FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Some rabbits spotted in Fort Collins are showing alarming growths described as black, tentacle-like protrusions coming from their heads.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) confirms the cause is a virus.

The condition is not dangerous to humans or pets, CPW said, but they urge people to avoid approaching or touching the animals.

Recently residents in southeast Fort Collins began noticing the unusual-looking rabbits, including 9NEWS Northern Colorado reporter Amanda Gilbert. Susan Mansfield said she saw a rabbit with black spines or “quills” around its mouth.

“It looks like it was black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around his or her mouth,” Mansfield said. “I thought he would die off during the winter, but he didn’t. He came back a second year, and it

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