FORT COLLINS, COLORADO – Residents of this northern Colorado city were recently left stunned and concerned after spotting wild rabbits roaming their neighborhoods with bizarre, tentacle-like growths sprouting from their heads and faces. The unsettling images and videos quickly went viral online, with locals coining terms like "zombie rabbits" and "alien animals" to describe the afflicted creatures.
The grotesque, antler-like protrusions gave the animals an eerie appearance, as if they were pulled straight from a horror movie. Photos circulated widely across social media platforms, sparking alarm that a strange and unknown outbreak was spreading among local wildlife. Some residents expressed fears that the condition might even pose a threat to people or domestic pets.
However, wildlife experts have moved to reassure the public, explaining that these alarming growths are the result of a known, species-specific virus and do not present a danger to humans or other animals.
The Scientific Explanation: Shope Papillomavirus
According to wildlife officials, the rabbits are suffering from Shope papillomavirus, a disease that is exclusive to rabbits. The virus causes the growth of keratinous carcinomas, which are essentially hard, horn-shaped tumors. These tumors are made of keratin, the same protein that makes up hair and fingernails.
While visually shocking, the virus is not contagious to humans, dogs, cats, or any other domestic animals. The public and their pets are not at risk from this phenomenon.
For the afflicted rabbits, however, the disease can be a death sentence. The horn-like tumors often grow around the face, head, and mouth, physically obstructing the animal's ability to eat and drink. This can lead to severe weakness, malnutrition, and starvation. The growths can also block the rabbit's vision, making it more vulnerable to predators and accidents. While some rabbits may live with minor tumors, extensive growths almost always lead to a slow and difficult decline.
A Link to Folklore: The Myth of the Jackalope?
This rare but natural phenomenon is believed by many folklorists and biologists to be the origin of the myth of the "jackalope" – the legendary rabbit with antelope horns that is a popular icon of the American West. It is highly plausible that sightings of rabbits with Shope papillomavirus tumors over the centuries inspired the tales of these mythical horned creatures.
A Haunting Reminder of Nature's Strangeness
The incident in Fort Collins serves as a powerful reminder that nature often produces forms so unusual they can appear fictional or supernatural. From bizarre deep-sea creatures living in crushing pressure to strange viruses that manifest in unsettling ways, the natural world constantly challenges our perception of what is normal.
While the "zombie rabbits" are not a sign of a new plague, their haunting appearance highlights the constant and often harsh struggles for survival that wildlife faces. The sight of these creatures shows that reality, in its raw and unfiltered form, can sometimes be stranger and more haunting than anything the human imagination can conjure.
