"Frankenstein" rabbits with tentacle-like growths have been spotted, putting certain US states at the highest risk of an outbreak.
Residents in the US have reported seeing wild rabbits with black, horn-like growths and tentacle-like protrusions sprouting from their faces.
The disturbing appearance results from the cottontail rabbit papilloma virus (CRPV), also known as Shope papilloma virus.
The virus was first identified in Midwestern America in 1933 and causes wart-like tumors that can resemble black quills, spikes, or toothpicks growing around the mouth, eyes, and head.
While the growths may sometimes heal naturally, they can become malignant, leading to squamous cell carcinomas, or cause serious issues if they obstruct eating or vision.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) says CRPV spreads mainly through biting insects such as mosquitoes and ticks, as well as direct contact between infected rabbits.
The infection is more common in the summer and has no known cure. A National Institutes of Health study warns that tumors in domestic rabbits are more prone to cancer and can spread to the lungs and other organs.
Despite their alarming look, CPW stresses that CRPV is non-zoonotic, meaning it cannot be transmitted to humans, dogs, or other animals. Officials advise against handling infected rabbits, and pet owners should consult a veterinarian if they believe their rabbit has been exposed.
One resident who lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, has revealed to NBC News that she’s seen the same infected rabbit return to her yard two years in a row.
“It looked like black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around its mouth. I thought he’d die off during the winter, but he didn’t. He came back a second year - and it grew (some more),” Susan Mansfield recalled.
Historically, CRPV cases have been concentrated in the Midwest, particularly Iowa and Kansas, where hunters first reported “horned” rabbits in the 1930s.
Wildlife experts now warn that the virus’s range could expand westward, potentially reaching Washington State. Nebraska, Missouri, and South Dakota, with their large populations of cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus), could also face outbreaks and serve as “virus reservoirs.”
Kara Van Hoose from CPW noted that some sightings could be the same infected rabbit reported several times, but still urged vigilance in at-risk states. It's important that you do not feed them and that you keep domestic rabbits from coming into contact with them.
For pets, surgical tumor removal may be possible, but wildlife experts recommend letting nature take its course in wild populations to avoid causing additional stress.