THURMONT, Md. — A beaver captured at Cunningham Falls State Park has tested positive for rabies, following an incident in which a 13-year-old boy was bitten while swimming over the weekend.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is actively investigating the park to determine if additional rabid beavers are present. As a precaution, the beach area of the park has been closed and is expected to remain off-limits for several days.
While the beach is closed, all other sections of the park remain accessible to visitors. The young boy was airlifted to a hospital with significant injuries to his hand and chest as a result of the bite.
Rabies is a viral disease that can be fatal if not treated promptly after exposure. It can be transmitted from animals to humans through saliva. Symptoms of rabies in animals may include fear of water, excessive drooling, unusual behavior, and other atypical actions, such as nocturnal animals being active during the day.
Officials urge anyone who may have had contact with a potentially rabid animal to seek guidance.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).
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