Overview

• Snopes reports that recent images of deer with wartlike growths reflect deer cutaneous fibromas and not a new outbreak, with Pennsylvania and Wisconsin officials noting no uptick in cases.
• The growths are typically caused by a deer-specific papillomavirus transmitted mainly by biting insects and by direct contact at shared rubbing or feeding sites.
• Wildlife agencies say most affected deer recover as the tumors dry up and fall off within months, though severe cases can impair vision, eating, or movement.
• Similar, species-specific conditions have been confirmed in rabbits (Shope papillomavirus) and squirrels (squirrel fibromatosis), which are not known to infect humans or pets.
• Authorities advise leaving affected wildlife alone, protecting domestic rabbits from contact with wild rabbits and biting insects, and handling harvested deer normally while consulting local guidance if unsure.