New Jersey — Several people were attacked by a rabid beaver in a New Jersey park including an 8-year-old boy was hospitalized after getting bitten in the upper thigh.
On Sunday evening around 6:00pm the boy was fishing from the shoreline of Lake Henry in Continental Soldiers Park when the beaver emerged from the water and attacked. As the boy attempted to flee the charging beaver, he tripped and rabid animal landed a bite. A family friend stepped in, kicked the beaver off the boy and the animal retreated back into the lake. EMS responded to the scene and took the boy to a nearby hospital.
The following video shows a separate attack that happened earlier in the day. This one involving a group of adults. After a chaotic skirmish, a man ultimately picked up the rabid beaver and launched it into the lake:
Local animal control responded to Continental Soldiers Park and captured the beaver to have it tested. Mahwah Police Department has confirmed it tested positive for rabies.
“On Sunday, May 3rd, it was reported that a beaver at Lake Henry had contact with several people and has since tested positive for rabies. Individuals who were bitten are currently receiving treatment. If you have had any contact with this animal, please notify the Mahwah Township Health Department immediately. You will need to be assessed by a doctor for medical treatment. Everyone is advised to avoid wildlife, as any warm-blooded animal can carry rabies.” -Mahwah Police Department
Although rabies remains a serious public health threat in the United States, its impact has diminished significantly over the decades. Prior to 1960, the virus claimed hundreds of lives annually, but intensive collaboration between human and animal health experts has reduced that number to fewer than ten deaths per year. Despite this progress, the disease is still present in the environment; approximately 75% of Americans live in areas where wildlife like raccoons, skunks, and foxes carry the virus.
The nature of rabies transmission has also transformed. While domestic dogs were the primary source of infection in the 1960s, today more than 90% of the 4,000 annual animal cases involve wildlife. This shift highlights a major success in domestic animal vaccination, even as bats, foxes, and other wild species continue to serve as the main reservoirs for the disease.
CDC Rabies Exposure Guidelines:
If you’ve been in contact with any wildlife or unfamiliar animals, particularly if you’ve been bitten or scratched, do the following:
- Wash any wounds immediately with soap and water for 15 minutes to flush out any virus.
- Talk with a healthcare or public health professional about your risk and if you need rabies-related care.
- Tell your healthcare provider or public health professional about the type of animal you encountered.
- Make note of and tell your healthcare provider or public health professional if you see any signs that the animal is not acting normally.
- If the animal that bit you is a pet, ask the owner for proof that the animal is up to date on their rabies vaccination.
This information is important when deciding if rabies-related care is necessary. if you’re unsure about whether or not you had any direct contact with a rabid animal, consult your health department about whether you need treatment to prevent rabies. Remember, rabies requires urgent medical attention.
