What Are Those Growths on Wild Rabbits' Faces?

Mutant rabbits, zombie bunnies, jackalopes. Those are a few of the names that people call these rabbits that are running around Rochester with these weird growths on their faces.

But they're not mutants, they're not going to eat your brains, and jackalopes aren't real, but these growths may be why jackalopes became a piece of folklore.

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What Are Those Growths On Rabbits' Faces?

The growths are actually due to a virus that infected the rabbit.

Before you panic, don't worry, the virus can't be transferred to you, your dog, or even other wildlife since it's species specific. It can only be transferred from rabbit-to-rabbit. So if you have a pet rabbit it's possible they could become infected, so keep an eye out for that.

This virus is called Shope papilloma virus (SPV). It's also sometimes called the cottontail rabbit papilloma virus since it primarily infects wild cottontails, according to The Open Sanctuary Project. It's mostly seen in the Midwest but also in some parts of the West.

A rabbit can become infect mainly through a tick or mosquito bite, according to Pet MD. This infection then causes these wart-like growths to appear on their head, neck, and shoulders.

Are the Growths On Rabbits Dangerous?

They look SO strange! I've seen a few around Rochester myself and it always weirds me out. But don't worry, it typically doesn't cause them any issues.

Most of the time, their immune system takes care of the virus and the growths will go away. However, if the growth impacts their ability to eat and drink, like if it shows up around their mouth or eyes, this could be deadly.

If you have a pet rabbit that gets SPV, definitely bring them to your vet. But as for the wild rabbits you see with these growths, don't worry about them. More likely than not, those things will be gone soon.