SUBMITTED
I received another email about the odd, dog-like creature often seen running around Topeka that has been dubbed “the Kansas Chupacabra” by one reader.
Eric Nordgren, an avid cyclist, said that he cycles almost every day and does between 15K and 20K per year.
Eric Nordgren, an avid cyclist, said that he cycles almost every day and does between 15K and 20K per year.
“I’ve seen this dog (or dogs) many times throughout the county — most recently near Shawnee Lake, then near Crestview Park, and in the attached pic — near 26th and Adams,” Nordgren said in an email. “The dog does not appear to be hairless nor have mange, but is definitely wild. It will not tolerate people and flees immediately upon realizing it is being watched.”
He said each time, except for one, he’s attempted to get his camera and take a picture of the creature but was seen, causing it to flee.
“Once, near Crestview, it immediately took refuge in the nearest street sewer grate,” he said. “Another time, near the Armory ballparks, it took refuge in a culvert.”
He estimated it to be about 2 feet tall, and said it appears to be its own species.
“I went online and researched worldwide breeds and came up with a very close match in the Indian Wild Dog, or ‘Dhole,’ ” he said. “If this is the breed, I postulate that someone had it as an exotic pet (or pets) and it (they) either escaped or was (were) turned loose into the wild.”
Fascinating theory, Eric, I always appreciate hearing about the critter and ideas about what it could be. Several have speculated anything from a Texas blue dog to a mangy coyote to a space alien, so it’s fun to see some of the research being done on the subject by our readers.
I also appreciate the great photo he submitted of the creature.
He said each time, except for one, he’s attempted to get his camera and take a picture of the creature but was seen, causing it to flee.
“Once, near Crestview, it immediately took refuge in the nearest street sewer grate,” he said. “Another time, near the Armory ballparks, it took refuge in a culvert.”
He estimated it to be about 2 feet tall, and said it appears to be its own species.
“I went online and researched worldwide breeds and came up with a very close match in the Indian Wild Dog, or ‘Dhole,’ ” he said. “If this is the breed, I postulate that someone had it as an exotic pet (or pets) and it (they) either escaped or was (were) turned loose into the wild.”
Fascinating theory, Eric, I always appreciate hearing about the critter and ideas about what it could be. Several have speculated anything from a Texas blue dog to a mangy coyote to a space alien, so it’s fun to see some of the research being done on the subject by our readers.
I also appreciate the great photo he submitted of the creature.
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