John and Robin Wideman of rural De Soto came across a creature on their farm that they describe as weird and they wonder if the oddly shaped animal might be a mysterious chupacabra.
The Missouri Department of Conservation agent they spoke with said the creature was surely a mangy coyote and she wasn't interested in seeing or testing the animal.
So, at the direction of the Missouri Conservation Department, on Wednesday (Oct. 3) John Wideman killed and burned the creature's body.
But before that happened, he posted a photo on Facebook. Friends quickly posted that the animal looked like online photos of a mythical chupacabra.
In Bigfoot-like lore, chupacabra allegedly attack and suck the blood from animals, especially goats. Stories and descriptions vary widely. But the most common description for North American chupacabra look very much like the animal found on the De Soto farm.
Experts have said the sightings across the country are of emaciated coyotes with mange. But the lore continues that this is actually a mysterious new breed.
"I'm not too big on mythical creatures," John Wideman said. "I was leaning toward a coyote, but if it was bald from mange, you would recognize it (as a coyote).
"I've never seen anything like it."
Robin Wideman said the mystery doesn't stop with the animal's unusual appearance.
"I'm an animal person and have lived on a farm most of my life," she said. "I've never seen anything like it. I felt sorry for it. But it was eerie. It made the hair on my arms stand up."
She said deer have been common visitors to their farm for years. "Then, all of a sudden, they stopped," she said. "Then, after John shot this thing, we saw four deer this morning. I don't know. It's just weird."
Adding to the mystery, photos of the fire show an eerie, skull shape floating in the flames, Robin Wideman said.
For more details about the Widemans' adventure, see the Oct. 11 Leader.
Story by Peggy Scott
Photos: Provided by the Widemans.
