If you heard the phrase “rabid beaver” and automatically think of a made-for-TV movie that probably would’ve aired on the SYFY network in its heyday, you’re not alone.
And while it likely would’ve been a splashy saga with plenty of blood and CGI action sequences when it appeared on the small screen, experts say something a little less dramatic is playing out in real life.
ABC 7 News reports that the state of Maryland is dealing with an unusual pattern of rabid beavers this year—there have been three attacks at Maryland parks in the past month alone — and experts are trying to warn the public about the dangers of the typically docile animals.
That being said, they are also advising people not to become too alarmed. While unusual, these attacks aren’t exactly completely out of character for rabid animals, making it more important for Marylanders to focus on the symptoms of the disease as opposed to the rabid beavers themselves.
Multiple Beavers Have Tested Positive for Rabies
Meghan Frost Davis, an environmental microbiologist and associate professor with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told Bethesda Today about how the rise in rabies cases in beavers isn’t as dramatic as headlines may be making it sound.
“This is unusual, but it’s not out of character for this disease,” Frost Davis explained. “We’re accustomed to hearing about rabies in raccoons and foxes; we’re less accustomed to hearing about them in beavers.”
That could be why guests at Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County were shocked when there were multiple instances of aggressive beavers, including one that sent a 10-year-old girl to the hospital.
A Camper Was Attacked During a Planned Activity on the Water
Fox News reports that camp counselors had to intervene when a beaver came out of the water and attacked a camper, causing three lacerations to her upper leg. The beaver went back into the creek after the attack, and family members rushed the girl off to the hospital, where she received treatment for her wounds.
Later, a group of people in a different part of the park reported being charged by an angry beaver while they were canoeing. This news comes hot on the heels of two other reported beaver attacks from a different part of the state.
Two Teens Were Attacked Miles Away at a Different Park
A 19-year-old and a 13-year-old were both attacked within two weeks at Cunningham Falls recently as well, with both teens requiring medical attention after the attack. Fox News says that the Maryland Natural Resources Police later caught and euthanized the animals involved in the attacks. They were later examined, and both animals tested positive for rabies.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has confirmed that the Cunningham Falls and Seneca Creek attacks are unrelated to one another, since they are considered too far away to be connected.
The Last Known Rabid Beaver Attacks Occurred in 2021 and 2015
With so many beaver stories making headlines, you may be wondering why authorities aren’t sounding the alarm over the rabid rodents. That’s because this appears to be a normal pattern of activity for the disease, even if we’re typically used to seeing other animals carrying out the attacks.
“Every couple years, it seems that we have animals that people are not as accustomed to hearing about as being rabid,” Alicia Evangelista, an environmental health program manager for Frederick County’s health department, told Bethesda Today. “This year we have these beavers.”
So what’s a Marylander to do? According to the outlet, you should still take normal precautions with wild animals and steer clear of any that are acting erratically. Also, if you do happen to get attacked, Bethesda Today says you should practice good wound care, which includes cleaning the site for 15 minutes with soap and water before seeking medical care.