Even though we’ve all only just recovered from Colorado’s poor ‘Frankenstein rabbits’ and ‘zombie’ squirrels, now it’s time to introduce some other growth-ravaged mammals over in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Pictures spreading – for lack of a better word – through social media showcase several warty deer going about their business.

One person 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?’

Well, what’s wrong with these deer?

What is deer fibroma?

The ‘flesh bubbles’ are a result of a virus (Reddit)

According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, these fatty lumps are the result of a condition called deer fibroma, which they say is caused by ‘a species-specific papillomavirus’ – similar to the cottontail rabbit papilloma virus (CRPV) affecting bunnies.

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.”

They add that most infected deers ‘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, deer fibroma cannot be spread to humans or other animals outside of other deer.

Dr. Kristin Mansfield, a wildlife veterinarian in Washington state, told FOX13 that deer can spread the virus to one another by sharing either the same feeding ground, sleeping spot, or rubbing posts – typically a tree bucks use to mark 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.

Mercifully, the animals’ immune system beats away the virus, and the warts eventually shrink and disappear after a few months.

Can deer fibroma be treated?

The virus cannot cross over to humans, thankfully (Reddit)

So far, there is no effective treatment for the condition, with it being possible for lumps on captive animals to be removed surgically.

However, the best course of action is to leave the infected deer be. In worst-case scenarios, if the warts are rendering the deer unable to eat, move or see, then euthanasia is considered as a possible option.

What is possibly causing the rise in ‘animal mutations’?

One of the possible reasons why these conditions are spreading is climate change, as warmer weather is allowing mosquitoes and ticks to thrive.

Alluding to the ramifications of climate change, Dr. Omer Awan of the University of Maryland School of Medicine told The Daily Mail: “These temperature changes are resulting in diseases that were never endemic in certain areas to become endemic.

“If you take a look at Lyme disease, for example, we’re starting to see it in areas that we never saw it before… places like southern Canada, northern states on the East Coast, like Maine.

“People are starting to talk about it more, they’re starting to document it more on social media, and hence, there’s been a lot more discussion about this.”

While, for the most part, there’s been nothing but hype and praise online for the 35-year-old ‘Bad Blood’ singer ever since she released the cover art for her upcoming album, some people have taken it upon themselves to slam and shame her for allegedly being a ‘bad influence’ on her younger fans.

Now, in case you’re not in the loop, Taylor’s new album set to come out this autumn (3 October) is titled The Life of a Showgirl and it has the cover art to match the whole ‘showgirl’ theme.

Yep, that means bedazzled bodysuits, fur, headdresses, feathers and – shock horror – some skin on show – all of which are bang-on theme if you ask us.

In a new batch of photos, which were shot by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott and released on Monday (18 August), Taylor could be seen wearing a glitzy red and black bodysuit and matching arm sleeves with nude fishnet tights arching forwards with her two hands against a wall with her right leg slightly in front of the left.

Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl album has not been without controversy (Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott)

Needless to say, an avalanche of keyboard warriors absolutely lost their sh*t with one X user jabbing: “This is a family-friendly platform and this post is disgusting. There are children on here and you should delete this graphic post.”

You’re on Twitter, babes, it’s not exactly ‘family-friendly’.

“This is obscene and indecent,” slammed a second, while a third piped up: “This is the role model for young girls? You need Jesus.”

And a final troll declared: “You know she is failing when she starts exposing skin.”

Some online critics were left completely outraged over Taylor’s latest album pics (Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott)

Fortunately, it didn’t take long for fans to call out such rhetoric with many specifically hitting out over the final comment.

“Yeah, I bet we all wish we could ‘fail’ like she does,” penned one fan.

A second sarcastically quipped: “Do showgirls normally dress conservatively?”

She’s definitely stuck to the whole ‘showgirl’ theme! (Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott)

“Insert insecure male comment here,” joked a third, while a fourth pointed out: “Lol she’s at the peak of her career.”

Another added: “She just finished the highest-grossing tour in history.”

And a final X user highlighted: “She’s a billionaire with the largest fan base in modern history and you’re a troll.”

And, thankfully, this isn’t the first time Swifties have come out in full force to defend their beloved pop icon and hopefully it won’t be the last!

The 67-year-old Golden Globe Award winner has left fans stunned after dropping the bombshell that she once shared a brief romance with a notable musician.

The Basic Instinct actress made an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen alongside fellow Nobody 2 co-star Bob Odenkirk, where she and the Better Call Saul actor were asked a whole bunch of quick-fire questions about themselves.

During the show, Cohen asked the Total Recall star to clarify a rumor about her dating life.

Stone was asked if she had ever dated the ‘Hot in Here’ hitmaker Nelly, now 50.

Before she could even answer, Cohen guessed her response, stating: “I mean, this is crazy enough that I actually might believe it.”

Sharon Stone has opened up about her dating life (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Odenkirk, 62, also butted in: “I’m going to say yeah.”

After a long pause, Stone finally confessed: “Yes, I did,” while the studio audience gasped.

Cohen then pressed: “Did you have a second date?” to which Stone shook her head before saying: “No, I did not.”

The surprising admission comes as Stone has endured quite a few romances over the years.

The Casino star first tied the knot with TV producer Michael Greenburg in 1984 after meeting him on the set of The Vegas Strip War.

After their divorce in 1990, Stone met William J. MacDonald on the set of the movie Silver.

Stone confessed she went on a date with Nelly once (Scott Legato/Getty Images)

Despite the pair sharing a whirlwind romance, which saw MacDonald leave his wife for Stone and propose to the actress, they separated a year later in 1994.

That same year, Stone met assistant director Bob Wagner, with whom they became engaged, but the relationship fell through.

Four years later, she married Phil Bronstein, during which she tragically suffered several miscarriages and was unable to conceive children due to suffering from an autoimmune disease and endometriosis.

The couple adopted a son, Roan, 25, in 2000, and went their separate ways in 2003. Stone went on to adopt two more sons, Laird, now 20, in 2005, and Quinn, 19, in 2006.

Now, the mom-of-three is reportedly single and admitted in January that finding love hasn’t been easy for her.

Stone and her then husband Bronstein (A. Nevader/WireImage)

Speaking to The Times last year, she revealed she’d had some pretty horrific dates, including a date with a ‘heroin addict’ to another that left her feeling ‘like a therapist’ as she coached him through his divorce.

Still, she hasn’t given up, telling the outlet she has joined Tinder, adding: “This is the year that I want to fall in love — 100 percent.”

As for Nelly, the musician married fellow rapper Ashanti in 2023, with whom he shares a son, Kareen, 13 months.

He is also father to four other children: daughter Chanelle, 31, son Cornell, 26, whom he shares with ex Channetta Valentines, and son Shawn, 27, and Sydney, 19, whom he adopted from his sister, Jackie Donahue, after she died in 2005 of leukaemia..

UNILAD has contacted Nelly’s representatives for comment.