Maryland Wildlife Officials Seek Beaver After Attack on Young Girl

Beaver Attack Incident in Maryland

Maryland wildlife officials are actively searching for a beaver that attacked a 10-year-old girl at Seneca Creek State Park, marking an unusual occurrence in the state. This incident represents the third reported beaver attack within less than three weeks.

The girl was engaged in swimming and wading activities with an organized group at the park when the beaver unexpectedly attacked around 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Camp counselors quickly intervened, removing the beaver from the girl, but the animal managed to escape into the water. The girl sustained three lacerations to her upper leg and was subsequently taken by family members to Suburban Hospital in Bethesda for medical treatment.

Following the attack, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) closed the affected area near Berryville Road, which is close to the Potomac River. This closure includes approximately one mile of trail and river access points while wildlife teams search for the beaver. Other parts of Seneca Creek State Park remain accessible, including the Lake Area off Clopper Road in Gaithersburg.

Series of Attacks

The recent attack at Seneca Creek follows two previous beaver incidents at Cunningham Falls State Park in Frederick County, located more than 36 miles away. A beaver attacked a 13-year-old swimmer at Cunningham Falls on July 26. Another beaver bit a 19-year-old fisherman on the ankle in the park’s South Beach Day Use area on August 5. The fisherman received treatment for rabies exposure and a tetanus shot at Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown.

Natural Resources Police apprehended and euthanized the beavers involved in both Cunningham Falls attacks, with subsequent tests confirming rabies in both animals.

Investigation and Precautions

Following the second attack, the Maryland Park Service closed specific areas at Cunningham Falls, including the Houck Day Use Area, the adjacent boat ramp, and Big Hunting Creek above the lake. These closures were enacted while wildlife officials conducted investigations. The Seneca Creek attack is not considered directly linked to the Cunningham Falls incidents due to the distance between the parks and beavers’ territorial behaviors.

Health department data do not suggest any rabies outbreaks in either Frederick County or Montgomery County, according to the DNR. Beaver attacks on humans are rare and usually involve rabies-infected animals. Historically, the last confirmed rabid beaver attack in Maryland occurred in 2021 and 2015.

DNR advises the public to maintain a safe distance of at least 25 yards from beavers to avoid potential conflicts.

Beavers typically prefer to avoid human interactions, highlighting the unusual nature of these recent incidents. Maryland wildlife officials continue efforts to locate the beaver involved in the most recent attack.