mangy coyote

What is a mangy coyote? A coyote is a wild animal that often hunts in packs or pairs at night. They are mostly found south of the United States border, and they tend to be more active during the winter months when other prey is scarce. Coyotes are commonly seen around on farms and around livestock where they will sometimes attack sheep, cows, horses, llamas, pigs, and poultry. Packs of coyotes may attack larger animals such as deer from time to time.

The following is an excerpt from Wikipedia:

A coyote (Canis latrans) is any of about fifty species of mainly North American Canids in the genus Canis , including the African golden wolf, Indian wolf, Ethiopian wolf, red wolf, and yellow-backed wolf. Once abundant across most of the United States and Canada, coyotes are now widespread in many areas. They prey mainly on small to medium-sized mammals; rabbits; birds; snakes; insects; fish; crabs; and carrion. Coyotes are often called after their traditional accusative plural, "coyotes", but may also be referred to by their species name sometimes to distinguish them from other canids in the same genus.

What is mange? Mange is a skin disease of dogs caused by a mite, Sarcoptes scabiei (also known as the “scabies mite”). Mange causes severe itching and scratching, leading to the loss of hair and crusty scabs on the dog’s skin. It can be seen in both puppies and adults. Mange affects about 5% of dogs. The mite can survive for a long time outside of the host animal. It is spread through direct or indirect contact with an infected animal. It is most commonly found in areas with a high density of dogs and cats. It is most commonly seen in puppies and adult dogs that have been neglected.

Mange is often confused with other conditions such as ringworm or fleas, which can also cause itching and hair loss. The mites live on the skin and feed on the blood of the animal. They can infect animals of all ages and breeds but are most commonly seen in young animals and those living in close contact with humans.

Treatment for mange is simple and does not require a vet visit. Your pet should be bathed in warm water (ideally hot) and treated with an over-the-counter product that contains pyrethroids (e.g., Advantage Multi). Be sure to follow the instructions on the label. The treatment will help to kill the mites and will remove them from your pet's skin.

Now, what does all have to do with a Chupacabra you ask? 

Well, let’s start with an excerpt from Wikipedia. A Chupacabra (Spanish for "goat sucker") is a legendary cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the Americas. It is associated particularly with Puerto Rico (where it is called "chupacabras" or, more informally, "chucha"; Spanish for "breast suckler") and Mexico (where it is called "chupacabras" or, colloquially, ""tliltic""). The name comes from the animal's reported habit of attacking and drinking the blood of livestock (chupar means "to suck" in Spanish). The first reported attack occurred in March 1995 in Puerto Rico. The first reported attack in the United States was a 1996 incident in Eastern Texas. It is said that other forms of chupacabra have been sighted in Puerto Rico, other Caribbean Islands, Mexico, Central, and South America.

Basically in a nutshell people have mentioned or believe that the Chupacabra is really just a sick coyote. The longstanding theory about what chupacabras are is simply a mangy coyote. Or the other popular theory is that a Chupacabra is a mix of a coyote and wolf.  Both of these theories also can be put into a couple of categories. The two main categories these theories fall into are wild animals and domestic dogs.