THURMONT, Md. — Water access at Hunting Creek Lake and surrounding portions of Cunningham Falls State Park has been reopened following a series of beaver attacks reported in the area from late July through August.
Portions of the park were closed after the first two reports of beaver attacks.
On July 26, a 13-year-old was bitten while swimming. A 19-year-old was bitten while fishing on August 5.
Both beavers were dispatched, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and both later tested positive for rabies.
Biologists conducted thermal surveys and found no additional beavers in the Hunting Creek Lake area.
Other monitoring methods included trail cameras, trapping, and sign surveys, which further confirmed that no more beavers were present.
Officials say an unrelated beaver attack involving a 10-year-old girl at Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County remains under investigation.
The Maryland Park Service closed the Berryville Area following the beaver attack on August 13, and those areas remain closed.
"Beavers are typically non-aggressive and avoid conflict with humans, but people should still maintain a safe minimum viewing distance of 25 yards for all medium-sized wild animals," officials say. "Anyone bitten or scratched by any wild animal should immediately seek medical attention."
