- Rabbits in Fort Collins, Colorado, have been observed with eerie black growths resembling tentacles or horns, causing alarm among residents.
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials have identified the cause as Shope papillomavirus (SPV), a rabbit-only virus that produces wart-like tumours, particularly around the face and head.
- SPV, a relative of human papillomavirus, is spread among rabbits by biting insects but is not harmful to humans, pets, or other wildlife.
- Officials advise the public to avoid approaching or touching affected rabbits, noting that the growths often disappear naturally and most wild rabbits manage well.
- The unusual appearance of these rabbits has gone viral online, with many comparing them to "zombies" or "Frankenstein bunnies", and some researchers linking them to the jackalope legend.
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