Maryland wildlife officials are searching for a beaver suspected in the attack of a 10-year-old girl at Seneca Creek State Park, the state's third reported beaver attack in less than three weeks. The girl was swimming with an organized group when the beaver bit her upper leg on Thursday afternoon. Camp counselors intervened and removed the beaver before it escaped into the water. The girl received treatment for three lacerations.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources closed a section of Seneca Creek State Park, including about a mile of trail and river access points, as wildlife teams search for the animal. Other areas of the park remain open.
This incident follows two previous beaver attacks at Cunningham Falls State Park in Frederick County. On July 26, a beaver attacked a 13-year-old swimmer, and on August 5, another beaver bit a 19-year-old fisherman. The beavers involved in those attacks were captured and euthanized, and both tested positive for rabies.
Officials stated that the Seneca Creek attack is not believed to be connected to the incidents at Cunningham Falls due to the distance between the parks and typical beaver behavior. There are also no indications of a rabies outbreak in the affected counties. Beaver attacks on humans are rare and are generally associated with rabid animals, according to the Department of Natural Resources. The agency recommends maintaining a distance of at least 25 yards from beavers in the wild.