Are 'horned' rabbits a sign of the Apocalypse? Scary virus explained | Weird But True - video Dailymotion

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00:00Hold on to your carrots. Mutant rabbits are on the move across the US.

00:04Welcome to Weird But True, your home for the most un-fur-gettable stories from The Post.

00:09This week, you may have seen disturbing viral images of rabbits with black tentacles growing

00:14out of their heads. The strange sight left internet users scratching their noggins.

00:18It's even stoked fears that the growths are a sign of the end of the world,

00:22not unlike the spores seen in HBO's hit show The Last of Us.

00:30Earlier this year, one of the Franken-bunnies was spotted in snowy Nebraska. Then, just a few days ago,

00:38Denver's Nine News reported a slew of them in Fort Collins, Colorado.

00:42Like a scabby-ish looking kind of growth over your face.

00:48Looks like it was black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around his mouth.

00:56As the story spread, one Redditor reported the phenomenon for the last few years in Minnesota.

01:02Another chimed in, they're all over here in St. Paul.

01:06So, is the Midwest under attack? Let's not jump to any conclusions.

01:10Turns out the cause of the black groves is the Shope Papillomavirus, or SPV.

01:15It was first discovered by cancer researcher Richard E. Shope in 1933.

01:19At the time, hunters in Iowa had spotted the unusual horned creatures,

01:23which are now believed to be the source of Jackalope, a mythical rabbit with antelope antlers.

01:29He's buds with Bigfoot, Nessie, and my personal favorite, the New Jersey Devil.

01:34However, this rabbit virus is very real, and it's actually similar to HPV in humans.

01:40So yeah, those are like having genital warts growing on your face,

01:43something to think about on your next Tinder date.

01:46Fortunately, the virus is mostly harmless for the afflicted animal,

01:49although in extreme cases, the wart-like horns can grow over the rabbit's mouth,

01:53blocking its ability to eat, and thus leading to starvation.

01:56Colorado wildlife officials are urging people to keep away,

02:00especially if you have a pet rabbit.

02:02Your little thumper could easily become infected.

02:05Scientists say the SPV virus doesn't have the ability to hop between species.

02:10Not yet, at least.

02:11We'll have to see what happens by the time Easter rolls around next year.

02:14For more Weird But True news, subscribe to the New York Post on YouTube.

02:18Our first time Easter rolls around next year.

02:19We'll be here, guys.

02:20We'll be here.

02:22We'll be here.

02:24See you next week.

02:26Bye.

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Are 'horned' rabbits a sign of the Apocalypse? Scary virus explained | Weird But True

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