Do Rabbits really have tentacles, in Colorado?

Yes, I’d seen these rabbits before while walking my dog, and it turned out I wasn’t the only one, so I contacted Colorado parks and wildlife agencies. The rabbits seem to enjoy living in Fort Collins as much as people do, and they’re often seen hopping around neighborhoods looking for food. But in southeast Fort Collins, neighbors commented that the rabbits are adorable; that wasn’t the word that really came to mind.

I took this photo of one of the rabbits I saw with the lump. I also saw this photo on Reddit, also seen in Fort Collins: a crusty, growth-like lump on its face. It looks like it had black spines or black toothpicks sticking out of its mouth. Susan Mansfield said she’d seen another rabbit with tentacles in her yard in recent years: It had the same black thing on it, and I thought it would die in the winter, but it didn’t come back a year later, and it grew back. Yes, I feel so sorry for our neighbors.

If so, do you know how we can help them? The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department confirms it. It’s a virus. It’s not contagious to other animals, like dogs, but they say they should be left alone, just like any neighborhood rabbit. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department wasn’t available for an interview today, but they called me. They said these growths are a type of wart or benign cancerous tumor that simply grows.

They said they don’t harm rabbits unless they grow in sensitive areas like the eyes or mouth, which, of course, can affect their eating habits. Thanks for watching. Another story you might like: Subscribe to wsbt22’s YouTube channel.