Anchorage Alaska residents puzzled over a huge UFO sighting there some years ago, but when I called the local paper to let them know it was just a buddy of mine and his friends that had placed candles inside dry cleaning bags and set them aloft-—they weren’t interested in running the story. Mystery and magic sell papers, explanations apparently don’t.
I call that the “chupacabra effect”. A newspaper will receive a picture of what they know is roadkill of some sort, but they will inevitably run the story as if members of the community think it might be a Chupacabra.
It is either that or some members of the press think Chupacabra is Spanish for roadkill.
Yes...people want to remain ignorant while being entertained.