A teenager was bitten by a rabid beaver while swimming at Cunningham Falls State Park in Thurmont (Frederick County), prompting the temporary closure of the William Houck Area swimming beach.
According to the Frederick County Health Department, the incident occurred around 9am on Sunday, July 26, when the teen was bitten by a beaver in the designated swimming area at Hunting Creek Lake near Thurmont. Frederick County Animal Control recovered a beaver later that day, and testing by the Maryland Department of Health confirmed on Monday that the animal was positive for rabies.
Swimming at the William Houck Area is prohibited until officials can confirm the area is safe for visitors, a process expected to take several days.
Anyone who may have had contact with the beaver or any other wildlife in the area should contact their healthcare provider and notify the Frederick County Health Department’s Community Health Services Office at 301-600-3342. Pet owners whose animals may have had contact with wildlife should consult their veterinarian and contact the Environmental Health Office at 301-600-1717.
Health officials are reminding the public not to approach or handle wild animals, as rabies is a viral disease that spreads through the saliva of infected mammals, typically through bites. Without prompt post-exposure treatment, rabies is almost always fatal in humans. Symptoms in infected animals may include excessive drooling, unusual aggression or friendliness, limping, refusal to eat or drink, fear of water, or abnormal behavior such as nocturnal animals being active during the day.
