Rabbits with black, tentacle-like growths sprouting from their faces have been spotted in Colorado. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said a viral infection called the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus caused the black growths on the rabbits.

The cottontail rabbit papillomavirus, which alarmed some Colorado residents, cannot spread to other species and often goes away on its own, according to experts.

A rapidly spreading virus is causing cottontail rabbits to grow black, tentacle-like growths out of their heads, prompting warnings to steer clear of the mutated animals.