Are these animal sightings an outbreak of mange?

[Ivan Seeking]

Maryland Mystery Animal 'Seen' All Over The World

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Since a mystery animal appeared on our sister Web site in Baltimore two weeks ago, people from around the world have looked at the pictures and sent in guesses as to what it may be.

Now, new pictures of a strange animal in Texas have some wondering if it is the same creature seen in central Maryland. [continued]

http://www.nbc6.net/news/3591070/detail.html

This is Picture 17 of 21 from the link:
http://images.ibsys.com/2004/0729/3590966.jpg

Aside from the fact that the media is hyping all of this so much, what do you think is going on? Are these just a few isolated cases, or might we have some kind of outbreak of mange, or some disease going around? I am just posting for discussion here. No connection to the media hype is intended or desired.

 

[iansmith]

To me it looks like a shaved hyena, High shoulder and lower hips.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I should mention that the picture above is a side by side comparison of the Maryland animal, and the one shot in Texas this week from this thread:

Strange animal shot and killed.
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=37258

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Baby Md. Mystery Animal Caught, Identified

Animal control officers took the creature to the Falls Road Animal Hospital. They determined it was a fox with sarcoptic mange.

"It is a skin parasite that looks -- under the microscope -- like spiders," said Dr. Herko. "One of the signs of the disease is hair loss and you've seen he's lost a good portion of its hair -- a good 70 percent."

http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/3604803/detail.html