Colorado Rabbits with “Tentacles”: The Viral Truth About Papillomavirus and the Anna Delvey Bunny Drama
Maya Rivers — A wannabe poet waxing lyrical about the article, even if it doesn’t quite deserve it. A curious sight in Fort Collins has the internet blinking and the heart quickening: wild cottontail rabbits photographed with strange, black, tentacle-like growths on their heads and necks. Before you summon conspiracy theories or start protective rituals for your houseplants, let’s untangle the facts with a little lyrical flair and hard reporting.
First, the image: rabbits photographed in Colorado sporting twisted, dark protrusions that look almost extraterrestrial. The photos circulated widely, prompting concern from local residents and calls to authorities. But this is not an alien invasion in fur; veterinarians and wildlife officials point to a known culprit: cottontail rabbit papillomavirus, a viral disease that produces tumor-like lesions on rabbits’ heads, necks, and other areas. PetMD outlines the pathology: papillomaviruses cause growths that can become large and wart-like, sometimes taking on bizarre shapes depending on tissue and infection progression.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed the sightings to local news, noting the public had reported animals with disfiguring growths. CPW spokesperson Kara Van Hoose told KDVR that while the images are alarming, such occurrences are not unprecedented in wild rabbit populations and usually become newsworthy when the tumors interfere with a rabbit’s ability to eat. There is precedent for seasonal spikes in cases, often during warmer months when biting insects such as mosquitoes and ticks act as mechanical vectors, transferring the virus between animals.
Importantly for pet owners and backyard wildlife watchers: authorities say there is no widespread public health threat. CPW advised common-sense wildlife precautions—keep dogs leashed and avoid direct contact with wild animals—but said the virus is primarily a wild-rabbit issue and not typically transmitted to household pets. Some infected rabbits can overcome the virus on their own, while others may succumb if tumors impair feeding.
As if to punctuate the week, celebrity drama hopped into the story. Fake heiress Anna Delvey recently faced outrage over a separate rabbit-related incident in New York: animals allegedly used for a photoshoot and then released in Prospect Park. Anna claims she was unaware her assistant acquired the bunnies via Facebook Marketplace and intended to abandon them. She wrote on Instagram that as an animal lover she was appalled and would help rehome the rabbits; E! News confirmed that three of the bunnies are now in foster care, and Anna said she donated to a rabbit rescue. The New York Post and social posts from rescuers corroborated parts of this follow-up, demonstrating how quickly animal stories can intertwine with human scandal.
So what to do if you see a rabbit like those in Colorado? Document responsibly: take photos from a distance, note location and time, and report to local wildlife authorities who can advise on the best steps. Do not attempt to handle or treat wild animals yourself. If you have a domestic rabbit, maintain hygiene, keep it away from wild lagomorphs, and consult a veterinarian if you notice unusual growths.
The internet loves a vividly strange image, and nature sometimes provides the eeriest, least poetic visuals. But beneath the shock value there is science, wildlife management, and animal welfare work quietly responding to oddities in the field. The black, horn-like growths are not tentacles but viral tumors; the panic is real but manageable.
A final thought, from a poet who can’t help turning headlines into couplets: even the ugliest growth has a diagnosis, and even the most viral photo has a source. Keep curiosity kind and your pets on a leash, and we’ll keep watching what hops next.
And so, this chapter closes with a small, sensible bow: nature explained, animals helped, internet curiosity sated for now.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News, PetMD, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), KDVR, New York Post
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
