Maryland Keeps Hunting Creek Lake Closed After 2 Rabid Beaver Attacks
Updated
Updated · WTOP · Aug 10
Maryland Keeps Hunting Creek Lake Closed After 2 Rabid Beaver Attacks
3 articles · Updated · WTOP · Aug 10
Summary
Maryland officials said Hunting Creek Lake appears reasonably safe but will stay closed until surveys confirm no remaining public-health risk after two beaver attacks.
Two separate incidents triggered the shutdown: one attacking beaver tested positive for rabies, and a second similar attack led authorities to close the lake area to swimmers and hikers.
Joshua Tabora of the Department of Natural Resources said the state is still in a fact-finding phase, with no reopening date and no final safety benchmarks yet set.
Tabora said rabies in beavers is rare and likely spilled over from a primary carrier such as a raccoon, then may have spread between the two beavers through salivary contact during grooming.
The park's isolated lake and beavers' local living patterns suggest the 2 attacking animals may be the only infected ones, but officials are conducting follow-up field surveys before reopening.