India, June 24 -- Cottontail rabbits in Colorado with dark, twisted growths erupting from their skull have left people unnerved. Similar photos have emerged from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New York. The rabbits are being referred to as "Frankenstein rabbits" on social media for their appearance.

However, wildlife agencies do not believe there is any reason to be alarmed. What we are seeing in the photos is Shope papillomavirus, which is a rabbit-specific disease that scientists have known about since as early as the 1930s.

According to petMD, the Shope papillomavirus is also known as cottontail rabbit papilloma virus (CRPV), and is a "viral disease that causes dark, wart-like growths or tumors on the rabbit's neck, head, and abdomen." Wh...