'Chupacabra' Mystery Solved? Strange Animal Identified In Kentucky (VIDEO)

When a creepy, hairless animal appeared in Nelson County, Kentucky two weeks ago, rumors swirled that it could be the legendary chupacabra, a mythic animal once dubbed by CNN as the "Bigfoot of Latino Culture."

In this video from CNN, a wildlife biologist describes the animal as "no doubt a hideous creature. There's just no way around it." When Mark Cothern spotted this bizarre creature in his yard, he shot it. Pictures of the animal spread like wildfire, as many fans eagerly thought it could be a chupacabra.

But the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife have now investigated the animal's anatomical features, and believe it to be a raccoon. They plan to study the creature due to its unusual appearance, which they believe to be related to hair loss.

One theory is that the animal has a condition similar to alopecia, a disease that in humans can lead to hair loss. There may be a growing number of hairless creatures in the eastern United States, and further investigation is needed to determine why.

As for the killed animal, sure it was ugly, but do you think it really needed to be shot just because it "looked strange?" And do you think this sheds light on other chupacabra sightings? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

WATCH CNN's report on the chupacabra mystery:

Comments

[Porky D]

04:00 AM on 01/12/2011

That's pretty disgusting, to kill an animal just because it looks weird. I honestly can't even get my head around that concept. And aren't there laws in this guy's state for killing an animal that isn't posing any kind of threat?

[shtoonk]

04:07 AM on 01/09/2011

"Uhhhh, it was kinda strange lookin', so I got my gun and shot it."
Typical of your average, dimwitted, gun-toting hilljack. The only positive is that these ignoramouses often kill each other by accident on their hunting food. Jethro would be proud.

[Jerry Erickson]

04:50 PM on 01/09/2011

Have you seen that thing? I woulda shot it too.

[donotbefat]

03:40 AM on 01/09/2011

That's what we humans do: kill or destroy things on a regular basis.

[Judson Wallace]

12:55 AM on 01/09/2011

OMG it looks like a huge rat.

[Penny N]

10:58 PM on 01/08/2011

Does this mean we should shoot anything that is ugly and bald?:-)

[sprucewolf]

10:31 PM on 01/08/2011

Due to the nature of various problems cited in the past about unknown creatures that can be literally from another planet -- due to the unsolved mystery of where ufos and aliens come from-- thank the USAF and the Government Cover Up about ufos for that little mystery still existing..­.your tax dollars at work where someone LIES to you every day that the Govt and Military deny the threat of Alien UFOs etc. But this problem is serious. The kentucky small creature has no hair yet did not die in wintry cold weather-- why ? The man who shot the creature did Science a favor. As long as someone knows how to handle a weapon properly shooting a hairless creature is important to determine what is going on. A lack of fear of Man is another way to determine that a creature may be more dangerous than expected no matter what its actual size is. Finally, the Montauk Monster (MM) event couple years ago ( NJersey coast , summer time) was never brought up in the telling of this present news story...wh­y not ? the idea is to hope the little hairless creatures from some where else just go away eh ? well we in UFO Research are not going away so we warn readers to learn as much as you can. In the final analysis it is you and your wits if the dangerous days of alien invasion ever arrive.

[Oldrattler66]

08:48 AM on 01/09/2011

Whooeeee, Spruce!

You been eatin' rations out 'o them lead-soldiered cans again, ain't 'cha?

[Porky D]

04:02 AM on 01/12/2011

Buddy , do me a favor and stop going into the woods to eat toadstools.

[perchance2dream]

10:12 PM on 01/08/2011

The animal is a Xolouitzcuintli, or Mexican Hairless dog. They are rare. It was obviously lost, cold and looking for a human to take it in. A dog is a dog. When it is alive and animated, you could not mistake it for anything else. I just had my beloved Xolo put down after 20 years.
Here is a picture of the " chucahabra" that was the dog of the ancient Aztecs.

http://www.gopetsamerica.com/breeds/xoloitzcuintli.aspx

[jamest2]

10:07 PM on 01/08/2011

Maybe it was hairless because it was a Brazilian racoon.

[DERRUFO4U]

09:36 PM on 01/08/2011

part 3 - FINAL STATEMENT OF FACT : Also. there is the still unsolved case of a hiker who died on appalachian trail between 1984 and 1988 (?) and a news documentary show was presented on the case. It was called WHITE PAPER documentary. were those always the title of NBC NEWS analysis projects ? I think so. The hiker died and when the brother was notified to come to some town in tenn or ky or near there he was met by FBI. the body had been cremated and there was no disclosure of cause of death. The FBI told the brother the order to cremate the body came from headquarters wash dc and that " no way will you ever get a copy of the autopsy performed to determine cause of death",the news reporter took case went to court-- the judge ordered the federal officials to show cause as to why the brother could not have a copy of the autopsy cause of death paperwork. The official stated the case was a " A MATTER OF NATIONAL SECURTITY" , The brother needed cause of death paperwork to help relatives give insurance companies documentation to receive deceased life insurance pay outs.govt declared dead hiker's death a matter of national security that you the public never learn how he died..do you understand ?.HappyNewYear (if we can keep Earth for Ourselves) (by veteran// US Air Force)

[airmikee99]

03:06 PM on 01/09/2011

NBC's 'White Paper' documentary series was on television starting in 1960.

http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=nbcwhitepap

Unfortunately for your stupid conspiracy theory, 'White Paper' was taken off the air in 1980.

Maybe before you start spouting nonsense online, you could actually take 20 seconds to do some research to make sure there's at least a nugget of truth in your stupidity?

[Rak Chx]

09:35 PM on 01/08/2011

This Person who shot this animal should go to Prison! How Dare He !

[JohnStClair]

08:46 PM on 01/08/2011

When a Grey alien spacecraft crashed in the El Yunque rain forest in Puerto Rico, the hull split open and three chupacabra goat suckers escaped. The chupacabra has a flexible snout that allows the alien creature to open a hole in the skin and suck out all the insides. One rabbit that was attacked had only the fur left. The chupacabra has luminous spines on its back that pull in low density hyperspace energy which allows the creature to float up to the hovering spacecraft. The digested rabbit meat is regurgitated and the alien pilots smear this liquid on their bodies and absorb it through the skin. Thus the chupacabra acts like a take-out pizza delivery truck. The FBI caught all three creatures. One man who had captured one and had it in a cage also disappeared. Photos of one of the dead aliens surfaced in Puerto Rico and were seen by several people. Anyway, I don't think this dog-like creature is a chupacabra.

[Ron Cee]

12:16 PM on 01/09/2011

I saw one these alien beings last night as I was sitting at my computer working on my third Chivas Regal and soda! It was just as you describe, only this one had what seemed to be a miniature lighted sign of some sort mounted on its back that was red, white and blue and shaped like a playing piece from a game of dominoes. It was only visible for a minute or so and then it extended its luminous spines and floated up in the air. I couldn't see its mother-ship because of cloud cover but I'm certain it must have been there. I suppose I should report this to the proper authorities but I don't know who they are. As it is I shall just sit back and start in on the Chivas Regal and perhaps I will see it again and telephone the police. I agree with you, this doesn't appear to be a Chupacabra; no luminescent spines you know.

[Drunken Chess]

08:07 PM on 01/08/2011

He shot a racoon, who freaking cares.

[SubcultureCartage]

07:02 PM on 01/08/2011

It had mange, which is treatable!

[Skinny Dog]

06:36 PM on 01/08/2011

Of course they shot it. Anything that looks strange to an American is on the short list for being shot on sight. It's the American way. That's why we're exceptional. The rules don't apply to us.

[acellist1]

06:13 PM on 01/08/2011

I guess I'm one of the few on here not bothering to shed any tears over the shooting of a raccoon. Would I have done it? Nah, but neither do I lose any sleep over the fact that some dude in Kentucky did.