Strange Hybrid Creatures Spotted in Rocky Mountain National Park, Raising Questions About Their Spread

August 13, 2025

ESTES PARK, CO – Just weeks after their discovery in Washington’s Olympic National Park, the mysterious “tentacle rabbits” have now been sighted in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park, alarming wildlife experts and thrilling curious onlookers. These peculiar creatures, resembling ordinary rabbits but equipped with wriggling, tentacle-like appendages, have sparked intense debate about their origins and potential impact on local ecosystems.

The first Colorado sighting was reported on August 10 by backpacker Lucas Bennett, 34, while hiking near Bear Lake. “I thought it was just a rabbit at first, but then I saw these weird, fleshy tendrils moving on its back,” Bennett recounted. “It was grabbing berries off a bush with them. I couldn’t believe my eyes.” Since then, park rangers have confirmed at least eight additional sightings across the park, from Trail Ridge Road to the alpine meadows near Longs Peak.

Described as cottontail rabbits with four to six flexible, prehensile appendages extending from their shoulders, the tentacle rabbits appear to use their unusual limbs to forage, manipulate objects, and even fend off small predators. The tentacles, ranging from 6 to 10 inches in length, have been observed wrapping around vegetation and probing rocky crevices.

Dr. Michael Torres, a zoologist at Colorado State University, is leading a team to investigate the creatures’ sudden appearance in the Rockies. “Their presence here, so far from the Pacific Northwest, is deeply puzzling,” Torres said. “We’re considering possibilities like human-assisted transport, natural migration, or even an undiscovered population. But their adaptability to high-altitude environments is remarkable and concerning.”

Social media platforms, particularly X, are abuzz with speculation. Some users claim the rabbits could be escapees from a secret bioengineering project, while others jokingly call them “mountain squids.” One viral post with over 15,000 reposts featured a grainy video of a tentacle rabbit scaling a rocky outcrop, its appendages gripping the stone like tiny hands.

Park officials have issued advisories urging visitors to avoid approaching the creatures until more is known about their behavior. “We don’t yet understand their diet, reproduction, or potential for aggression,” said Park Ranger Emily Foster. “We’re asking the public to report sightings with photos or videos but to keep their distance.”

Environmentalists are sounding the alarm about the ecological implications. The tentacle rabbits’ ability to outmaneuver native species for food could disrupt the park’s fragile balance. “If they’re as efficient at foraging here as they seem to be in Washington, they could pose a serious threat to local wildlife,” said Karen Walsh of the Rocky Mountain Conservation Network.

The Colorado sightings have fueled speculation about how far the tentacle rabbits might spread. Researchers are collaborating with counterparts in Washington to compare notes and track the creatures’ movements. Meanwhile, Estes Park is seeing a surge in tourism, with local businesses capitalizing on the phenomenon by selling tentacle rabbit-themed merchandise, from T-shirts to keychains.

As scientists race to uncover the truth behind these enigmatic animals, the tentacle rabbits continue to captivate and confound, leaving Coloradans wondering what other mysteries might be lurking in the Rockies.