Latest news with #CRPV
Toronto Sun
13 hours ago
- Health
- Toronto Sun
'Frankenbunnies' with spikes on heads scaring Americans
'Frankenbunnies' have strange growths coming out of their heads. Photo by SCREEN GRAB / Reddit/Different_Try3353 These frightening rabbits have people hopping for cover in the U.S. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account A rapidly spreading virus is causing cottontail rabbits to grow black, tentacle-like growths out of their heads, prompting warnings to stay away from the mutated animals. The creatures, dubbed 'Frankenbunnnies,' have been seen multiple times in Fort Collins, Colo., per the New York Post . 'I thought he would die off during the winter, but he didn't,' resident Susan Manfield told 9News, per the Post , after she said she saw a rabbit with what looked like 'black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around his or her mouth.' However, she said, 'he came back a second year, and it grew.' Another person described the infected rabbits as having a 'scabbiesh-looking growth over their face.' The bunny problem is caused by cottontail papilloma virus (CRPV), which is also known as Shope papilloma virus. It causes cottontails to sprout tumors around their head and is spread by parasites, ticks and fleas, which pass on the ailment through their bites, according to Pet MD. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Typically, rabbits become infected in the warmer months of summer when transmitted by being bitten by insects like fleas and ticks,' Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Kara Van Hoose said, per the Coloradoan . Recommended video Recent sightings have occurred in Colorado but the disease most frequently comes up in the Midwest. With rampant CRPV sightings, wildlife experts are warning people not to approach or handle any of the afflicted rabbits. While the virus can spread between rabbits, it's not known to infect humans or pets. As such it is not considered a threat to public health, according to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife. According to the U.K. Daily Mail , the protrusions can grow to the point where they interfere with the infected rabbit's ability to eat, causing the animals to die of starvation. The disease is more severe in domestic bunnies than their wild brethren. CRPV has no known cure. Read More Toronto & GTA Columnists Canada Money News CFL
Global News
3 days ago
- Health
- Global News
Why rabbits with strange-looking ‘horns' are hopping around Colorado
Rabbits have been spotted hopping around a Colorado town with unusual horn-like growths poking out of their heads, causing alarm among some locals. The bunnies seen in Fort Collins, a town about 105 kilometres north of Denver, are infected with the somewhat common Shope papillomavirus, which causes wart-like tumours that metastasize from their faces, appearing like horns. View image in full screen Rabbit with the papilloma virus (CRPV), or Shope papilloma virus. It infects rabbits, causing keratinous carcinomas, typically on or near the animal's head. Education Images/ Getty Images Photos shared online of the infected Cottontails have led to the species being given some unfortunate epithets, including 'Frankenstein bunnies,' 'demon rabbits' and 'zombie rabbits.' However, their disease is well known to scientists and has been extensively studied. Story continues below advertisement Kara Van Hoose, a spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, told the Associated Press on Wednesday that the agency had received reports of sightings in Fort Collins. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy She assured that it is not out of the ordinary to see infected rabbits, especially during the summer months when fleas and ticks, which spread the virus, are most prevalent, adding that there is no risk to humans as the virus is only transmitted between rabbits. The growths often look like warts but can appear more like horns if they grow longer, Van Hoose explained, assuring that they are harmless to rabbits unless they grow on their eyes or mouths and interfere with eating. Rabbits' immune systems can fight the virus and, once they do, the growths will disappear, she said. The virus was named after Dr. Richard E. Shope, a professor at The Rockefeller University who discovered the disease in Cottontails in the 1930s. Infected rabbits' appearance is said to have 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. — with files from The Associated Press Story continues below advertisement
New York Post
3 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Freaky ‘Frankenstein' rabbits have been spotted in these 2 states: ‘They're all over here'
It's hare today, gone tomorrow — thanks to a face full of freaky tentacles. The grotesque 'Frankenstein'-esque rabbits — once just a Colorado curiosity — are now turning up in Minnesota and Nebraska, their furry faces sprouting grotesque horn- and tentacle-like growths straight out of a B-movie. The unsettling deformities are the calling card of cottontail papilloma virus (CRPV), also known as Shope papilloma virus — a bug that turns harmless bunnies into nightmare fuel. The DNA-twisting illness is spread when mosquitoes, ticks, or fleas bite an infected rabbit and then pass it along to others. While the virus doesn't affect humans or pets like dogs and cats, wildlife officials are warning: look, don't touch. 4 Mother Nature's gone mad scientist on America's rabbits, with more and more 'Frankenbunnies' emerging in two additional states. Universal Images Group via Getty Images First, the infection appears as small, red bumps. Then, as the virus works its dark magic, the spots erupt into wart-like tumors — which can harden into keratinized papillomas, the bizarre 'horns' and 'tentacles' now haunting Midwestern lawns. In some cases, those warts morph into deadly skin cancer. And this summer could be prime bunny-horror season: mosquito and tick numbers soar in the warm months, giving CRPV plenty of winged and crawling couriers to spread it across the heartland. 4 The freaky growths are the handiwork of cottontail papilloma virus — aka Shope papilloma virus — a bug that turns cuddly bunnies into straight-up nightmares. Universal Images Group via Getty Images Locals in Fort Collins, Colorado, have been spotting the deformed rabbits for weeks. Resident Susan Mansfield told 9News she saw one 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 said. 'He came back a second year, and it grew.' On Reddit, one Minnesotan recently reported seeing the phenomenon 'for the last few years in Minnesota,' adding that the rabbits around them 'died off who had it.' Another chimed in: 'They're all over here in St. Paul. When I google them, it's hundreds of MN based photos.' 4 Summer could be peak bunny-horror season: swarms of mosquitoes and ticks are spreading CRPV across the Midwest. Gunnar Boettcher/AP Meanwhile in Nebraska, one shocked resident posted a video of a bunny with the same creepy, fleshy appendages sprouting from its head and dangling beneath its mouth. CRPV isn't new — scientists have known about it for decades. In 2013, a Minnesota man's video of a tendril-ridden rabbit went viral, with viewers comparing it to the fabled Jackalope. While the virus is harmless to people, it can be deadly for the rabbits — sometimes growing so large that the twisted protrusions block their mouths, causing starvation, as per The Daily Mail. 4 Reddit users from Minnesota and Nebraska are sharing sightings of the freaky, tentacle-faced rabbits hopping through their neighborhoods. Reddit/Different_Try3353 And in domestic bunnies, the growths can lead to squamous cell carcinoma, a potentially fatal skin cancer. With no cure, experts warn to keep pets away, resist the urge to 'help,' and unfortunately let nature — however nightmarish — run its course.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Horn disease in rabbits: Is it a threat to humans?
If you've been scrolling through local news or social media lately, you might have stumbled across pictures of wild rabbits sporting… well… what look like horns, antlers, or even creepy tentacles sprouting from their heads. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now They've been called Frankenstein bunnies, zombie rabbits, and all sorts of other spooky nicknames. It's not the plot of a horror movie—it's something called Shope papillomavirus (SPV), or 'horn disease' in rabbits. And naturally, people are wondering: Is this something humans need to worry about? Horn disease isn't an actual set of antlers growing from a bunny's skull. What you're seeing are hard, keratinized warts caused by a virus called Shope papillomavirus, first discovered in the 1930s by Dr. Richard Shope. The virus triggers abnormal skin growths, which can get pretty big and look like black or brown horns or tentacles. While it looks alarming, these growths are usually harmless to the rabbit unless they get in the way of eating or moving. How do rabbits catch it? The virus spreads mainly through insect bites—think mosquitoes, ticks, and possibly fleas. That's why you tend to see more cases in warmer months when bugs are out in full force. Wild cottontail rabbits are the most common hosts, but domestic rabbits can get it too if they're bitten by infected insects. Can humans catch horn disease? Short answer? No. Shope papillomavirus is species-specific—meaning it only infects rabbits. It's not contagious to humans, dogs, cats, or other animals. So, no, you're not going to wake up with antlers if you pet a bunny. That said, there's still a small but important safety note: You should avoid handling sick or wild rabbits without protection. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Not because of horn disease itself, but because wild animals can carry other illnesses (like tularemia or parasites) that can affect humans. Think of it like seeing a raccoon in your backyard—it's probably fine from a distance, but not something you should pick up for a cuddle. Is it dangerous for rabbits? For the rabbit, it can be a mixed bag. Mild cases: The growths are small, don't cause pain, and eventually fall off as the rabbit's immune system kicks in. Severe cases: Large growths can block the mouth or eyes, making it hard to eat, drink, or see, leading to starvation or other health problems. In domestic rabbits, a vet might surgically remove obstructive growths and provide supportive care. Wild rabbits usually have to tough it out on their own. Did you know this virus is the unsung hero of cancer research ? You're right, an unusual rabbit virus actually played a crucial role in cancer research history! The cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV), which causes horn-like growths on rabbits, was one of the earliest animal models to show that viruses could trigger . These studies were foundational: they helped scientists realize that viral infections might also cause cancers in humans, changing how we think about tumors and oncology research. Research on rabbit papillomavirus directly influenced later discoveries about human papillomavirus (HPV). Once scientists understood the viral-cancer link in animals, they began searching for similar connections in people. This quest eventually led to breakthroughs showing that HPV can cause cervical and other cancers in humans, which paved the way for creating life-saving HPV vaccines. So, while "horn disease" looks wild, it helped spark some of the most important advances in modern cancer science—a true example of how animal research can save human lives.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
Colorado Rabbits Growing 'Tentacles' Sparks Warning
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Residents in Fort Collins, Colorado, have been reporting sightings of wild rabbits with tentacle-like, black spiny growths around their mouths and faces, according to the local news station WFSB. A Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson told Newsweek that the growths are "most likely the rabbit (or shope) papilloma virus which is not uncommon in Colorado." "We have started to take more reports of rabbits in the northern Colorado area affected with the virus since photos were first published last Friday," they said. "We're up to maybe a dozen or so reports, but it's most likely people reporting the same rabbits and not a dozen rabbits infected." While the virus is not known to be contagious to other animals or humans, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has advised people to leave affected wild rabbits alone and ensure their pets do not to go near them. Why It Matters The unusual appearance of the rabbits has drawn significant concern among locals and even social media users online, prompting a number of references to the TV series The Last of Us, which follows two characters as the world is taken over by a fungal infection. File photo: a rabbit with the papilloma virus (CRPV), or Shope papilloma virus. File photo: a rabbit with the papilloma virus (CRPV), or Shope papilloma virus. Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images What To Know Locals have described the growths as scabby patches with black, toothpick-like or quill-like protrusions around the mouth and face of cottontail rabbits spotted in yards and parks in Fort Collins, according to the WFSB report. The virus can also cause tumors resembling mini-antlers on their head. Per the outlet, one anonymous resident said: "It's kind of like a, just like a scabby-ish-looking growth over their face." Another local, Susan Mansfield, told the outlet: "Looks like it was black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around his mouth, or her mouth." She added that she had seen a bunny continue to appear in her yard with the growths, and she told WFSB she thought "he would die off during the winter, but he didn't, he came back a second year, and it grew." Why Rabbits Are Growing 'Tentacles' Some say the Shope papilloma virus played a role in the cultivation of the North American myth of the jackalope and similar horned rabbit creatures, and that it also helped scientists discover that a virus could cause cancer, paving way for the HPV vaccine to be developed. Rabbits, typically wild cottontail populations, can get the virus from the bites of certain insects, such as mosquitoes and ticks, particularly during the summer months when it is warmer. The virus is related to the human papillomavirus, but SPV is not currently known to affect humans, although experts still advise that humans should stay away from any wild rabbits with the virus. For pet owners, clinical guidance for rabbits with the virus is to have the tumors removed, in case they become malignant, even though they can resolve themselves on their own. "We would be concerned only if the growths are on the eyes or impede the rabbit's ability to eat," a Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson told Newsweek. File photo: a rabbit with the papilloma virus (CRPV), or Shope papilloma virus. The virus infects rabbits, causing keratinous carcinomas, typically on or near the animal's head. File photo: a rabbit with the papilloma virus (CRPV), or Shope papilloma virus. The virus infects rabbits, causing keratinous carcinomas, typically on or near the animal's head. Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images What People Are Saying Social media user Janice Nodine, wrote in a post on X: "Rabbits in Fort Collins are turning up with black, tentacle-like growths sprouting from their heads. Experts say it's caused by Shope Papillomavirus—a condition the animals carry for life. Officials insist it's "not dangerous to humans" … but warn: DO NOT TOUCH THEM. Strange, right? Makes you wonder what's really going on …" Dom Lucre, a social media user with more than 1.5 million followers on X, wrote on the platform: "Colorado officials just sent a warning of: "DO NOT TOUCH" to their residents after rabbits were spotted invading parts of the U.S. with weird tentacles sprouting from their heads due to virus." What Happens Next Colorado Parks and Wildlife have advised residents to keep their distance from affected wild rabbits.
