August 22, Friday: Mutant deer exhibiting black, bubble-like growths are spotted in unusual wildlife encounters in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. With this incident, various reports of unusual wildlife encounters in the United States persist. with black, bubble-like growth on the deer recently found. The observation stories surfaced shortly after reports of "Frankenstein rabbits" in Colorado and "zombie squirrels" in other locations, raising concerns among scientists and the public about possible animal health crises. Images of the wounded deer, widely circulated on social media, depict the creatures with noticeable warty outgrowths as they navigate their natural habitats
One person (anonymously) took to Reddit to share a deer that they'd spotted in their backyard a month ago, writing: "Not sure what’s wrong with her or how we can help. Gunshot wound? Tumor? Fireworks? Prion disease? Don’t know what to do." Meanwhile, another posted a picture of a deer with a few lumps on its chest and face to ask, 'What's wrong with this deer?'
What is a deer fibroma?
According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, “Deer fibromas are wart-like growths on deer that are typically caused by an infection with a species-specific papillomavirus. “
The website continues: "These manifest as firm; warty growths fixed to the skin of a deer. They vary in size (though most are just a few centimeters in diameter), are typically dark in color and bare of fur, and often appear fissured or lumpy."
The website informs that “most infected deer have just a small number of small fibromas, but cases of large fibromas and fibromas widespread about the hide are not uncommon.”
Is deer fibroma contagious to humans?
Similar to CrPV( Cricket Paralysis Virus), deer fibroma cannot be spread to humans or other animals apart from other deer. Dr. Kristin Mansfield, a wildlife veterinarian in Washington state, informed FOX13 that deer can transmit the virus to each other by using the same feeding area, resting place, or rubbing posts—usually a tree that bucks use to establish their territory during mating season. They can, however, initiate illnesses such as Lyme disease in populated areas, which crosses species through the ticks they carry.
Experts reassure that while the eerie appearance of these 'mutant' deer may alarm onlookers, the condition is largely harmless to humans.
