Wisconsin, Minnesota and New York have reported rabbits with black, tentacle-like growths on their heads, reviving alarm over the so-called “jackalope” look.
Cottontail papilloma virus causes wart-like tumors around the face, ears and head, and scientists say mosquitoes and ticks are the main carriers.
Some rabbits become so badly disfigured they cannot see, hear or eat properly, turning the infection into a slow fatal condition.
Wildlife officials advise people not to handle infected animals; the virus is not believed to infect humans, dogs or cats.
Similar sightings surfaced near Fort Collins, Colorado, in August 2025, showing the disease is not new but has now appeared across a wider multi-state area.