Nightmare virus is causing tentacle-like growths on rabbits in the US
A rapidly spreading virus is causing cottontail rabbits in the US to grow black, tentacle-like growths out of their heads.
The so-called Frankenbunnies or zombie rabbits have been spotted multiple times in Fort Collins, Colorado, prompting warnings to steer clear of the mutated animals, the New York Post reports.
Local resident Susan Mansfield said she saw a rabbit with what looked like 'black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around his or her mouth.'
'I thought he would die off during the winter, but he didn't,' she told the local 9News. 'He came back a second year, and it grew.'
One person described an infected critter as having 'a scabbiesh-looking growth over their face.'
The so-called bunny blight is actually a disease called cottontail papilloma virus, also known as Shope papilloma virus, which causes cottontails to sprout tumours around their head.
It is spread by parasites like ticks and fleas, which pass on the ailment through their bites, according to Pet MD.
'Typically rabbits become infected in the warmer months of summer when transmitted by being bitten by insects like fleas and ticks,' said Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Kara Van Hoose.
In light of the rampant CRPV sightings, wildlife experts have warned people not to approach or handle any of the afflicted critters.
Thankfully, while the virus can spread between rabbits, it is not known to infect humans or pets and is therefore not considered a threat to public health, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
The rabbits, on the other hand, are often not so lucky.
Although cases can resolve on their own, the Medusa-like protrusions can also balloon up to the point that they interfere with the infected carrot cruncher's ability to eat, causing the creatures to die of starvation.
In addition, the disease is more severe in domestic bunnies than their wild brethren, with the big fear being that they can develop squamous cell carcinoma — a serious and potentially fatal skin cancer.
For this reason, experts advise keeping wild rabbits away from pets.
If a rabbit does become infected, veterinarians can surgically excise the malevolent dreadlocks before they can become malignant.
Unfortunately, CRPV has no known cure.
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