Maryland boy injured by rabid beaver attack at state park

A 13-year-old boy is recovering from nerve damage and multiple surgeries after being attacked by a rabid beaver at Cunningham Falls State Park in Maryland. The victim, Dominick Cebula, was swimming on July 26 when the animal bit his chest underwater and subsequently his right hand. He was airlifted to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore for treatment, which included rabies post-exposure vaccinations.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has launched an investigation into a potential rabies outbreak following several recent incidents in the region. In addition to the attack on the teenager, a 19-year-old fisherman was bitten on the leg at Cunningham Falls on August 5, and a 10-year-old girl was attacked while canoeing at Seneca Creek State Park.

In response to the potential outbreak, authorities have dismantled a nearby beaver lodge and implemented daily surveillance of the lake. Officials advise the public to maintain a distance of at least 23 meters from beavers.