A portion of Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County is closed after a beaver attacked a 10-year-old girl Thursday afternoon. The girl was canoeing with a summer camp group near Berryville Road, close to the Potomac River, when the beaver attacked. Camp counselors intervened, and the animal escaped into the water.
The girl suffered three lacerations to her upper leg and was taken to Suburban Hospital in Bethesda for treatment. No other injuries were reported.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources officials and park staff are searching for the beaver, with assistance from Natural Resources Police and Montgomery County Animal Services. The area where the attack occurred, along with about one mile of trail, is closed until further notice. The nearby parking lot is also restricted. Other areas of the park, including the Lake Area off Clopper Road, remain open.
The attack follows two recent beaver attacks at Cunningham Falls State Park in Frederick County. Those beavers were captured, euthanized and tested positive for rabies.
DNR says the Seneca Creek attack is not believed to be connected to the Cunningham Falls incidents. Officials say there is no indication of a rabies outbreak in Frederick or Montgomery counties.
The search for the Seneca Creek beaver continues.
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