Horned and tentacled rabbits have been seen in Colorado, US, with residents posting pictures on social media to spark a frenzy in the area.
A number of residents have posted pictures showing black ‘horn-like’ growths on rabbits on their heads.
Myth or Medical Condition?
Although it might seem shocking, individuals have been seeking an explanation for this phenomenon. So is it merely a myth or something else?
The rabbits growing horn-like features on their heads in Colorado are in fact a victim of a medical condition.
Wildlife officials state that the disturbing condition is being brought about by Shope papilloma virus, a disease that develops wart-like tumours on rabbits, commonly around the head, ears, and eyelids.
Harmless to Humans, Pets, and Other Animals
Although the growths appear alarming to one who sees them for the first time, authorities emphasized that they do not pose danger to humans, pets, or any other animals.
The specialists have emphasized the fact that the virus does not spread from one rabbit to another, normally by the bites of insects like mosquitoes and ticks. The University of Missouri states that the condition is a DNA virus “observed most commonly in cottontail rabbits of the Midwest with epidemics in pet rabbits.”
Potential Health Issues for Rabbits
The university specialists elaborated that the virus develops benign wart-like tumors but, occasionally, they get cancerous or malignant and create issues for the animals.
Even though normally not dangerous to the overall health of the rabbit, another issue that they may experience besides it being cancerous is if the growths block the mouth, the nose, or the eyes.
More Common in Warmer Months
The condition is quite prevalent among wild rabbit populations, especially during the warmer months when there is high insect activity. The virus has no cure known to man, and it is only eradicated from domestic rabbits through the surgical removal of tumours.
Residents are being told by Colorado Parks and Wildlife to be cautious, but not afraid, emphasizing that the rabbits are harmless.
