Rabbits with black, tentacle-like growths sprouting from their faces have been spotted in Colorado. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said a viral infection called the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus caused the black growths on the rabbits.

W ildlife officials in Colorado are fielding calls about unusual sightings of cottontail rabbits with horn-like growths protruding from their faces. This condition, caused by a virus, is startling to see but not dangerous to people or pets.

The cottontail rabbit papillomavirus, which alarmed some Colorado residents, cannot spread to other species and often goes away on its own, according to experts.