These Creepy-Looking Rabbits With Tentacles Are Going Viral. Here's What's Going On

Date:2025-08-14 23:51:53 Category:US Views:2 Comment:0

Today, in perfectly normal news, rabbits with tentacle-like growths on their heads have been spotted in Colorado, and the photos are going viral.

A Reddit post sharing the images quickly racked up over 5,000 comments. As one top comment put it, "No no no no no. No Eldritch Bunnies, thank you very much."

A rabbit in a grassy area, mostly covered in black burrs on its head, blending into the dry surroundings — RecommendationPast54 / Via reddit.com

It's...unsettling.

Rabbit with earthy fur and black growths around its mouth stands on rocky ground — PhilipConstantine / Via reddit.com

But, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, it's not dangerous to humans. The department told Coloradoan that the growths on the rabbits' heads are caused by a virus, rabbit papilloma. The virus, which is spread by infected mosquitoes and ticks and contact between rabbits, causes these tumors to grow on the animals' heads.

If you're thinking you've heard the word "papilloma" somewhere before, you probably have. The rabbit version of the virus is a distant relative of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, which can cause warts or even cancer in homo sapiens.

A gloved hand holds an HPV vaccine vial and syringe, ready for administration, against a blurred background — Kitsawet Saethao / Getty Images

It's also theorized that sightings of the jackalope cryptid (a legendary rabbit with horns growing out of its head) are likely just encounters with infected rabbits. The more you know!

A digitally created jackalope stands on grass, blending features of a rabbit and antelope — Chase Swift / Getty Images

They look gnarly, but Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Kara Van Hoose said that the growths don't negatively affect the animals unless they reach a point where they obstruct vision or interfere with their ability to eat. In some cases, after the rabbit clears the virus, the growths will go away without any lasting effects.

Rabbit seen from behind, with unusual growths on its head. The rabbit is sitting on grass and gravel — Education Images / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The virus isn't known to be contagious to humans, but wildlife experts still recommend steering clear of infected animals, and be sure to keep them away from your pets as well.