Texas Xolo Owner]

Its a Xolo . I have 5 of them . The first one showed up as a stray hungry pup and I took it in and raised it . 2 others showed up with their coyote buddy's to eat dog food I put out for the coyotes and have become part of the family . They do cross breed with coyotes . 2 of them are half coyote and half xolo . They mother coyote which gave birth to them is also one of my visitor pets .These dogs have been in the wild since the down fall of the Aztecs. Their no differant than any other animal that has adapted to living in the wild . When they get hungry enough they'll look for easy pray such as a pinned up chicken , but more times than not they usually eat small rabbits and other rodents . We own 1000 acres and dont have any live stock to worry about so all the wild life is more than welcome on my spread . The coyotes and wild xolos are peaceful loving creatures and do a great job of rodent control .

[dogowner]

This one does not take a rocket scientist to solve-- she has found a dead Xoloitzcuintle, also known as a Mexican Hairless. They come in various sizes. This one appears to be a full sized, possibly mixed-breed variety. While the dogs routinely run away with "ugliest dog" awards every year or two, they are beautiful creatures. I have had mine for 20 years and he looks almost identical to this "chupacabra." Time for them to get the Internet down in Texas.

Here is from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Hairless_Dog

[Fam]

This is not a chupacabra. They are supposed to be bat-like. THIS is a Mexican Hairless dog, a Xolo. It could have been a snake or something else that killed the chickens, not a Xolo. These Taxidermy and CNN people didn't do their research.

[Alan]

Man, am I glad I didn't pay money to read this junk in the print edition. Nothing like a reporter who doesn't do any fact checking. Way to go, Times.

[Joe the Cop]

So is this the same thing that was seen on squad car video in Texas this time last year? And will it turn out like last summer's Bigfoot hoax?

I wrote about it here Cops and monsters

[K]

Reguardless of how hideous this "creature" may look, it is still a living, breathing creature. To celebrate it's death is just sickening. Really, can we think about the fact that this "creature" was just trying to survive, and ate poison in the process. Sad. Really? You people are sad.

[BubbaCo]

I'll solve the mystery real quick...It's a dog that's been struck by lightening.

[David Weidner]

Wow, it looks a lot like a dead dog. Sigh.... face palm.

[svhill]

This is a crossbreed of a Mexican Hairless Dog and a Doberman Pinsher.

The dog had mange, but the canine teeth (very long, pointed) are EXACTLY like those in most Doberman dogs. I had a friend in Texas who had a Mexican Hairless dog, and the teeth in this dog are too large. However, merely mate a Doberman with that dog and you have this creature. Even the gait is the same.

Trust me, this is a dog hybrid.

[Maria]

This is definitely a strange creature, but with all the different animals in the world i Am not surprised. Has anyone ever heard of a Mexican Hairless dog? Well I own one and they look very much alike. i guess one could say like a wolf to a dog, this creature is to a xoloitzcuintli. They are actually incredibly good dogs : http://www.xoloitzcuintliclubofamerica.com/

[dosolivas]

That's a hoax. News organizations should do a little fact checking before reporting this. That dog is called a Xoloitzcuintle, also known as a XOLO. It's an ancient breed of dog indiginous to Mexico and Central America that was kept by the Mayans.

It's a beautiful dog known for it's hairlessness, slender muscular body, pointed face and striking eyes and the large ears that almost make it look like a jackal. Here's a site with some information about this beautiful dog:

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/xoloitzcuintle.htm

And here's a photo hosted on wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mexico.Xoloitzcuintle.01.jpg

[Art Thieme]

My chihuahua killed one of these two years ago. He got stuck in it's throat!

Art Thieme
Illinois --Where our governors make our license plates.

[cohker]

Looks like a small dog with MANG!!!

[Wolifie]

As an artist specializing in animal anatomy and photography, I have to wonder what kind of idiot could ever think this is anything other than the bleeding obvious: a dead dog. This can be easily proved by the most rudimentary of examinations or DNA samples to all but the terminally senseless wastes of space who insist on wallowing in this garbage as a form of mindless entertainment.

[Matthew]

Gosh, people will really believe anything won't they? Of course its a chucacabra! What else would it be? A dog? No no no, that's far to mundane. A mithical creature? Of course, because we have a host of those! Or mabey just one for now, but there will be more on the way. Just have some faith.

[Theodora Adorno]

Y'all yanks need to come down here 'round Shiner and drink you a 12 pack and sit in the black texas dark, look around and smell. You won't last 30 min. There are things down here that ain't been classified. I grew up amongst 'em!

[Casey]

I think thats a grey hound...

[Marc Rojas]

Runnn!!!
The xhupacabra dog!
OMG!!!

[Casey Potter]

I was wondering if you guys have put thought into a DNA test and finding out wether or not it is a mange coyote?

[freak]

seriosly people quit with the bashing.... oh & im from texas & we think your all retards also, just because we have a legend doesnt make us stupid, most texans just think its a mutated dog or a feral coyote with mange.

[Jennifer]

Definately a Mexican hairless. They come in three sizes, toy, miniature and standars, just like a poodle. I am the proud owner of a toy Xolo. I have noticed that in mexico these dogs run loose all over the place, not too fasr fetched for them to make their way here after becoming feral. Also about 40% of this breed does seem to have shorter front legs. You can google an image search and see several like that.

[desertpete45]

It sure is a chupacabra, one was in my backyard this morning trying to eat my rabbits!!!

[samantha]

this creature can be many things...it can be a xolo such as a mexican hairless dog...or it can be a deseased dog...i think its a deseased dog.

[STEPHANIE PURVIS]

MY BROTHER AND I SIGHTED SOMETHING THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS
BUT DID NOT HAVE A TAIL IN RUAL AREA OF MAGEE MISSISSIPPI CROSSED THE ROAD IN FRONT OF US ON OCTOBER 24,2009.