Beaver Bite Hospitalizes Bergen County Boy, Police Say

MAHWAH, NJ — A beaver attacked an 8-year-old boy in Mahwah on Sunday night, sending the child to the hospital, police said.

Police said the child was fishing at Lake Henry in Continental Soldiers Park around 6 p.m. when the animal came out of the water and charged him.

The boy tried to run away, tripped, and the beaver bit the boy on the upper thigh and continued to attack him, police said.

A friend of the family kicked and hit the beaver before it retreated, but the animal "continued circling the area," police said.

First responders brought the child to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment, police said.

While investigating, police were told that the beaver had attacked other people in the park earlier that day. Police also found video on the internet of earlier attacks.

They contacted Tyco Animal Control, who caught the beaver and "reported the animal exhibited signs of possible illness," police said.

The beaver will be sent for testing, police said.

Beavers can contract rabies, a disease that's fatal when passed to humans and other animals. Anyone bitten by an aggressive animal should notify a health professional immediately so they can be treated in time.

Police said that anyone who has encountered the beaver should contact the Mahwah Police at (201) 529-1000 x 210.