News & Current Events
Warning Issued As ‘Frankenstein Rabbits’ With Tentacle Growths Spread Across The Us
Sightings are increasing as a result of a strange virus that is transforming common rabbits in the US into hideous, horned animals with black, tentacle-like growths emerging from their faces.
Numerous sightings of the mutant rabbits have been reported in Fort Collins, Colorado.
There have been reports since 2024, when a local uploaded a picture of the creature’s whole head coated in black, spike-like projections.
Susan Mansfield, a resident, told 9News that she have lately seen a rabbit with black ‘quills’ or spines around its mouth.
“It looked like black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around its mouth,” Mansfield said. “I thought he’d die off during the winter, but he didn’t. He came back a second year – and it grew.”
Tumors develop on or around the rabbits’ heads as a result of infection with the cottontail papilloma virus (CRPV), also referred to as the Shope papilloma virus.
Infected rabbits should not be touched, according to a warning from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).
CPW is still warning the public to stay away from the bunnies and not try to assist them, even if they do not think the illness can spread to humans or pets.
Researchers pointed out that cottontail rabbits across the Midwest could contract the uncommon virus, despite the fact that these “Frankenstein” bunnies have mostly been spotted recently in Colorado.
The DNA-altering virus is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks, which bite an infected animal.
Researchers observed that there are no documented instances of insects biting humans to transmit SPV, and the virus is rarely transmitted by direct contact between these rabbits.
Red, elevated patches that later develop into tumors resembling warts are the initial indication that a rabbit has the virus.
These warts frequently mature into keratinized papillomas, which are the “horns” and “tentacles” that are observed protruding from midwestern rabbits.
Squamous cell carcinoma, a dangerous skin cancer that can be fatal if left untreated, can develop from some of the warts.
Medical specialists advised pet owners who are worried that their bunnies might become SPV to keep them away from bugs, particularly mosquitoes.
Veterinarians can surgically remove the tumors before they become malignant if a pet rabbit contracts the virus from an insect bite.
Locals report that wild rabbits in the area have a tendency to acquire larger and larger horns, however sometimes the growths heal on their own.
Eventually, the tumors may grow to the point where they obstruct the rabbit’s ability to eat, leading to hunger death.
These tumors usually appear on the eyelids, ears, or other regions of the head, occasionally impairing vision or hearing, according to PetMD.
Social media users have questioned if killing diseased wild bunnies will prevent the disease from spreading.
“Is it more humane to kill them when [they’re] like that or just leave them alone?” one person posted on Reddit.
The virus does not represent a concern to human health, according to US animal control experts, who have not issued any recommendations in favor of this.
The best course of action if you spot these deformed rabbits is to stay away and do not touch them, according to local wildlife officials.
Tales of the legendary ‘jackalope’—a rabbit with antelope-like antlers—have frequently been based on rabbits infected with the virus.
Horned rabbit tales and images can be found in scholarly publications as far back as 1789, including the Tableau encyclopédique et méthodique.
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