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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Bigfoot Sighting Revealed to be Big Mistake

Bad case of mange made bear look like legendary Sasquatch

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(Newser) – A Pennsylvania hunter's footage of a "juvenile Sasquatch" has been discredited after officials said the star of the show was actually an unhealthy bear. Same deal for a Texas rancher who claimed to have captured a chupacabra, the legendary Mexican goat-killer, but had in fact only bagged a coyote. Why the mix-up? A skin infection, mange, is the culprit.

Caused by parasitic mites, sarcoptic mange can cause hair loss, skin welts, and crusting, making infected animals difficult to identify, LiveScience reports. How difficult? Apparently enough for an experienced rancher to mistake a mangy coyote for a mythological monster. So while there's still room for doubt regarding sightings of Sasquatch and chupacabras, such cases of mistaken identity are unavoidable.

Phylis Canion holds the head of what she is calling a Chupacabra at her home in Cuero, Texas, Friday, Aug. 31, 2007. She found the strange looking animal dead outside her ranch and thinks it is responsible for killing many of her chickens. he results are in
Phylis Canion holds the head of what she is calling a Chupacabra at her home in Cuero, Texas, Friday, Aug. 31, 2007. She found the strange looking animal dead outside her ranch and thinks it is responsible...   (Associated Press)
Where some experts see a primate in this night-time
Where some experts see a primate in this night-time "bigfoot" photograph, others see a mangy bear.   (%uFFFD Rick Jacobs, 2007)
Phylis Canion holds the head of what she is calling a Chupacabra at her home in Cuero, Texas, Friday, Aug. 31, 2007. She found the strange looking animal dead outside her ranch and thinks it is responsible for killing many of her chickens.
Phylis Canion holds the head of what she is calling a Chupacabra at her home in Cuero, Texas, Friday, Aug. 31, 2007. She found the strange looking animal dead outside her ranch and thinks it is responsible...   (Associated Press)
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