Is the Chupacabra Real?

There has been another chupacabra sighting, which increases the belief that this mythical creature could be real. The most recent was in Blanco, Texas when one of Jerry Ayer’s students put out rodent poison to kill whatever creature was disturbing a local barn. What they found the next day was what they claim to be a dead chupacabra. 

The chupacabra, up to this point, has been a matter of legend, like Big Foot or Yeti. It’s said to be a doglike creature that stands three to four feet tall with nauseating, red eyes. It’s distinctly known to suck the blood from its victims. Spottings in the past have resulted in DNA tests that prove the mythical creature is not real, and instead some sort of mutant coyote. Last summer, people spotted them in Cuero, Texas say what they saw was a Chupacabra because their chickens were killed but not eaten. It looked as if the blood had been drained out of them. Just another addition to the Chupacabra mystery ... but we’ll see if this newest one is real after yet another DNA test.

Here's a video from the recent sighting:

Sloth Bears Carry Young

The sloth bear is the only bear that carries its young on its back. These unusual bears are not threatening to humans either because they feed primarily on insects and fruit.

The Venomous Gila Monster

The Gila monster is the largest lizard native to the United States. It can grow up to two feet and weigh over five pounds ... and it’s quite venomous. However, a Gila monster bite has never resulted in a human death. Instead of injecting venom (like snakes) Gilas grip victims and chew, allowing neurotoxins to spread from their teeth to the open wound. They can be easily spotted because of the bright pink, orange or yellow patterns that adorn the backs of their black bodies.

Bonus Fact: A type of protein found in Gila saliva can be used to treat diabetes in humans.

The Coelacanth Lives On

The coelacanth was discovered in 1938, after many scientists believed it went extinct with the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Because of its prehistoric features, scientists believe that it represents an earlier step in evolution before fish turned into four-legged creatures or amphibians. Its unique features, such as its paired lobe fins that extend from its body like legs and its hinged joint in the skull that widens the coelacanth’s mouth, both make it a rare “living fossil”. Although there are only about 1,000 of them in the world, these fish can live up to 60 years and often grow to be about six feet long. 

Bonus Fact: The coelacanth’s brain fills only 1.5 percent of its cranial cavity. The rest is filled with fat.

License to Handle Warty Newts

The warty newt or the great-crested newt is the largest newt (reaching up to 7 inches) that lives in Europe. Its first name comes from the small bumps that cover it’s back. Their purpose is to secrete a milky, foul-smelling substance that deters predators from preying on it. Its other name comes from the rock-like crest that develop on males during mating season. These newts can live up to 16 years, and like all newts, they can regenerate body parts.

Bonus Fact: In Europe, you need a required license to handle the warty newt.

Sing A Song of Spring

Spring peeper frogs have the ability to keep most of their bodies frozen during winter hibernation and still survive. As soon as winter is over though, they make it clear that they’re alive by singing a spring song. In fact, their singing is often taken as a sign that winter is over, just like the song of a robin. 

Common Loon Dives Deep

The common loon is a bird named after the way it awkwardly walks when on land. It’s a migratory bird that often lives in North America’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts, as well as in Europe and Iceland. They are strong divers that can actually dive more than 200 feet below the water’s surface in search of food.

Don't Fall for the Mars Hoax

I don’t know if any of you have seen the e-mail about Mars this month, but I’m here to set the record straight... and save you some sleep. Ever since 2003, there’s been a circulation of hoax e-mails that come out every August, claiming that Mars will be the closest to Earth on Aug. 27 — and that it will be as big as the moon! Unfortunately, this is not true. 

In Aug. 2003, Mars was the closest to Earth that it could be in its 22-month orbit around the sun, and it actually was the closest it had been in more than 50,000 years. However, it looked like a red star, definitely not as big as the moon. It will never be able to look as big as the moon because it orbits the sun 1 1/2 times farther out than the Earth’s orbit. It only gets close to Earth every 26 months, when the two planets near opposition. The next time this will occur is in Jan. 2010, but it will be almost twice as far away as in Aug. 2003. So, if you want to get your telescopes out then, go for it. But this week, just get some extra shut eye on Thursday.

Platypuses Start Out Small

The platypus is one of two mammals that lays eggs. The female platypus usually lays one or two eggs, and they hatch within ten days. Newborn platypuses are the size of a lima bean, and the mothers feed and nurture them for about four months until they’re ready to live on their own. 

Two Humps Are Better Than One

Bactrian camels are the only wild camels left in Africa. They have two humps, opposed to Arabian camels that have only one. Both humps give the Bactrian camel the ability to go long periods without water. However, when they need to refill, they can drink up to 30 gallons of water in just 13 minutes!