Seneca Falls State Park in upper Montgomery County was the site of a beaver attack this week, the third in as many weeks in the region. )Photo by Shelby Smith/Maryland Park Service)
By Tadiwos Abedje
A 10-year-old girl was attacked by a beaver Thursday at Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County, leading to the temporary shutdown of part of the park.
It was the third beaver attack in a state park in a month, with the earlier two attacks at Cunningham Falls State Park. Beavers in those attacks tested positive for rabies, but state officials said because of the distance between the parks — 36 miles, well outside a beaver’s normal range — they do not believe this attack is related to the other two,
Officials were still looking for the beaver in the latest attack so it can be tested for rabies.
Park officials said they got a report around 3:30 p.m. Thursday of the beaver attacking and biting the girl while she was canoeing with a group in a creek on the park’s property.
The 10-year-old, who was at summer camp at the time of the incident, had three cut wounds on her upper leg and was taken to Bethesda’s Suburban Hospital to treat her injuries. Park officials said there weren’t any other injuries.
As a result of the incident, Seneca Creek near Berryville Road, where the beaver attack took place, will be closed until further notice, along with the one mile of trail. The parking lot next to the location is also restricted.
This beaver attack at Seneca Creek State Park comes after there were beaver attacks at Cunningham Falls State Park in Frederick County, Maryland, on two people — a 13-year-old swimmer on July 26 and a 19-year-old fisherman on Aug. 5. Those beavers were captured, euthanized and tested positive for rabies.
Park officials added that there are no signs of a rabies outbreak in Frederick and Montgomery counties.
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Originally published at Marylandmatters.Org