Well, I did not have this nightmarish scenario on my 2025 bingo card… Rabbits near Fort Collins, Colorado have been spotted with spiky horn or tentacle-like growths sprouting out of their heads. It looks like something straight out of Resident Evil. Here are some photos of infected rabbits: MAJOR CONCERN… Rabbits spotted invading parts of the US with weird tentacles sprouting from their heads due to virus… Colorado officials are warning: “DO NOT TOUCH” pic.twitter.com/mx41MXPY5l — DramaAlert (@DramaAlert) August 12, 2025 So, why is this happening? Some people on social media wondered if it might be the start of a new pandemic. Or perhaps, the result of some failed, twisted experiment by one of the most diabolical men in the world… Anyone seen Bill Gates and Fauci? — The Rubber Banned Man (@BannedMan1776) August 12, 2025 The local veterinarian says this is no cause for concern. pic.twitter.com/x0NcDLnEFC — Danny Noonan (@DannyNoonanGolf) August 12, 2025 Some folks are even comparing these rabbits to the mythical jackalope: Those are rare jackalopes. Its the end time boys…. — D.H.r (@Vielnyc) August 12, 2025 But, experts say the bizarre growths are caused by the Shope, or cottontail, papilloma virus. The growths are benign, but incurable. So, they will keep growing and the rabbit will suffer with them for the rest of its life. That’s sad, but the good news is this virus does not appear to be transmissible to any other animals or humans. Still, while experts claim it’s not dangerous to humans, they are warning people not to touch these ‘Frankenstein’ rabbits. A bizarre virus is turning rabbits in the U.S. into grotesque, horned creatures with black, tentacle-like growths — and sightings are rising fast. Known as the cottontail papilloma virus (CRPV) or Shope papilloma virus, it causes tumors to develop on or near the rabbits’ heads.… pic.twitter.com/jGs5nzqjDt — Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) August 12, 2025 A bizarre virus is turning rabbits in the U.S. into grotesque, horned creatures with black, tentacle-like growths — and sightings are rising fast. Known as the cottontail papilloma virus (CRPV) or Shope papilloma virus, it causes tumors to develop on or near the rabbits’ heads. Officials in Colorado are warning residents not to touch these infected rabbits. Experts need not worry… I don’t want to go anywhere near these poor rabbits, and I can’t imagine anyone would want to touch them. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is not considering this a threat to public health. Local news outlet KSBW reported: The condition is not dangerous to humans or pets, CPW said, but they urge people to avoid approaching or touching the animals. Recently residents in southeast Fort Collins began noticing the unusual-looking rabbits, including 9NEWS Northern Colorado reporter Amanda Gilbert. Susan Mansfield said she saw a rabbit with black spines or “quills” around its mouth. “It looks like it was black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around his or her mouth,” Mansfield said. “I thought he would die off during the winter, but he didn’t. He came back a second year, and it grew.” One person described the rabbit as having “a scabbiesh-looking growth over their face.” According to wildlife officials, the growths are caused by a virus that results in wart-like protrusions on the rabbit’s face or head. The condition is similar to benign cancerous cells and has no known cure, CPW said. Wildlife officials emphasized that while the virus can spread between rabbits, it is not known to be contagious to humans, dogs, or other wildlife.