Teenager swimming in Maryland lake bitten by rabid beaver

Parents and local residents face sudden loss of access to Cunningham Falls State Park’s swimming beach after a 13‑year‑old boy was rushed to hospital following a beaver bite. The incident has triggered anxiety about safety at the popular lake, and the sudden closure removes a summer recreation venue for families across Frederick County. The bite occurred when the teenager was swimming in the lake, where a beaver—later identified as the animal that bit him—was present.

The creature’s aggression is now linked to rabies, a viral disease that can be transmitted through bites. Health officials have warned that any exposure to a rabid animal requires immediate medical evaluation, underscoring the risk to other park visitors. DC News Now confirmed laboratory testing found the beaver positive for rabies, while the Baltimore Sun reported the boy’s hospitalization.

WBAL‑TV noted the incident took place at Cunningham Falls State Park, and WJLA detailed that the swimming beach will remain closed for several days while authorities assess the situation. With the animal’s condition verified, officials must decide how to manage wildlife and prevent future exposures—questions that will shape park safety policy moving forward.