Wildlife experts have issued warnings after rabbits with disturbing black horn-like growths protruding from their faces were spotted hopping through Fort Collins, Colorado, sparking comparisons to creatures from HBO’s fungal horror series The Last of Us.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) confirmed the alarming growths are caused by Shope papilloma virus (SPV), a naturally occurring virus that creates wart-like tumours on infected cottontail rabbits. The condition, whilst grotesque in appearance, poses no threat to humans or pets, officials stressed yesterday.
Fort Collins resident Susan Mansfield first noticed the unusual-looking rabbits in her garden last year. “It looked like black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around his or her mouth,” she told local TV station KUSA. “I thought he would die off during the winter, but he didn’t. He came back a second year, and it grew.”
Viral Photos Spark ‘Zombie Bunny’ Fears
The sightings gained widespread attention after Reddit users shared photographs of infected rabbits with extensive facial growths, with some specimens showing tumours that had almost completely covered their faces. The images quickly went viral on social media, drawing comparisons to “zombie bunnies,” “aliens,” and “Frankenstein rabbits.”
“Wow, I kinda feel bad for them,” one Instagram user commented on photos of the affected animals. Another joked: “One time I need this to be AI.”
9NEWS Northern Colorado reporter Amanda Gilbert documented the sightings in southeast Fort Collins, capturing images that show the extent of the disfiguring growths.
Ancient Virus Behind Modern Horror
Kara Van Hoose, spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, explained the virus is “not uncommon in Colorado” and spreads through biting insects including mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
“We just encourage people to follow general wildlife safety principles,” Van Hoose stated. “If a rabbit with SPV is seen in the wild, leave it alone.”
The Shope papilloma virus was first discovered in 1933 by American virologist Richard E. Shope at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research. His groundbreaking research proved for the first time that viruses could cause cancer in mammals, opening crucial avenues for cancer research and eventually contributing to the development of the HPV vaccine.
Dr Michael Branch, professor of literature and environment at the University of Nevada, described the growths as “pretty grotesque, to tell you the truth.” He added: “Depending on how severe the disease is in the rabbit, it can look pretty horrendous.”
Link to Legendary Jackalope Myth
Scientists believe sightings of rabbits with SPV may have inspired the North American legend of the jackalope – a mythical creature depicted as a rabbit with antelope horns. The virus causes keratinous carcinomas that can resemble horns or antlers, particularly when growing from the rabbit’s head.
“These early scientific texts described and illustrated the hybrids as though they were real creatures,” explained folklore expert Dr Sarah Mitchell. Historical references to horned rabbits appear in scientific treatises dating back to 1655, including the Tableau encyclopédique et méthodique.
The modern jackalope myth originated in the 1930s when teenage brothers Douglas and Ralph Herrick from Wyoming created taxidermied rabbits with deer antlers attached, selling them as novelty items.
Fatal Consequences for Infected Wildlife
Whilst the tumours are typically benign, they can prove fatal for infected rabbits. The growths may interfere with the animal’s ability to see, hear, or eat, potentially leading to starvation. In approximately 25 per cent of cases, the papillomas become malignant and develop into squamous cell carcinoma, which can metastasise to the lungs, lymph nodes, kidneys, and liver.
If the growths are on sensitive areas like their eyes or mouths, it can impact their health,” CPW officials confirmed. The virus can persist for years, with Mansfield’s garden visitor returning for a second year despite the progressing infection.
Pet owners have been advised to keep domestic rabbits indoors and away from potential insect vectors. Veterinarians can surgically remove tumours if pets become infected, though the virus itself has no cure.
Public Health Assurances
Colorado Parks and Wildlife emphasised that the virus is species-specific and cannot be transmitted to humans, dogs, cats, or other wildlife. The growths themselves do not carry the virus, eliminating any risk of contagion through casual contact.
“The condition is not dangerous to humans or pets,” CPW reiterated in their official statement. “But we urge people to avoid approaching or touching the animals.”
Officials are using reported sightings to track the virus’s spread throughout Colorado. Residents who spot infected rabbits are encouraged to report them to CPW whilst maintaining a safe distance from the affected animals.
The virus spreads primarily through arthropod vectors rather than direct contact between rabbits, meaning the infection can persist in local populations for extended periods. Historical records suggest outbreaks have occurred periodically across the American Midwest for decades.
As Fort Collins residents adjust to sharing their neighbourhoods with these unusual-looking creatures, wildlife experts stress the importance of allowing nature to take its course without human intervention.
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