Rabid beavers attack visitors in major Maryland park

“Portions of a Maryland state park remain closed to visitors after two people were attacked by rabid beavers in the past two weeks,” reports The Washington Post. 

“A 13-year-old boy was attacked July 26 while swimming in the lake at Cunningham Falls State Park in Frederick County…More than a week later, another beaver bit a 19-year-old man fishing from the park’s shoreline on Wednesday.” Cunningham Falls is right near Camp David, the President’s country retreat.

State employees “found the beavers responsible for the attacks in the lake’s vicinity and euthanized them.” Examination of the beavers’ brains showed they indeed had rabies.

A doctor said it is “very rare” for a beaver to contract rabies. “Rabies — which affects mammals, including people, and spreads through bites and scratches — is fatal if not promptly treated.”

“The 13-year-old sustained injuries to his hands and chest and was airlifted to Johns Hopkins Hospital for treatment,” The Post says. “The 19-year-old took himself to Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, where he was treated for rabies exposure and received a tetanus shot.” “Rabies treatment typically involves deep-cleaning any wounds and providing four doses of immunizations over a two-week period.

Beaver bites rarely occur in Frederick County. Before this year’s cases, the last bites were reported in 2024 and 2006.

The most frequent wild carriers of rabies include bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. By contrast, mice, rats, squirrels, and rabbits seldom get rabies.