A beaver discovered dead at Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County has tested positive for rabies following a recent attack on a 10-year-old girl, according to wildlife authorities. The confirmed case has prompted state officials to expand public safety closures and deploy licensed trappers into the restricted zone as investigations into a rare cluster of wildlife incidents continue.
While laboratory testing confirmed the deadly virus in the Montgomery County animal, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources noted that officials cannot definitively confirm whether this specific animal was the exact one involved in the child’s injury.
The incident represents the third documented beaver attack in Maryland within a compressed timeframe. Prior to the Montgomery County encounter, two separate attacks occurred roughly 36 miles away at Cunningham Falls State Park in Frederick County on July 26 and August 5, according to state records.
Park Closures and Trapping Operations Underway
Following the positive rabies confirmation, park management expanded safety perimeters within Seneca Creek State Park. Approximately one mile of trail and river access near Berryville Road remains strictly cordoned off to the public. Wildlife officials deployed a licensed trapper into the restricted area to capture and test additional beavers in an effort to gauge local infection rates. Meanwhile, standard recreational areas, including the park’s lake, remain open for visitors.
“It’s definitely very uncommon,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Furbearer Biologist Joshua Tabora, addressing the unusual nature of the encounters according to FOX 5 DC. “To say the quiet part out loud, this is now the third kind of attack in addition to the first two that happened in Cunningham Falls State Park. We’re definitely trying to take a really detailed close look at any of the similarities between the sites, but so far, the broader trends kind of evade us.”
Understanding the Regional Risk
Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects the central nervous system of mammals, commonly transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal via bites or scratches.
Public health guidelines advise anyone who encounters unusually aggressive wildlife—particularly animals displaying uncharacteristic daytime activity or a lack of fear toward humans—to immediately report the sighting to local park rangers or animal control authorities and avoid any physical contact.
Next Steps in the Wildlife Investigation
State biologists and park enforcement teams will maintain the restricted perimeters around the affected Seneca Creek zones while trapping and surveillance operations continue. Authorities have not yet established a definitive timeline for reopening the closed trails near Berryville Road, emphasizing that public safety measures will remain active until further testing clears the area.
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional medical, legal, or wildlife management advice. For specific health concerns regarding animal bites or rabies exposure, consult a qualified healthcare provider immediately.
