Residents in Fort Collins, Colorado, have been startled by sightings of “Frankenstein bunnies” sporting grotesque, horn-like protrusions from their faces. While the sight of these “demon rabbits” has sparked horror-movie comparisons online, scientists confirm the cause is the Shope papillomavirus.

Horned Rabbits

This common virus causes wart-like growths that likely inspired the legendary “jackalope” myths of North American folklore. Beyond the myth, these rabbits played a vital role in medical history; Dr. Richard Shope’s 1930s research on this virus helped researchers understand the link between viruses and cancer, eventually leading to the development of the HPV vaccine.

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