This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
Traveling all the way from its point of origin in Puerto Rico, the chupacabra (literally "goat sucker") has now popped up in the Texas town of Cuero. Or it allegedly has. Even better, sheriff's deputy (in training no less) Brandon Reidel caught the supposed chupacabra on tape.
The animal appears to have a long snout and forelegs slightly shorter than the hind legs, the textbook, or rather folkloric, description of the animal that likes to attack livestock, particularly goats, and drink their blood. Short-haired (rather than hairless like the classic chupacabra) the dread beast looks like a small dog, or perhaps a coyote crossed with a small dog such as a pit bull.
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Or it could just be a coyote. After all, that's what the last chupacabra sighting in Texas turned out to be: coyotes suffering from a bad case of mange. Either way, the truth is out there.