{"id":2475514,"date":"2025-08-16T16:44:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-16T20:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rabbits-in-this-state-are-sprouting-bizarre-tentacles\/"},"modified":"2025-08-16T16:46:02","modified_gmt":"2025-08-16T20:46:02","slug":"rabbits-in-this-state-are-sprouting-bizarre-tentacles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rabbits-in-this-state-are-sprouting-bizarre-tentacles\/","title":{"rendered":"Rabbits In This State Are Sprouting Bizarre Tentacles"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frabbits-in-this-state-are-sprouting-bizarre-tentacles%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2475514&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>An <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/anomaly-in-employment-statistics-grows-how-many-americans-actually-work\/\" title=\"Anomaly in Employment Statistics Grows: How Many Americans Actually Work?\">unusual phenomenon<\/a> has been observed in northern Colorado where rabbits are growing tentacle-like horns on their faces. This is caused by an infection from the Shope papillomavirus, a virus that affects only rabbits and hares and is not transmissible to humans. Officials from Colorado Parks and Wildlife assured that most infected rabbits can clear the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-republicans-significant-circumstantial-evidence-covid-19-originated-from-wuhan-lab-leak\/\" title=\"House Republicans: \u2018Significant Circumstantial Evidence\u2019 COVID-19 Originated From Wuhan Lab Leak\">virus naturally<\/a>, wiht the horns eventually falling off. In some cases,the virus can cause cancer or interfere with the rabbits&#8217; ability to eat. The condition has resulted in nicknames like &#8220;Frankenstein bunnies&#8221; and &#8220;zombie rabbits.&#8221; this virus has been present in the western U.S. for a long time and may have inspired folklore such as the legend of the jackalope. The infection is most commonly seen during summer months when fleas and ticks spread the virus, and symptoms tend to diminish as the weather cools.  <\/p>\n<div id=\"ld-4686-3758\"><\/div>\n<p><script>(function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:14832835450050406,size:[0, 0],id:\"ld-4686-3758\"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/cdn2.decide.dev\/_js\/ajs.js\";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,\"script\",\"ld-ajs\");<\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>This natural phenomenon may raise the hare on the back of your neck.<\/p>\n<p>An increasing number of rabbits in the northern portion of Colorado are being spotted with grotesque, tentacle-like horns sprouting from their faces.<\/p>\n<p>But the animals are actually expected to be fine.<\/p>\n<p>As officials reassured the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scientificamerican.com\/article\/why-are-rabbits-sprouting-tentacles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Scientific American<\/a> on Thursday, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/zoo-officials-ask-public-help-feeding-predators-offering-pets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rabbits<\/a> are infected with Shope papillomavirus, a relatively common ailment.<\/p>\n<p>But don&rsquo;t worry. The condition is unlikely to hop over to our species, as Shope papillomavirus is only known to impact rabbits and hares.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING); 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\t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>Kara Van Hoose, a spokeswoman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, told the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scientificamerican.com\/article\/why-are-rabbits-sprouting-tentacles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Scientific American<\/a> that they &ldquo;are able to clear it from their system on their own.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Freaky &lsquo;Frankenstein&rsquo; rabbits have been spotted in these 2 states: &lsquo;They&rsquo;re all over here&rsquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AJYJWWgAi5\">https:\/\/t.co\/AJYJWWgAi5<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/WWr6CmhGU2\">pic.twitter.com\/WWr6CmhGU2<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; New York Post (@nypost) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nypost\/status\/1956155747739353539?\">August 15, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>At that point, the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >tentacle horns simply fall<\/a> away.<\/p>\n<p>In a minority of cases, the condition could induce cancers in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/now-know-easter-bunny-suit-wrangling-biden-explains-much\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rabbits<\/a>, while inconveniently located tentacles could cause difficulties with eating.<\/p>\n<p>Many residents are calling Colorado Parks and Wildlife to report sightings of the sick rabbits, but it&rsquo;s uncertain how many infected animals are actually out there.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s also difficult to say, if we get 10 reports, if it&rsquo;s 10 different rabbits or if it&rsquo;s two rabbits that maybe we&rsquo;re seeing five different times,&rdquo; Van Hoose noted.<\/p>\n<p>The unlucky creatures have earned some not-so-flattering nicknames, such as &ldquo;Frankenstein bunnies&rdquo; and &ldquo;zombie rabbits,&rdquo; according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/rabbits-with-horns-virus-colorado-tentacles-papillomavirus-98b1ad95ba3a0f308bf884d79d1eea7c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Associated Press<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Experts are sounding the alarm over a fast-spreading virus called cottontail papillomavirus, which causes wild rabbits to grow tentacle-like growths from their heads &mdash; and it could infect your pet bunny at home. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/sgSIOJ8n4S\">pic.twitter.com\/sgSIOJ8n4S<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Fox News (@FoxNews) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FoxNews\/status\/1955993659163168818?\">August 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The virus itself has been around for a while, however.<\/p>\n<p>The outlet noted that it has even been present in the western United States for enough time to inspire ancient folklore.<\/p>\n<p>Among the tales may have been the legend of the jackalope.<\/p>\n<p>It&rsquo;s most common to see the infected rabbits in the summertime, when fleas and ticks spread the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/animal-illness-die-off-rocks-us-coast-sea-animals-falling-seizures-attacking-swimmers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">virus<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>That means as the warm weather disappears, the tentacle horns will mostly disappear with it.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ]; 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More and more rabbits in northern Colorado are being seen with bizarre, tentacle-like horns growing from their faces. However, the animals are expected to recover fully. Officials told Scientific American on Thursday that these rabbits are infected with Shope papillomavirus, a fairly common virus that affects only rabbits and hares, so there is no risk to humans<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2475515,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Michael-Featured-Image-41.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[61413,61412,61414,19919],"class_list":["post-2475514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-mutations","tag-rabbits","tag-tentacles","tag-wildlife"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Michael-Featured-Image-41.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2475514","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2475514"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2475514\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2475518,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2475514\/revisions\/2475518"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2475515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2475514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2475514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2475514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}