A bunny roaming the streets of Sioux Falls, SD is suffering from a form of the papillomavirus found only in cottontail rabbits. Neighbors have spotted the hard-to-miss rabbit, with its head and face covered in growths that resemble tentacles that look like something straight out of Stranger Things!!
Cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) causes “large warty structures” on soft skin areas. These growths are similar to genital warts seen in humans. The condition in rabbits is more common than you might think, though it rarely progresses to the stage seen in Sioux Falls. The most common way the infection is spread is through ticks and mosquitoes. Cases this severe are seen every few years. Concerned neighbors don't need to worry so much about walking their dogs, as it is unlikely the disease would spread from a rabbit to a dog. The disease can be passed from wild rabbit to pet rabbit though. The average life span of a cottontail is three years. The neighborhood rabbit will likely die of natural causes unless the growth interferes with its feeding or makes it more vulnerable to predators.