The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has reopened areas of Seneca Creek State Park that had been closed following a beaver attack on a 10-year-old camper last month.
According to DNR, the Wildlife and Heritage Service and Maryland Park Service have concluded their monitoring of the area and found no additional rabid beavers. Wildlife experts said they are now “reasonably assured” the park is past the period of heightened risk associated with the incident.
On August 13, a beaver attacked and bit a 10-year-old camper who was swimming in Seneca Creek near Berryville Road, close to the Potomac River. A separate group of canoeists later reported that a beaver had attempted to charge one of their boats prior to the bite incident, though that encounter was not reported to park staff until afterward.
The Park Service subsequently closed the area while wildlife teams searched for sick or aggressive animals. On August 17, DNR staff located a deceased beaver that later tested positive for rabies through the Maryland Department of Health. Officials were unable to determine whether it was the same beaver involved in the attack on the camper.
With the search now concluded and no additional rabid beavers found, the previously closed areas have reopened. DNR continues to remind visitors that the potential for rabies and other dangers associated with wildlife interactions remains present in natural areas. Visitors are advised to observe wildlife from a safe distance, never approach or feed wild animals, give animals a clear path to move away, keep pets leashed and immediately report animals behaving unusually or aggressively to park staff.
