Latest news with #cottontailpapillomavirus
International Business Times
5 days ago
- Health
- International Business Times
'Frankenstein' Rabbits with Mouth Tentacles, Black Horns Invade Colorado; Experts Urge to Stay Away
Rabbits in parts of the US are looking scary like creatures from nightmares with black horns and mouth tentacles. A change in appearance among this cuddly and fuzzy animal is causing concern among residents in Fort Collins, Colorado. According to experts, a rapidly spreading bizarre virus is turning these rabbits into horned creatures. Several residents in Fort Collins, Colorado, spotted these so-called "Frankenbunnies" in their neighborhood. According to local residents, these mutated rabbits were spotted with black-colored growths, resembling horns or tentacles, on their heads. "It looks like it was 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. He came back a second year, and it grew," Fort Collins resident Susan Mansfield told 9NEWS. Frankenstein Rabbits X Experts Urge Public to Stay Away The strange-looking, not-so-cute bunnies have raised concern among the local residents. Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials have identified the cause for this change in appearance among cottontail rabbits. They revealed that it is caused by the cottontail papilloma virus (CRPV), also known as Shope papilloma virus. When a rabbit becomes infected with this virus, tumors grow on or nearby its head, resulting in a change in appearance. "Rabbit papillomas are growths on the skin caused by the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus. The growths have no significant effects on wild rabbits unless they interfere with eating/drinking. Most infected cottontails can survive the viral infection, after which the growths will go away. For this reason, CPW does not recommend euthanizing rabbits with papillomas unless they are interfering with the rabbit's ability to eat and drink", Colorado Parks and Wildlife stated. Frankenstein Rabbits X Though the virus poses no threat to humans or other species, Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Kara Van Hoose urged people to stay away from the infected rabbits. She said people and pets should not approach, catch, touch, or feed the infected rabbits. "Like other papillomaviruses, this virus is specific to rabbits and does not cause disease in other species. There is a risk of transmission to domestic rabbits, especially if they are housed outdoors, where the bunnies may contact infected wild rabbits or biting insects. In domestic rabbits, the disease is more severe than in wild rabbits and should be treated by a veterinarian," the official website for Colorado Parks and Wildlife shared.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Rabbits with 'horns' growing from their heads invading the US, experts warn to stay away
Image credits: X Rabbits are loved by all for their small, furry and adorable beings. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association's 2022 U.S. Pet Ownership & Demographics Sourcebook, 1.5 million households in the US owned rabbits. People are always advised to adopt more of the furry nibblers, however, currently it would be better to avoid a rabbit rather than to take one home. This is because a rapidly spreading virus in the states is causing cottontail rabbits to grow black, tentacle-like growths on their heads, prompting warnings to stay away from the mutated animals. The so-called Frankenstein bunnies have been spotted numerous times in Fort Collins, Colorado. Susan Mansfield, a local resident, told 9News that 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 said. 'He came back a second year, and it grew.' Why is this happening? Image credits: X The so-called bunny blight is actually a disease called cottontail papilloma virus (CRPV), also known as Shope papilloma virus, that causes cottontail rabbits to sprout tumours around their heads. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Best Method for a Flat Stomach After 50 (It's Genius!) Lulutox Undo The virus is spread by parasite ticks and fleas which pass it on through their bites, as per Pet MD. 'Typically rabbits become infected in the warmer months of summer when transmitted by being bitten by insects like fleas and ticks,' said Kara Van Hoose, Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson per the Coloradoan. While the disease has been a frequent sight in Colorado, it is most prominent in the Midwest. In 2013, a Minnesota resident caused much buzz after posting a video of a tendril-ridden rabbit in his backyard, which he called "Frankenstein" bunny and compared to the mythical Jackalope. What to do if you encounter a 'Frankenstein' bunny? Image credits: X Considering the prominent CRPV sightings, wildlife experts have warned people to stay away from the rabbits and avoid handling any of the affected critters. It is important to note that the virus is only transmissible between rabbits and is not known to infect humans. People with bunnies as pets must be protective of their health as the disease is more severe in them and can develop into squamous cell carcinoma- a serious and fatal skin cancer.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
‘Frankenstein' rabbits with horrifying spikes growing from their heads are invading the US — and experts warn to stay away
It's not just a bad hare day. A rapidly spreading virus is causing cottontail rabbits to grow black, tentacle-like growths out of their heads, prompting warnings to steer clear of the mutated animals. The so-called Frankenbunnies have been spotted multiple times in Fort Collins, Colorado. Resident Susan Mansfield told 9News she saw a rabbit with what looked like 'black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around his or her mouth.' 4 A viral photo of the 'Frankenstein' rabbit that was filmed in Minnesota in 2013. Gunnar Boettcher/AP 4 A rapidly-spreading condition called cottontail papilloma virus is causing cottontail rabbits to grow black, tentacle-like protrusions out of their heads, prompting warnings to steer clear of the mutated animals. Universal Images Group via Getty Images 'I thought he would die off during the winter, but he didn't,' she said. 'He came back a second year, and it grew.' One person described the infected critter as having 'a scabbiesh-looking growth over their face.' The so-called bunny blight is actually a disease called cottontail papilloma virus (CRPV), also known as Shope papilloma virus, which causes cottontails to sprout tumors around their head. It is spread by parasites 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, per the Coloradoan. 4 A bunny with a veritable beard of black growths. Reddit/RecommendationPast54 While the recent sightings occurred in Colorado, the disease most frequently rears its horny head in the Midwest. In 2013, a Minnesota resident caused a stir after posting a video of a tendril-ridden rabbit in his backyard, which he dubbed the 'Frankenstein' bunny and compared to the mythical Jackalope — a hoax that was promulgated by jokesters sewing antlers onto taxidermy rabbits. In light of the rampant CRPV sightings, wildlife experts have warned people not to approach or handle any of the afflicted critters. 4 'It looks like it was black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around his or her mouth,' said Fort Collins, Colorado resident Susan Mansfield while describing one of the infected critters. Reddit/Different_Try3353 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, the Daily Mail reported. 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 pet 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.
