Colorado Corn Zombie Rabbits News
- Residents of Fort Collins,Colorado,have recently reported sightings of rabbits with unusual growths resembling horns or tumors.
- The growths are caused by the Shope papillomavirus, a common virus in wild rabbits.
- Kara Van Hoose, spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), confirmed to the Associated Press that the agency has received reports.
“Frankenstein Rabbits”: Colorado Residents Report Strange Growths,But Experts Say No Cause for Alarm
Residents of Fort Collins,Colorado,have recently reported sightings of rabbits with unusual growths resembling horns or tumors. Nicknamed “Frankenstein rabbits,” “demon rabbits,” or even “zombie rabbits” online, these appearances have understandably caused concern. However, authorities and scientists assure the public that this is a known phenomenon and poses no danger to humans or pets.
The growths are caused by the Shope papillomavirus, a common virus in wild rabbits. This virus, first identified in the 1930s by Professor Richard E. Shope of Rockefeller University, causes warts that can grow quite large and, in some cases, take on unusual shapes. The recent observations have sparked online discussion, but the condition itself is not new and has been the subject of scientific study for nearly a century.
Kara Van Hoose, spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), confirmed to the Associated Press that the agency has received reports. She explained that seeing infected rabbits is not uncommon, particularly during the summer months when ticks and other insects that spread the virus are most active. “It’s not uncommon to see infected rabbits, especially in summer, when the ticks and chips that spread the virus are the most active,” she stated.
The virus is transmitted between rabbits but cannot infect other species, including humans and domestic animals. While the growths can become problematic if they develop near the eyes or mouth and interfere with eating, the rabbits’ immune systems are typically able to fight off the virus and the growths will eventually disappear. This reassurance is welcome news for those concerned about their own health or the well-being of the affected animals.
interestingly, some speculate that this virus may have even contributed to the legend of the Jackalope – the mythical North American creature depicted as a rabbit with antelope horns. Furthermore, research into the Shope papillomavirus has been instrumental in understanding the link between certain viruses and cancers, including the human papillomavirus associated with cervical cancer.