Community Corner
2nd Beaver Bite Involves 19-Year-Old Fishing At Cunningham Falls State Park
Another beaver has bitten a human at Cunningham Falls State Park. This time, a 19-year-old was fishing and was bit on the ankle.
THURMONT, MD — Another beaver has attacked a human at Cunningham Falls State Park, prompting officials to shut down a portion of the park.
A 19-year-old fishing at the park told officials he was bit on the ankle by a beaver in the South Beach Day Use area of the park at Hunting Creek Lake around 9:30 a.m. He drove himself to Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown for treatment, according to the DNR.
NRP officers were able to catch and euthanize the beaver, which has been taken to the Frederick County Health Department. The Maryland Department of Health’s laboratory will conduct rabies testing and expects to have results available later this week, the DNR stated.
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The Maryland Park Service has closed the Houck Day Use Area, the adjacent boat ramp and Big Hunting Creek above the lake.
This is the second beaver attack on a human at Cunningham Falls State Park within the past two weeks following a July 26 beaver bite incident involving a 13-year-old swimmer. That beaver was caught, euthanized and tested positive for rabies on July 27.
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The DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service continues to investigate a possible rabies outbreak within the local beaver population and will now monitor the lake both day and night. Swimming, fishing, boating, and all water access are prohibited until the area can be confirmed safe for visitors. Other areas of the park, including the campground, remain open.
Beaver attacks on people are rare and are believed to primarily involve rabid animals. Before this year, the last recorded instances of beaver bites in Maryland occurred in 2021 and 2015. Beavers are typically non-aggressive and avoid conflict with humans, but people should still maintain a safe minimum viewing distance of 25 yards, the DNR stated.
Anyone who may have come into contact with a beaver at Cunningham Falls State Park recently should contact the Frederick County Health Department at 301-600-3342.
Questions about rabies incidents and related information should be directed to Brandon Alter with the Frederick County Health Department, at FCHealthDept@frederickcountymd.gov or 301-600-3112.
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