Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
This is the 4th or 5th that I have shot that were nearly totally denuded by mange. Short of taking a sample and sending it off for analysis to diagnose the the type of mange, the extensiveness and gray areas of showing on the skin lean toward being sarcoptic mange. Demodectic mange tends to be less extensive (patchy). Of course, early stages of sarcoptic mange may resemble demdectic mange. That is what I got out of talking to the vet and reading what I could on the internet. Maybe if someone here is a vet, they can shed more light on the topic.
In years past, when such animals have been killed and identified, often with ancillary stores of chickens and goats being killed in the area, they are identified as being 'chupacabras.' From what I have seen, they are all just canids with mange and I suspect most are coyotes based on their size and head shape.
I shot this one on Thursday night. It actually seemed in pretty good health save for the extensive and terrible case of mange. Previous coyotes I have shot like this were in worse condition with numerous open sores/wounds. When they are this bad off, the mange does not kill them, but excess bleeding, compromised immune system from numerous infections, and exposure (heat or cold) is what eventually kills them.
It is best not to directly handle these animals if at all possible. Sarcoptic mange is zoonotic and will cause scabies in humans. If you carry the animal and it comes in contact with your clothing, mites can transfer to the clothing and then later to you or your others (people/animals) in your household up to 2-3 days before dying without a host. If the mange is demodectic mange, it is NOT zoonotic and you don't have anything to worry about. The problem is that somebody has to actually identify the little mites to know the actual difference.
In years past, when such animals have been killed and identified, often with ancillary stores of chickens and goats being killed in the area, they are identified as being 'chupacabras.' From what I have seen, they are all just canids with mange and I suspect most are coyotes based on their size and head shape.
I shot this one on Thursday night. It actually seemed in pretty good health save for the extensive and terrible case of mange. Previous coyotes I have shot like this were in worse condition with numerous open sores/wounds. When they are this bad off, the mange does not kill them, but excess bleeding, compromised immune system from numerous infections, and exposure (heat or cold) is what eventually kills them.
It is best not to directly handle these animals if at all possible. Sarcoptic mange is zoonotic and will cause scabies in humans. If you carry the animal and it comes in contact with your clothing, mites can transfer to the clothing and then later to you or your others (people/animals) in your household up to 2-3 days before dying without a host. If the mange is demodectic mange, it is NOT zoonotic and you don't have anything to worry about. The problem is that somebody has to actually identify the little mites to know the actual difference.
