'Zombie squirrels' with horrific flesh sores invading gardens
Gardens across North America are being invaded by grotesque squirrels riddled with oozing sores - and experts say garden bird feeders could be fuelling the outbreak.
Residents in the US and Canada have been left horrified after spotting grey squirrels covered in bulbous growths that split open and leak pus. Disturbing photos show the creatures with tumours spreading across their faces, eyes, legs, and even their private parts. The freakish phenomenon first surfaced in Maine in 2023, when locals captured images of the stricken animals. Since then, reports have snowballed online, with stunned social media users swapping theories about the grisly condition.
Some claimed it could be "squirrel pox," but wildlife officials believe the more likely culprit is squirrel fibromatosis - a virus that disfigures the rodents with wart-like lumps. And everyday bird feeders may be turning the problem into an epidemic. "It's like when you get a large concentration of people. If someone is sick and it's something that spreads easily, others are going to catch it," warned Shevenell Webb of Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
The virus, spread through saliva and open lesions, is harmless to humans and pets but brutal on squirrels. Experts say people should avoid touching them at all costs. "I would not recommend trying to capture a squirrel that has the virus," Webb told the Bangor Daily News. "It is naturally occurring and will run its course in time."
While most squirrels eventually recover, the disease can sometimes penetrate internal organs - leaving the creatures doomed.
It comes as another mysterious virus in Colorado has transformed rabbits into alien-looking creatures with black tentacle-like growths sprouting from their heads. The so-called Frankenbunnies have been reported multiple times in Fort Collins, with local resident Susan Mansfield said she spotted a cottontail rabbit covered in what appeared to be "black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around his or her mouth."
She told 9News: "I thought he would die off during the winter, but he didn't. He came back a second year, and it grew." Another witness described the infected animal as having "a scabbiesh-looking growth over their face."
The culprit behind these eerie deformities is cottontail papilloma virus (CRPV), also known as Shope papilloma virus, which triggers tumour growths around the rabbits' heads. Parasites such as fleas and ticks transmit the virus through their bites, according to Pet MD.
Authorities have urged the public to steer clear of the affected animals.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'Zombie squirrels' with horrific flesh sores invading gardens
Residents in the US and Canada have been left horrified after spotting grey squirrels covered in bulbous growths that split open and leak pus - with images showing tumors spreading across their bodies Gardens across North America are being invaded by grotesque squirrels riddled with oozing sores - and experts say garden bird feeders could be fuelling the outbreak. Residents in the US and Canada have been left horrified after spotting grey squirrels covered in bulbous growths that split open and leak pus. Disturbing photos show the creatures with tumours spreading across their faces, eyes, legs, and even their private parts. The freakish phenomenon first surfaced in Maine in 2023, when locals captured images of the stricken animals. Since then, reports have snowballed online, with stunned social media users swapping theories about the grisly condition. Some claimed it could be "squirrel pox," but wildlife officials believe the more likely culprit is squirrel fibromatosis - a virus that disfigures the rodents with wart-like lumps. And everyday bird feeders may be turning the problem into an epidemic. "It's like when you get a large concentration of people. If someone is sick and it's something that spreads easily, others are going to catch it," warned Shevenell Webb of Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The virus, spread through saliva and open lesions, is harmless to humans and pets but brutal on squirrels. Experts say people should avoid touching them at all costs. "I would not recommend trying to capture a squirrel that has the virus," Webb told the Bangor Daily News. "It is naturally occurring and will run its course in time." While most squirrels eventually recover, the disease can sometimes penetrate internal organs - leaving the creatures doomed. It comes as another mysterious virus in Colorado has transformed rabbits into alien-looking creatures with black tentacle-like growths sprouting from their heads. The so-called Frankenbunnies have been reported multiple times in Fort Collins, with local resident Susan Mansfield said she spotted a cottontail rabbit covered in what appeared to be "black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around his or her mouth." She told 9News: "I thought he would die off during the winter, but he didn't. He came back a second year, and it grew." Another witness described the infected animal as having "a scabbiesh-looking growth over their face." The culprit behind these eerie deformities is cottontail papilloma virus (CRPV), also known as Shope papilloma virus, which triggers tumour growths around the rabbits' heads. Parasites such as fleas and ticks transmit the virus through their bites, according to Pet MD. Authorities have urged the public to steer clear of the affected animals.
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
‘Zombie' rabbits with tentacles have been spotted in the wild – is your pet safe?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HORRIFYING images of 'zombie' rabbits with tentacles sprouting out of their heads have been circulating online - so is your pet bunny safe? The traumatising snaps have led to widespread panic, with many likening the infected wild rabbits to scenes from HBO zombie apocalypse hit The Last of Us. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The horrifying snaps show rabbits with 'tentacles' on their faces Credit: Reddit 2 The rabbits look like something out of a horror film Credit: Reddit Residents of Denver, Colorado caused an online frenzy when they began posting pictures of the bunnies, with one Instagram user stating "This is how the zombie virus starts." Another resident posted a clip of the rabbits to YouTube, with the caption: "We've got freaking zombie rabbits now?!" Some first thought that the images were AI, but unfortunately, the horrible disease is real. Zombie rabbits According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the wild animals are suffering from Shope Papilloma Virus, which causes horn-like black growths to protrude from their faces. However, Kara Van Hoose, a spokesperson for the agency said that they are not an unusual site. The grotesque-looking virus is mostly found in the Midwest of America and is transmitted through ticks and mosquitoes, meaning it is more prevalent during the hot summer months. It can also be passed on from rabbit to rabbit. Thankfully, the disease is relatively harmless, unless the black tentacle-like growths grow on sensitive areas such as the eyes and mouth, or prevent the rabbit from eating. Once the rabbit's immune system has fought off the virus, the growths will disappear. The virus cannot be passed on to other species, such as dogs or humans. Horror as rabbits 'with tentacles and horns growing from their heads' are spotted & public urgently warned to stay away However, people have been warned not to touch the infected rabbits. Is my pet rabbit safe? Although the disease is relatively harmless to wild bunnies, it can be dangerous for pet rabbits. Officials have warned anyone with an infected pet rabbit to take it to the vet for treatment. Thankfully, Shope Papilloma Virus does not occur in the UK and Europe, so your bunny should be safe from the disease. What Is Shope Papilloma Virus? A viral disease causing wart-like tumors on rabbits, mainly on their heads, ears, and eyelids. Spread by biting insects like mosquitoes and ticks. Tumors can be benign or turn malignant (cancerous). Commonly affects wild and pet rabbits, especially during summer and fall. Treatment usually involves surgical removal of growths. Prevention focuses on protecting rabbits from insect bites The horror-movie-esque disease is thought to have inspired the mythical jackalope, which is a rabbit with horns protruding from its head. And although unpleasant to look at, the tentacles have contributed to life-saving science, including our understanding of how viruses can be linked to cancer.
The Guardian
4 days ago
- The Guardian
‘Demon' rabbits growing hornlike warts in Colorado are no danger, scientists say
A group of rabbits in Colorado with grotesque, hornlike growths may seem straight out of a low-budget horror film, but scientists say there is no reason to be spooked – the furry creatures merely have a relatively common virus. The cottontails recently spotted in Fort Collins are infected with the mostly harmless Shope papillomavirus, which causes wart-like growths that protrude from their faces like metastasizing horns. Viral photos have inspired a fluffle of unflattering nicknames, including 'Frankenstein bunnies', 'demon rabbits' and 'zombie rabbits'. But their affliction is nothing new, with the virus inspiring ancient folklore and fueling scientific research nearly 100 years ago. The virus probably influenced the centuries-old jackalope myth in North America, which told of a rabbit with antlers or horns, among other animal variations. The disease in rabbits also contributed to scientists' knowledge about the connection between viruses and cancer, such as the human papillomavirus that causes cervical cancer. The virus in rabbits was named after Dr Richard E Shope, a professor at the Rockefeller University who discovered the disease in cottontails in the 1930s. News about the rabbit sightings in Fort Collins, 65 miles (105km) north of Denver, started getting attention after residents started spotting them around town and posting pictures. Kara Van Hoose, a spokesperson for Colorado parks and wildlife, told the Associated Press on Wednesday that the agency had been getting calls about the rabbits seen in Fort Collins. But she said that it was not uncommon to see infected rabbits, especially in the summer, when the fleas and ticks that spread the virus are most active. The virus can spread from rabbit to rabbit but not to other species, including humans and pets, she said. The growths resemble warts but can look like horns if they grow longer, Van Hoose said. The growths do not harm rabbits unless they grow on their eyes or mouths and interfere with eating. Rabbits' immune systems are able to fight the virus and, once they do, the growths disappear, she said.
