FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Some rabbits spotted in Fort Collins are showing alarming growths described as black, tentacle-like protrusions coming from their heads.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) confirms the cause is a virus.
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. They said it doesn't hurt the rabbit, unless it grows on sensitive areas like their eyes or mouths.
Although the virus is not considered a threat to public health, wildlife officials recommend giving infected rabbits space and avoiding any attempts to help or handle them.
