Maryland parks close sections as search continues for rabid beavers after child bite
State park areas in Montgomery and Frederick counties are closed while officials hunt for beavers showing signs of rabies following a recent attack on a 10-year-old girl.
Park officials have closed sections of Seneca Creek State Park and Cunningham Falls State Park as they search for beavers that may be infected with rabies. The action follows an incident in which a 10-year-old camper was bitten on her upper leg while at Seneca Creek; counselors were unable to capture the animal, which fled into the water. A dead beaver recovered on August 17 tested positive for rabies, though authorities have not confirmed whether it was the same animal involved in the child’s bite or the earlier canoe incident.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says the two recent incidents at Seneca Creek appear unrelated and does not see evidence of a broader outbreak in Montgomery or Frederick counties. Nonetheless, DNR staff are monitoring beavers for abnormal daytime activity, aggression toward humans or other animals, and erratic movements such as circling or stumbling. Areas near Berryville Road, the Route 28 parking lot and roughly one mile of trail and river access are currently restricted to staff only.
This summer marks the fourth reported beaver attack in Maryland state parks. Earlier incidents included a 13-year-old who was bitten while swimming at Cunningham Falls State Park in late July and a 19-year-old who suffered ankle lacerations while fishing at Hunting Creek Lake in early August; both animals later tested positive for rabies. Rabid beavers were also documented in the state in 2015 and 2021.
The DNR advises visitors to keep a minimum distance of 25 yards from wildlife, observe any unusual behavior, and keep pets leashed, especially near water. Anyone who encounters a sick-looking animal or experiences a bite is urged to report the incident promptly.