Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now on Colorado's Morning News, What's going on with the
rabbits in northern Colorado. Photos have been circulating on social
media showing tentacle or porn like growths protruding from the
animal's face, worrying residents.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I called and kidd and I thought they were jackalopes,
but then I saw the pictures, say, oh no, that's
definitely something else, zombie rabbits or Frankenstein bunnies, and even
some online users thought the images were ai and joining
us now in the KWA Comma Spirit of Health Hotline
for some clarification. Spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, It's
Kara Van. Who's Kara, Thanks for coming on with us morning.
What is it going on with these rabbits? Is this
(00:32):
a virus infection?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
What is it?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah, it is a virus. It's a form of the
papalama virus, you know, similar to it like what we
humans get. It's caused by those little biting insects like
fleas picks, mosquitos. They carry the virus bite the rabbits
normally during the summertime, and then it causes them to
grow these wart like things on their faces. Sometimes they
(00:56):
look like horns. Sometimes they look like tentacles, and other
times it looks like what we think of a war typically,
you know, those small, round bead like things.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Kara, Is this a common occurrence that we see or
why does it feel like it's almost more prevalent right
now or at least being talked about more this year?
Speaker 3 (01:14):
It is common. We see this every summer, and it's
not just in Colorado. It's across the you know, the Midwest,
the Northeast. Anywhere you have fleas and ticks, you're going
to have this virus. And for whatever reason, people are
just enthralled by it. This year. I can't tell you
the response that we've had at BPW with this. It's
been international, really, and a lot of people, I think
(01:36):
are just concerned because you know what a rabbit is
supposed to look like, you know what a bunny's face
is supposed to resemble, and when you see something so
strange like that, you're a little bit taken aback and
wondering what that is.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I want to make sure is this I mean, it
looks fun, but can this spread to humans and other animals, dogs,
anybody that comes in contact with the rabbits?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
No, but it can spread from rabbit to rabbits, So
if you do have a pet bunny, you know that
is something that you need to be aware of that
this virus is out there at this time during the summer.
But no, it can't spread to dogs or yourself if
you happen to come in contact with them.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
And do these growths eventually go away or do they
hurt the rabbits in any way?
Speaker 3 (02:18):
They're mostly benign and the growth will eventually go away
because it's the virus. Rabbits are able to kind of
clear it from their system on their own. There I
means system takes over and is able to kind of
defeat it and the growth will fall off.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Is there a cycle? Does this happen every five, ten,
twenty years or is this a one off?
Speaker 3 (02:36):
It happens every summer every summer.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
But why are we paying more attention to it this year?
Is it just because we're seeing more of it or
more aware of it?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Not necessarily, there could be more rabbits out there with
these growths. We just don't know because they're wild rabbits
and it's a little hard to catch a rabbit. I
don't know you've tried, but I think somebody just got
some really great photos this year, and for whatever, people
are just paying more attention.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
And like you mentioned, definitely went on an international level.
I had some friends in Michigan being like, what is
going on with your rabbits in your state right now?
So it was definitely something that just seemed like it
just got picked up and went viral from there. But Kara,
before we pivot topics here, I want to talk a
little bit about a more serious situation that took place
yesterday and ongoing investigation going on at Staunton State Park
(03:23):
following as stabbing of a park ranger. I know you
were at the press conference and you shared some details yesterday.
Do you have any updates or any other information on
the manhunt that was taking place?
Speaker 3 (03:33):
So what I could share is that Ston State Park
has reopened to the public as those eight am this morning,
so just a few minutes ago, So if you were
planning to visit, you still can. Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
is leading that search for the suspect that they're looking for,
and it's still the same description that we have. It's
a white man in his thirties, brown hair, about six
(03:54):
feet two hundred pounds and he was last seen wearing
a gray shirt and blue jeans. So yeah, any sightings
or if you have any information about what happened in
the park yesterday, please contact the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
There, our Parks and Wildlife workers like yourself, are you
a little more on alert and a little more aware
of the surroundings because of this?
Speaker 3 (04:15):
I think we're all kind of grateful for the response
that happened. The Sheriff's office was on scene within minutes yesterday,
and then during the search, it was really heartening to
see a lot of people from a lot of departments.
The Colorado State Patrol are Rata Police, Golden Police, and
it really made us feel like a valued member of
(04:35):
the law enforcement community. And then within Colorado Parks and Wildlife,
we know people are stepping up. They're asking if they
could donate leaves to the ranger, they're bringing food, so
it's something that we know is always a possibility, but
their response has been something that I think most people
will take away.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
From this spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. It's caravan.
Who's caravan? Thank you so much for your time this morning.
We appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Thank you,
Now on Colorado's Morning News, What's going on with the
rabbits in northern Colorado. Photos have been circulating on social
media showing tentacle or porn like growths protruding from the
animal's face, worrying residents.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I called and kidd and I thought they were jackalopes,
but then I saw the pictures, say, oh no, that's
definitely something else, zombie rabbits or Frankenstein bunnies, and even
some online users thought the images were ai and joining
us now in the KWA Comma Spirit of Health Hotline
for some clarification. Spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, It's
Kara Van. Who's Kara, Thanks for coming on with us morning.
What is it going on with these rabbits? Is this
(00:32):
a virus infection?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
What is it?
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Yeah, it is a virus. It's a form of the
papalama virus, you know, similar to it like what we
humans get. It's caused by those little biting insects like
fleas picks, mosquitos. They carry the virus bite the rabbits
normally during the summertime, and then it causes them to
grow these wart like things on their faces. Sometimes they
(00:56):
look like horns. Sometimes they look like tentacles, and other
times it looks like what we think of a war typically,
you know, those small, round bead like things.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Kara, Is this a common occurrence that we see or
why does it feel like it's almost more prevalent right
now or at least being talked about more this year?
Speaker 3 (01:14):
It is common. We see this every summer, and it's
not just in Colorado. It's across the you know, the Midwest,
the Northeast. Anywhere you have fleas and ticks, you're going
to have this virus. And for whatever reason, people are
just enthralled by it. This year. I can't tell you
the response that we've had at BPW with this. It's
been international, really, and a lot of people, I think
(01:36):
are just concerned because you know what a rabbit is
supposed to look like, you know what a bunny's face
is supposed to resemble, and when you see something so
strange like that, you're a little bit taken aback and
wondering what that is.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I want to make sure is this I mean, it
looks fun, but can this spread to humans and other animals, dogs,
anybody that comes in contact with the rabbits?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
No, but it can spread from rabbit to rabbits, So
if you do have a pet bunny, you know that
is something that you need to be aware of that
this virus is out there at this time during the summer.
But no, it can't spread to dogs or yourself if
you happen to come in contact with them.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
And do these growths eventually go away or do they
hurt the rabbits in any way?
Speaker 3 (02:18):
They're mostly benign and the growth will eventually go away
because it's the virus. Rabbits are able to kind of
clear it from their system on their own. There I
means system takes over and is able to kind of
defeat it and the growth will fall off.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Is there a cycle? Does this happen every five, ten,
twenty years or is this a one off?
Speaker 3 (02:36):
It happens every summer every summer.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
But why are we paying more attention to it this year?
Is it just because we're seeing more of it or
more aware of it?
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Not necessarily, there could be more rabbits out there with
these growths. We just don't know because they're wild rabbits
and it's a little hard to catch a rabbit. I
don't know you've tried, but I think somebody just got
some really great photos this year, and for whatever, people
are just paying more attention.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
And like you mentioned, definitely went on an international level.
I had some friends in Michigan being like, what is
going on with your rabbits in your state right now?
So it was definitely something that just seemed like it
just got picked up and went viral from there. But Kara,
before we pivot topics here, I want to talk a
little bit about a more serious situation that took place
yesterday and ongoing investigation going on at Staunton State Park
(03:23):
following as stabbing of a park ranger. I know you
were at the press conference and you shared some details yesterday.
Do you have any updates or any other information on
the manhunt that was taking place?
Speaker 3 (03:33):
So what I could share is that Ston State Park
has reopened to the public as those eight am this morning,
so just a few minutes ago, So if you were
planning to visit, you still can. Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
is leading that search for the suspect that they're looking for,
and it's still the same description that we have. It's
a white man in his thirties, brown hair, about six
(03:54):
feet two hundred pounds and he was last seen wearing
a gray shirt and blue jeans. So yeah, any sightings
or if you have any information about what happened in
the park yesterday, please contact the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
There, our Parks and Wildlife workers like yourself, are you
a little more on alert and a little more aware
of the surroundings because of this?
Speaker 3 (04:15):
I think we're all kind of grateful for the response
that happened. The Sheriff's office was on scene within minutes yesterday,
and then during the search, it was really heartening to
see a lot of people from a lot of departments.
The Colorado State Patrol are Rata Police, Golden Police, and
it really made us feel like a valued member of
(04:35):
the law enforcement community. And then within Colorado Parks and Wildlife,
we know people are stepping up. They're asking if they
could donate leaves to the ranger, they're bringing food, so
it's something that we know is always a possibility, but
their response has been something that I think most people
will take away.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
From this spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. It's caravan.
Who's caravan? Thank you so much for your time this morning.
We appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
Thank you,
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