Bonanza the Origin of the Chupacabra? Perhaps

From Cyptomundo:

One of the significant items of note about the show “Bonanza,” in terms of cryptozoology, is that it was the first place on television that the term “Chupacabras” was used.

As I often tell patrons to the International Cryptozoology Museum, as opposed to “Chupacabras” being noted as a bloodsucker of goats throughout its history, the mention of “Chupacabras” by a Mexican farmhand on the series “Bonzana” was framed in terms of some kind of milksucker of goats in an episode broadcast in 1960. From milk to blood, it appears, the Chupacabras have changed their diet down through the years.

Maybe the idea of a blood sucker was too much for 1960 television and the writer merely substituted milk. It's pretty interesting that the chupacabra entered North American pop culture as far back as 1960, though. They're pretty much all the rage here in Texas these days with every mangy coyote transformed in the minds of the locals into a chupacabra. We keep the herd here on the ranch isolated so as not to cause a mass panic.