A 10-year-old girl was attacked by a beaver at Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County, Maryland, last week.
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This is the third time the buck-toothed animal, which rarely bothers humans, has attacked someone in the state's parks in less than a month.
Officials Are Searching for the Beaver
As reported by PEOPLE, the incident occurred on Aug. 13 around 3:30 p.m. A release from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) says the girl was swimming in a creek with friends at a summer camp when the beaver bit her.
Counselors stepped in and removed the creature, which then escaped into the water. The girl suffered three lacerations to her upper leg. Family members then took her to Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. No other injuries were reported.
Officials have closed off the area where the attack took place. DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service staff and park employees are searching for the beaver.
This Is the Third Attack by a Beaver in Maryland in Less Than a Month
This beaver attack follows two others that occurred at Cunningham Falls State Park, located 36 miles away in Frederick County, Maryland.
The first took place on July 26. A 13-year-old swimmer was attacked. Officials then dismantled a nearby beaver lodge after the incident and began surveilling the area daily.
Then, on Aug. 5, a 19-year-old fisherman was bitten on the ankle by a beaver. They received treatment for rabies exposure and a tetanus shot. The animals involved in both attacks were caught, euthanized, and tested positive for rabies.
Authorities say the three attacks are not connected, with the DNR stating that the distance between the parks is outside the creatures' home range and social behavior.
However, beaver attacks are rare. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says they can occur if the animal feels threatened or is infected with rabies. They are typically non-aggressive animals that avoid contact with humans. The agency advises people to remain at least 25 yards away from a beaver if they spot one in the wild.
