A number of wild rabbits have been spotted hopping around with nightmarish facial growths across Fort Collins, Colorado.
Photographs of these tainted mammals taken by locals are not for the faint-hearted, that’s for sure, as the bunnies appear to be cursed with dark, stubby tentacles protruding out of their skin.
But this isn’t some Stranger Things-esque phenomenon.
It’s the cottontail papilloma virus (CRPV) at work – giving rise to the ‘jackalope’ myth (rabbit with antlers) in modern times – which causes benign, Lovecraftian tumours to materialise on the head of the animals.
Following the most recent sightings, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has made its expert opinion on the matter known.
Several wild rabbits have been spotted in Fort Collins, Colorado, appearing to have black horns or tentacles (Reddit)
According to CPW, per Eyewitness News 3, anybody who encounters the infected rabbits must avoid all contact and stay away from them, even though it doesn’t consider CPRV to be contagious across species.
Researchers suggest that the ‘Frankenstein’ variations could spread throughout the Midwest, carried by mosquitoes and ticks which bite the infected ones and transport their hideous conditions as opposed to direct contact between rabbits.
As for how CRPV affects the host, it all begins with red, raised spots on the skin that eventually mutate into warty masses.
The next phase of infection is the emergence of black tendrils covering the mouth, cheek and eye areas, although some of the initial warts can in fact transform into life-threatening skin cancer.
The furry mammals cannot spread the cottontail papilloma virus themselves, only through insect transportation (Reddit)
Speaking to WLBT3 about the horror of it all, Fort Collins resident Susan Mansfield said about witnessing an infected rabbit out in the open: “It looked like black quills or black toothpicks sticking out all around its mouth.
“I thought he’d die off during the winter, but he didn’t. He came back a second year – and it grew.”
Medical experts are urging domestic rabbit owners to keep their pets away from pests, but if they do succumb to a mosquito bite, vets can surgically remove the tumours before malignancy sets in.
Out in the wild, the infected patients are likely to starve to death when their horns grow larger and larger, effectively eliminating their ability to see, eat or hear.
One of the infected specimens pictured in Colorado (Reddit)
In similarly stomach-churning news, did you know that kilograms of the parasitic fungus that inspired The Last of Us can sell for as much as $110,000?
Labelled ‘ophiocordyceps unilateralis’, or the zombie-ant fungus, it kills insects before commandeering their corpses.
It also comes in several different forms, often differentiated by the animal that the fungus takes over, and one particular type found in caterpillars called Cordyceps militaris or ‘Scarlet Caterpillarclub’ is available on the market and has some alleged medical benefits.
Some Cordyceps species are traditionally used in Chinese medicine and cuisine, but there’s no evidence to suggest that ophiocordyceps unilateralis can be safely consumed by humans – so do not try it at home!
Featured Image Credit: Reddit
Dan Seddon
Experts issue urgent warning after woman dies rinsing sinuses with infected tap water
A unidentified 71-year-old woman has died after rinsing her sinuses with infected tap water
Experts have issued a warning after a woman tragically lost her life after rinsing her sinuses with infected water.
The unidentified individual, who was 71 years old, died after a single-celled brain-eating organism known as amoeba entered her body.
While you should always listen to advice from the local water supplier regarding drinking tap water in your area, you do risk exposing yourself to certain infections by consuming it.
The water the woman was exposed to contains amoeba, and if that gets into a person’s nose, it can sometimes travel to the brain and cause a fatal infection.
Of course, this is certainly rare, but as this woman’s story shows, it’s definitely not impossible.
A woman died after rinsing her sinuses (Getty Stock Photo)
While Texas Department of State Health Services say the tap water is safe to consume in the area, the Daily Mail reports the woman rinsed her sinuses in water from an RV’s water system at a campground.
The woman was infected by Naegleria fowleri, typically found in warm water lakes and rivers, and while rare, kills almost 97 percent of people that contract it.
Showing just how rare the condition, the CDC reports 157 cases of the condition in the US between 1962 and 2022.
While rare, experts say that the case ‘reinforces the potential for serious health risks associated with improper use of nasal irrigation devices, as well as the importance of maintaining RV water quality and ensuring that municipal water systems adhere to regulatory standards’, as per the Daily Mail.
Ingesting this infected water through the mouth while not advised, usually means you’re alright, because stomach acid is strong enough to kill the amoeba.
To avoid potential exposure through the noise though, experts recommend boiling water before rinsing sinuses or using distilled water instead.
The New York Post reports that parents/guardians should supervise children playing with sprinklers, while you should probably avoid going underwater in a bath or freshwater.
Experts have issued a warning (Getty Stock Photo)
Meanwhile, if you’ve been on vacation and not been at your digs for a few days, it’s recommended you run shower or sink water for several minutes to flush out stagnant water.
It comes just weeks after a man died suddenly after ‘drinking too much water’ following a procedure in hospital.
Sean O’Donnell, 59, died after his brain swelled from too much water and this ultimately led to seizures, cardiac arrest and his eventual death the same day that he left the hospital for a routine procedure.
St Vincent’s hospital previously admitted a breach of duty of care and his family have been paid €35,000 ($38,144) for mental distress, the Irish Independent reports.
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images
Topics: Health
Callum Jones
Experts issue urgent warning as common practice causes deadly liver injuries to rise in the US
Plenty of people think they’re being healthy when they do this
Experts have issued a warning about a common practice many will partake in every day that has been linked to deadly liver injuries in the US.
To put it simply, the liver plays a crucial role in the function of the human body and is responsible for assisting more than 500 activities, including filtering harmful substances from the blood.
Some livers metabolize toxins more slowly than others, meaning some drugs can overwhelm and cause harm to even the healthiest of livers out there.
But what about supplements? They’re something lots of us take everyday, thinking it’s good for our health and overall wellbeing.
Well, experts may say otherwise.
Liver damage can happen to the healthiest of people (Getty Stock Photo)
Medics are warning that herbal and dietary supplements could be causing liver damage, with a 2017 study finding 20 percent of liver toxicity cases nationwide are linked to herbal and dietary supplements.
Meanwhile, according to a 2022 study in the journal Liver Transplantation, from 1995 to 2020, supplement-related liver failure which put patients on the donor waiting list increased by eight times.
Robert Grafton was a regular taker of such supplements, but things changed when he reported dark urine and itching one weekend and recognised the symptoms of liver failure.
Grafton told NBC: “I stopped taking everything, thank goodness. If I hadn’t known, if I was not in the medical field, I might have thought, ‘Oh, I think I’m getting sick. I need to take some more of these supplements to help me feel better.’
“My liver enzymes were super elevated, my bilirubin was really high — all the signs of liver failure. I pretty much broke down, my wife as well. I was, at that point, thinking it was liver cancer, pancreatic cancer or something.”
After many sleepless nights, Grafton was told by doctors he had a ‘drug-induced liver injury’, which had been brought on by the supplements.
Dr. Dina Halegoua-De Marzio, who treated Grafton during his time of need, has since issued a warning about these supplements.
Experts have issued a waring about supplements (Getty Stock Photo)
“I think people assume these things are safe,” the health expert said. “The No. 1 reason we see people taking these are for good health or to supplement their health, and so I don’t think that they realize that there is a real risk here.”
It’s important to note the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not monitor supplement safety before they are put on store shelves, so it’s important you know the risks.
In a statement provided to NBC News, the FDA warned: “Dietary supplements may contain ingredients that can have strong effects in the body, even if the ingredients are natural or plant-derived.
“Adverse events are more likely to occur if consumers take supplements in high doses, take multiple supplements or take supplements instead of or in addition to medications.”
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/herstockart
Callum Jones
Southern California wildfire status escalated to ‘megafire’ as authorities issue desperate warning
The Gifford Fire is currently burning through Southern California, and is the largest of the year so far
A huge blaze burning in Southern California has been dubbed a ‘megafire’ after becoming the largest wildfire in the state this year.
The Golden State has had a torrid 2025, starting off with the infamous LA wildfires that tore through entire neighborhoods – killing 30 residents and displacing thousands more.
Just last month, the Madre Fire incinerated nearly 81,000 acres of land in San Luis Obispo County, and now the same residents are fearing its beast of a sister – the Gifford Fire, which has ripped through 104,402 acres.
The State of California has assigned 3,685 firefighters to help extinguish the flames, including 21 helicopters, 267 fire engines, 142 bulldozers, 98 water tenders and 86 different crews, but it is still only 21 percent contained.
So far, three civilians have been reported injured, as well as five firefighters, while just two properties have been damaged.
Gifford Fire is currently burning through Southern California, and is the largest of the year so far (BENJAMIN HANSON/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
Los Padres National Forest has issued the following statement on the current situation of the blaze: “The Gifford Fire advanced into the rugged Garcia Wilderness and is now threatening the Machesna Mountain Wilderness, fueled by two large fire columns observed yesterday afternoon.
“Overnight, crews worked to reinforce control lines stretching from Avenales Ranch Road and the Salinas River to Hi Mountain Road and the Huasna River, with the goal of preventing the fire from spreading beyond the Garcia Wilderness.
“On the northeast corner between Pelados Road and Pilitas Mountain, crews successfully contained the fire growth from yesterday, located south of the major power transmission line.”
It continued: “However, a new slopover north of the line has become a top priority today to prevent the fire from spreading into the Machesna Wilderness. Dozer and hand crews will be connecting new control lines from the Madre Fire burn scar to the Los Machos Hills while assessing any threats to key facilities.
The blaze is ripping through San Luis Obispo County (Mehmet Yaren Bozgun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“In the San Rafael Wilderness to the south, crews continue to advance handline construction, tying into existing control lines and are supported by aircraft with water drops. On the southeast side, crews are constructing both direct and contingency fire lines while improving Sierra Madre Road. On the southwest side, firefighters are developing a contingency plan from Buckhorn Ridge to Sisquoc and reinforcing existing lines, while also mopping up interior hot spots.
“Overall, firefighters are focused on maintaining and enhancing containment lines, using aircraft to cool hot spots in steep terrain, and protecting communities, infrastructure, and critical values at risk.”
The weather is expected to continue in favor of the fire with hot and dry conditions forecasted, while afternoon temperatures in San Luis Obispo County are estimated to climb into the 90s as humidity drops.
On top of this, upcanyon winds are also expected this afternoon with gusts around 20mph.
“We have hot weather, and we have low relative humidity,” Santa Barbara County Fire Dept. Capt. Scott Safechuck told AP. “So we expect extreme fire behavior.”
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images/Bloomberg
Topics: Climate Change, Wildfires, US News, California
Joe Yates
Experts issue urgent warning about these US cities which are ‘sinking’ putting 34,000,000 people at risk
Many cities in the United States are said to be at risk
Scientists have issued a chilling warning about some US cities which are said to be ‘sinking’ as a result of global warming.
Climate change is a divisive topic, one that seems to create disagreements even at the top of government.
So, if the head honchos of the US are struggling to agree on the matter, then it doesn’t provide many answers surrounding climate change to the general public.
Experts in the field however are always a good source to listen to, with scientists now warning 34 million people in the US could be at risk.
A new study published in Nature Cities discussed this worrying trend, with the hope officials may take climate change more seriously.
“While often considered solely a coastal hazard due to the relative sea-level rise, subsidence also threatens inland urban areas, causing increased flood risks, structural damage and transportation disruptions,” the study states.
“We estimate that at least 20 percent of the urban area is sinking in all cities, mainly due to groundwater extraction, affecting ~34 million people. Additionally, more than 29,000 buildings are located in high and very high damage risk areas.”
Experts have issued a warning about New York (Getty Stock Photo)
It’s believed that cities such as New York, Dallas, and Seattle are all slowly falling into the Earth, as estimates illustrate that around 20 percent of urban land across the US is currently affected by alarming levels of subsidence.
After using satellite data to create high-resolution maps of land movement between the years of 2015 and 2021, experts came to some intriguing findings.
Houston showed the highest levels of ‘sinking’, while the likes of Las Vegas, New York and Washington DC all have high numbers.
Study author Leonard Ohenhen told Newsweek: “In drought-prone regions, reduced surface water availability may increase dependence on groundwater, accelerating aquifer depletion and land compaction.
Houston has showed the highest levels of ‘sinking’ (Getty Stock Photo)
“Additionally, in coastal cities, the combination of subsidence and rising seas leads to increased relative sea-level rise—meaning the land is sinking while the water is rising, compounding the hazard.
“This shortens the timeline for when cities reach critical thresholds for chronic flooding.”
The expert added: “When fluid is removed from the ground, particularly those composed of clay-rich or compressible sediments, the pore spaces collapse, leading to land compaction and surface subsidence.
“Houston, in particular, has experienced decades of aquifer drawdown. Subsidence is a silent but powerful force reshaping our cities.
“It’s a slow, often invisible process that undermines infrastructure, increases flood risk, and quietly erodes urban resilience.”
