‘Frankenstein’ rabbits with horrifying spikes growing from their heads are invading the US — and experts warn to stay away

https://nypost.com ^ | Aug. 13, 2025 | y Ben Cost

[bitt]

It’s not just a bad hare day.

A rapidly spreading virus is causing cottontail rabbits to grow black, tentacle-like growths out of their heads, prompting warnings to steer clear of the mutated animals.

The so-called Frankenbunnies have been spotted multiple times in Fort Collins, Colo. Resident Susan Mansfield told 9News she saw a rabbit with what looked like “black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around his or her mouth.”

[HandyDandy]

Where’s the photo of a bunny rabbit with a pancake on his head?

[17th Miss Regt]

A jackalope! I usually don’t see any of those until my 8th beer!

[jerod]

And they like to watch movies...

[C210N]

Shope papilloma virus. Wild rabbits get it

[Waverunner]

Loved it as a TV movie, slow mo makes rabbits giant evidently.

[MinorityRepublican]

The so-called Frankenbunnies have been spotted multiple times in Fort Collins, Colo.

1967 – CWD was first identified in captive mule deer at a wildlife research facility in Fort Collins, Colorado.

[WKUHilltopper]

Genetic tampering.

[farm_kid]

OK, OK (rubs his hands together, waiting for just the right moment)... I can understand someone claiming to be an expert in underwater basket weaving, or gender tricksterism, or maybe even marine biology, but in what universe can anyone be an “expert” in rastafarian rabbitology? And how are they listed in the yellow pages so they can be easily consulted?

[SunkenCiv]

• STRANGE: Experts Warn Of Mutant Rabbits With Horn-Like Growths In Colorado [08/13/2025]
• Virus causes Colorado rabbits to sprout 'tentacles' [08/11/2025]

[EQAndyBuzz]

The infamous Jackalope. Sold at Wall Drug. Got one for my friend when I was stationed at Ellsworth.

[Organic Panic]

There are a few places near family that are over run with domestic rabbits that escaped or were released. There are no natural predators and of course the locals won’t kill the cute little animals so they breed like, well, rabbits, and eventually some disease will wipe them all out. Seems we may have a candidate.

[FateAmenableToChange]

If it wasn't Texas this would 100% my response:

...because it's the only way to be sure.

[txeagle]

Rother Maynard! Bring up the Holy Hand Grenade.

[TalBlack]

Uh…so we’re all Jimmy Carter now?

[ridesthemiles]

JACKALOPES

[eldoradude]

[The_Media_never_lie]

Shoot it!

[BlueLancer]

You don’t see too many 8-point buck jackelopes these days ...

[EvilCapitalist]

How many beers until you start seeing pink elephants?

[DouglasKC]

They’re weird tumors. My brother’s cat has a similar looking growth on it’s head only it’s round and not a spike.