This creature has a confused and troubled timeline and history. Explanations range from misidentifications  to invented stories, to regular animals with mange, to urban legend and to myth.

The first attack by a Chupacabra is said to be in March 1995 when 8 sheep were found dead in Puerto Rico. Each body had three puncture wounds in the chest area and were said to be drained of blood. More stories came from the mountain region of Morovis and Orocovis. Chickens, sheep and goats were being found dead in their pens and enclosures, drained of blood with deep puncture wounds to the neck or chest. Nightly search parties of at least 200 men went out in search of the culprit(s) and to guard the animals. Nothing was found.