Maryland wildlife officials are actively searching for a beaver that attacked a 10-year-old girl at Seneca Creek State Park. This incident marks the third reported beaver attack in the state within a span of less than three weeks.
The attack occurred while the girl was swimming with an organized group at Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), camp counselors intervened, managing to separate the beaver from the girl. The animal then fled into the water.
The girl sustained three lacerations on her upper leg. She was taken to Suburban Hospital in Bethesda by her family for treatment. There were no other injuries reported in this incident.
Beaver attacks on humans are considered rare, according to Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources.
The attack happened near Berryville Road, close to the Potomac River. As a precaution, DNR has closed the area, including approximately one mile of the trail and river access points, pending the search for the beaver. Other parts of the park, such as the Lake Area off Clopper Road in Gaithersburg, remain accessible.
In a separate incident, a beaver attempted to charge a canoe in the same area but no injuries occurred. This was also reported to DNR.
Earlier incidents at Cunningham Falls State Park in Frederick County involved a 13-year-old swimmer and a 19-year-old fisherman attacked on July 26 and August 5, respectively. The fisherman sought treatment for rabies exposure at Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, and the beavers from these attacks tested positive for rabies after being euthanized.
Health department data does not indicate a rabies outbreak in Montgomery or Frederick Counties, according to DNR.
DNR emphasized that the Seneca Creek attack is unrelated to those at Cunningham Falls due to the distance between locations and distinct behaviors exhibited by beavers. December Rabies-infected animals typically drive these rare attacks. Beavers generally avoid humans, and the agency advises maintaining a 25-yard distance from these animals in their natural habitats.