Cottontail rabbits in Fort Collins, Colorado, are experiencing a rapid spread of a virus that causes them to grow black, tentacle-like growths from their heads. This unusual phenomenon has led to warnings for the public to avoid contact with these altered animals. The rabbits, which have been dubbed “Frankenbunnies,” have been seen multiple times in the area.
Local resident Susan Mansfield reported seeing a rabbit with what appeared to be “black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around its mouth.” She initially thought the rabbit would not survive the winter, but was surprised to see it return the following year with the growths even larger.
The condition causing these deformities is known as the cottontail papilloma virus, or Shope papilloma virus. This disease prompts the rabbits to develop tumors around their heads. The virus is transmitted by parasites such as ticks and fleas, which pass on the disease through their bites.
According to Kara Van Hoose, a spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, rabbits typically become infected during the warmer summer months when they are more likely to be bitten by insects like fleas and ticks. While recent sightings have been in Colorado, the disease is most commonly seen in the Midwest.
In 2013, a Minnesota resident posted a video of a rabbit with similar growths in his backyard. The rabbit was humorously referred to as the “Frankenstein” bunny and likened to the mythical Jackalope, a creature fabricated by pranksters who attached antlers to taxidermy rabbits.
Wildlife experts are urging the public not to approach or handle any rabbits showing signs of the virus. While the virus can spread among rabbits, it is not known to infect humans or pets and is not considered a public health threat, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
However, the virus can have severe consequences for the rabbits themselves. In some cases, the growths can become so large that they interfere with the rabbit’s ability to eat, leading to starvation. The disease is also more severe in domestic rabbits, with the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma, a serious and potentially fatal skin cancer. Veterinarians can surgically remove the growths before they become malignant, but there is currently no known cure for the virus.