As for the wild rabbits, they catch the virus from tick, flea or mosquito bites. Long, tentacle-like growths can appear ...

Rabbits infected with the Shope papilloma virus have growth on their heads and faces resembling “horns and tentacles.” ...

As weird and concerning as they appear, the virus that causes the dark, wart-like horns or tentacles to grow on cottontail rabbits is relatively common and usually not anything to worry about.

Squirrels with pox and rabbits with horns. Learn more about the viruses impacting these small mammals.