Rabid Beaver Attacks Visitors at New York Vacation Spot, Authorities Issue Warning

Two men were attacked by an unusually aggressive beaver while swimming at Turtle Island, a small island on the western shore of Lake George in northern New York State, during the Independence Day weekend. Brandon Shortslib told NBC 5 that the beaver repeatedly bit him and his friend despite attempts to fend it off. "He bit me several times while I pulled him out of the water," Shortslib recounted, adding that he had to hold on tightly before throwing the animal far away.

The incident prompted concern from local authorities, who investigated the case through New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation. Five days later, officials found a dead beaver infected with rabies, raising fears that the animal responsible for the attack might have transmitted the disease to others in the nearby community. Although it is not confirmed that the dead beaver was the same one involved in the attack, the authorities warned the public to exercise extreme caution around beavers, especially those exhibiting unusual behavior.

Officials advised campers and visitors to avoid contact with beavers during recreational activities and to report any aggressive or abnormal beaver behavior immediately. This warning follows a similar rabid beaver attack in May, when an 8-year-old boy in New Jersey was bitten while fishing at Lake Henry in Continental Soldiers Park. The boy quickly threw the animal back into the water, and the incident was widely shared online.

The New York authorities emphasized the importance of vigilance to prevent further rabies exposure in the area and urged the public to take all necessary precautions when near water bodies inhabited by wildlife.