A disturbing virus that causes wild cottontail rabbits in Colorado to sprout black, tentacle-like growths on their faces has sparked shock and alarm among locals. The infected rabbits, dubbed “Frankenbunnies,” have been spotted multiple times across Fort Collins in recent weeks, sparking comparisons to the fungal monsters seen in the hit HBO zombie series The Last of Us. One person described the creature as having a “scabbiesh-looking growth over their face,” while resident Susan Mansfield said she saw a rabbit with what looked like “black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around his or her mouth,” telling KUSA, “I thought he would die off during the winter, but he didn’t. He came back a second year, and it grew.” Colorado Parks and Wildlife has confirmed the condition is caused by the cottontail rabbit papilloma virus, also known as Shope papilloma virus. While the virus poses no threat to humans or pets, officials warn against approaching or touching the rabbits and have advised household pets to stay away from the creatures. Transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks, the virus causes red lesions that later swell into black, keratinized tumors. In rare cases, these growths can develop into squamous cell carcinoma, a severe form of skin cancer. Though most infected rabbits survive, the tumors can hinder their ability to eat, leading to starvation.
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