A 10-year-old girl was bitten three times on the leg by a beaver while canoeing at Seneca Creek State Park in Maryland on Thursday. State wildlife officials and park staff are actively searching for the animal following the third beaver attack reported this summer.
According to the state’s Department of Natural Resources, a 10-year-old camper was canoeing with a group on park property around 3:30 p.m. when a beaver approached and attacked her.
Camp counselors moved quickly, jumping into the water to intervene and stop the animal before it could inflict further harm. The beaver escaped back into the water as the adults rushed to secure the children. Park officials confirmed that no other campers or staff members sustained injuries during the moments on the creek.
Hospital Treatment and Seneca Creek Park Closures
The young camper sustained three lacerations to her upper leg from the bites. Following the attack, she was transported to Bethesda’s Suburban Hospital for medical treatment.
In response to the incident, state authorities implemented immediate public access restrictions. Seneca Creek near Berryville Road, where the attack occurred, is closed until further notice alongside roughly one mile of nearby trail. The adjacent parking lot has also been restricted. However, other sections of Seneca Creek State Park—including the Lake Area off Clopper Road in Gaithersburg—remain open to visitors.
The Search for the Beaver and Rabies Context
Wildlife officials from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Montgomery County Animal Services, and Seneca Creek State Park staff launched a joint search to locate the animal. Finding the beaver remains a priority for health and safety monitoring.
The incident immediately drew comparisons to two earlier beaver attacks that occurred roughly 36 miles away at Cunningham Falls State Park in Frederick County. In those earlier cases, a 13-year-old swimmer was bitten on July 26, and a 19-year-old fisherman was attacked on August 5. Both of those animals were captured, euthanized, and subsequently tested positive for rabies.
State Officials Address Outbreak Concerns
Despite the clustering of attacks over the summer months, state wildlife authorities emphasize that the Seneca Creek incident is not believed to be connected to the events at Cunningham Falls State Park.
During the earlier episodes, the agency noted it was investigating a possible rabies outbreak within the local beaver population. Even so, park officials stated that there is currently no indication of a broader rabies outbreak across Frederick County or Montgomery County.
What Campers and Visitors Should Watch Next
As the search for the beaver continues, the restricted zone near Berryville Road will remain off-limits to hikers and paddlers. State biologists and animal services personnel have not released a timeline for when the trail closures will lift, as containment depends on locating the animal involved in Thursday’s bite.
Visitors heading to Maryland state parks this season are urged to maintain a safe distance from wildlife near waterways, particularly if animals display uncharacteristic or aggressive behavior.
