Family catapults rabid beaver into lake on day it bites boy, 8

A beaver that charged at a family and bit an eight-year-old boy in the US has tested positive for rabies.

The animal caused mayhem at a park in New Jersey’s Bergen County on Sunday when it charged at several people before sinking its teeth into them.

An eight-year-old boy was fishing by a lake when the beaver jumped out of the water and charged him, according to the Mahwah Police Department’s captain Michael Blondin.

He was taken to a hospital in the neighbouring New York state after the beaver bit him in the leg.

Footage was later shared online showing the animal attacking other people earlier in the day, including a family.

The clip appears to show three people tussling with a beaver in the water.

When they run out of the lake, the animal plods after them.

A man tries to kick it, but misses before another one grabs the large rodent.

He then throws the beaver back into the water, where it lands in a splash after somersaulting through the air.

It is unclear from the video whether the people entered the water before the animal charged them. They appear to be standing some feet from a beaver’s dam.

When animal control crews arrived, they found the beaver showing signs of possible illness, leading to its capture.

Testing showed it had rabies, the Mahwah Township said.

It said those who were bitten are receiving medical treatment.

The health officials issued an alert to people, telling them to avoid wildlife as they can carry rabies.

It said: ‘On Sunday, May 3rd, it was reported that a beaver at Lake Henry had contact with several people and has since tested positive for rabies.

‘Individuals who were bitten are currently receiving treatment. If you have had any contact with this animal, please notify the Mahwah Township Health Department immediately.

‘You will need to be assessed by a doctor for medical treatment. Everyone is advised to avoid wildlife, as any warm-blooded animal can carry rabies.’

Beavers are not typically aggressive, but they can become so if they are ill, feel threatened or people come close to their dam.

Generally, they are afraid of people and try to avoid them in nature.

Beavers in the UK became extinct in the 16th century after non-stop hunting for their fur, meat and scent glands.

They have been reintroduced into the wild in Scotland and England in recent years.

Scotland has a population of around 2,000 beavers since their release since 2009, while the first wild beaver was released in England in February.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.