ROCHESTER — They can look like horns, tentacles or a lion's mane. Dark-colored growths on wild rabbits in Colorado have made the news this summer, but they are also present on some rabbits in Minnesota.

The growths are caused by the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus, or Shope papillomavirus.

David Schueller, communications coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Fish and Wildlife Division, said the virus is endemic to the Midwest, and cases among Minnesota rabbits are observed almost every year.

While the rabbit papillomavirus is related to human papillomavirus, or HPV, which causes warts, Schueller said this virus cannot infect humans, cats or dogs. As long as a rabbit is otherwise healthy and acting normally, its meat is OK to eat.

"Domestic rabbits may be a

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