Terrifying Mutant Deer Spotted With Flesh Bubbles As Fears Grow Of Animal Outbreak In US

Strange photos of deer with dark, bubble-like growths are circulating online, sparking fears of a new wildlife mutation. Sightings in states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have led social media users to call them “mutant deer,” recalling past viral oddities such as “Frankenstein rabbits” and “zombie squirrels.”

Experts, however, stress there is no new mutation or human health risk. The growths are caused by deer fibroma, a long-documented viral infection specific to deer, similar to warts in other animals.

According to wildlife officials, fibromas appear as firm, hairless, dark lumps on the skin. They vary in size and number, with some deer showing only a few growths while others develop many. Despite alarming appearances, the condition is usually harmless and often fades on its own.

The virus is spread between deer through shared spaces such as feeding grounds and rubbing posts. Importantly, it cannot infect humans or other species. However, deer can still pose risks through ticks that carry illnesses like Lyme disease.

For most deer, fibromas resolve naturally over several months. There is no practical treatment in the wild, and intervention is only considered if growths block vision, feeding, or movement.

Scientists note that social media amplification and climate change have heightened awareness of such cases. Warmer weather fosters ticks and mosquitoes, increasing disease spread, while online platforms magnify sightings.

Though unsettling to see, experts emphasize that fibromas are benign. The images may shock the public, but they are not signs of a widespread mutation crisis.