Mysterious creature lurking in Texas backyard baffles local residents: ‘Chupacabra’
A strange sighting of a four-legged creature lurking in a backyard has stunned residents of a small Texas town and even puzzled animal experts.
Tina Kahlig of Hill Country Village snapped a photo of the bizarre tawny animal, which appears to be about the size of a large dog, with a long tail that almost touches the ground and very large, pricked ears.
“I was inside and looked at the yard,” said Kahlig said KENS 5. “And I saw an animal right there and I was like, ‘Wow, what is that?'”
The mysterious creature was wandering around her garden and even stopped to eat some berries that had fallen from a bush for a few moments before disappearing into the undergrowth, Kahlig said.
Kahlig, who wasn’t sure which animal it might be, posted the video on social media and asked her neighbors for help identifying it.
“Chupacabra,” chuckled Kahlig. “Some people think it’s a cross between a coyote and a dog.”
Around Hill Country Village, which is just about 15 miles north of downtown San Antonio, there is a local legend about an ancient mountain lion that roamed the area. However, it was never documented, city officials told KENS 5.
The city has reached out to the Texas Game Wardens but has not yet received a response, the outlet said.
San Antonio Zoo’s director of mammals, Rachel Malstaff, said that the creature appeared to be a dog or a coyote when reviewing Kahlig’s photos.
Two vets at the zoo, Dr. Rob and Dr. Tarah, told KENS 5 that it could be a dog with skin problems.
