A parade of so-called “zombie” rabbits sporting hornlike growths has sparked confusion and concern in Colorado. Wildlife officials say there’s no cause for alarm. These unusual creatures are simply living with a harmless,

Unusual-looking rabbits have recently been spotted in Washington, sporting wart-like growths that can resemble horns.

HORRIFYING images of ‘zombie’ rabbits with tentacles sprouting out of their heads have been circulating online – so is your pet bunny safe? The traumatising snaps have led to

CPW spokesperson Kara Van Hoose told KDVR: "There’s no overt concern needed for pet owners. We would just say to keep those wildlife principles in mind when you do have them out: Keep them on leash, keep them away from wild animals just in case, but it is not something necessarily we see transferred from rabbits to dogs.”

Wildlife officials in Colorado are monitoring an unusual increase in cases of Shope papillomavirus, a disease affecting wild and domestic rabbits, following a higher number of sightings this summer.

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.