A 10-year-old girl participating in a summer camp program was bitten by a beaver while canoeing at Seneca Creek State Park, prompting the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to close a portion of the park and about one mile of nearby trail until further notice. The Thursday afternoon incident marks the third reported beaver attack in Maryland this summer, though state officials report no connection to two earlier rabies-positive bites.
Park Closures and Search Operations at Seneca Creek
The attack occurred around 3:30 p.m. at a bend in Seneca Creek near Berryville Road, close to the Potomac River, according to FOX 5. The 10-year-old victim was on the water with a group in a canoe when the beaver bit her, leaving three laceration wounds on her upper leg. Camp counselors intervened, removed the beaver and it escaped into the water, as reported by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Family members transported the girl to Suburban Hospital in Bethesda for treatment. Wildlife staff from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Seneca Creek State Park, along with Natural Resources Police and Montgomery County Animal Services, are actively searching for the animal. Authorities have restricted the adjacent parking lot with cones and posted warning signs, while other areas of the park, including the Lake Area off of Clopper Road in Gaithersburg, remain open.
Comparison to Previous Maryland Beaver Attacks
This incident follows two separate beaver attacks recorded earlier in the summer at Cunningham Falls State Park. On July 26, a 13-year-old swimmer was bitten, followed by an attack on a 19-year-old fisherman on August 5. Both beavers involved in those Cunningham Falls State Park incidents were caught, euthanized, and tested positive for rabies. At the time of those earlier bites, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources investigated a possible rabies outbreak within the local beaver population. However, state officials stated that the Seneca Creek attack is not considered related to the Cunningham Falls events, citing the distance between the parks and beaver behavior. Health departments in both Frederick and Montgomery counties report no indication of a rabies outbreak.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which areas of Seneca Creek State Park are closed?
According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, a portion of the park near Berryville Road and about 1-mile of nearby trail are closed until further notice. Other areas of the park, including the Lake Area off of Clopper Road in Gaithersburg, remain open.
Are the Seneca Creek and Cunningham Falls beaver attacks connected?
Furthermore, health departments in Frederick County or Montgomery County report no indication of a rabies outbreak.
Where was the victim treated?
Family members took the 10-year-old girl to Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, where she received treatment for three laceration to her upper leg.
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