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New Mexico Game and Fish says viral ‘horned rabbits' possible in the state
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Demon rabbits, franken-bunnies, and zombie rabbits are just some of the names these funky little critters have been coined across social media. 'It doesn't look real at all,' said Alena Cordova of Albuquerque.
Peculiar-looking cotton-tailed rabbits have been popping up in northern Colorado. And although these rabbits may look intimidating, experts say there's no reason to be spooked. 'It looked like a zombie and kind of disturbing,' said Julius Angeli of Albuquerque.
His mother, Eva Angeli, told KRQE News 13 that these rabbits look unreal. 'It looks like something out of science fiction,' she said.
These rabbits are infected with a papilloma virus that produces benign protrusions on a rabbit's or hare's face or head. 'Fortunately, these growths tend to be benign, so, but still, it's definitely out of the ordinary,' explained Darren Vaughan, spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
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He says the growths can impede a rabbit's ability to eat, drink, or move around, but the virus is not contagious. It's transmitted to rabbits from fleas, ticks, or even mosquitoes. 'It is not transmissible to people or other animals. However, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't still take caution,' continued Vaughan.
Vaughan says that although there have been no reports of these infected rabbits in New Mexico so far, it's not something they are ruling out just yet. 'As far as we know, it hasn't made its way into New Mexico yet. But then again, like I said, it could just be that people haven't seen it yet, that it is in fact here,' said Vaughan.
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