Boy, 8, Hospitalized After Being Attacked By Rabid Beaver In New Jersey Park

A time sportfishing astatine nan parkland turned into a nightmare for a New Jersey family erstwhile an eight-year-old boy was attacked by a beaver that authorities opportunity has since tested affirmative for rabies.

The onslaught happened conscionable earlier 6 p.m. Sunday astatine Lake Henry successful nan Continental Soldiers Park analyzable successful Mahwah, New Jersey, according to police.

Mahwah Police Capt. Michael Blondin said nan boy, who was not named, was sportfishing adjacent nan shoreline of nan reservoir erstwhile nan beaver “exited nan reservoir and charged him,” PIX11 News reported.

“The kid began to tally distant but tripped,” Blondin said. “The animal spot nan kid successful nan precocious thigh and continued to onslaught him.”

The boy was taken by Mahwah EMS to Good Samaritan Hospital successful Suffern, New York, for treatment.

Police said nan beaver yet backed disconnected aft a family friend intervened by hitting and kicking nan animal.

Animal power officers responded to nan parkland wherever they wished nan beaver appeared to beryllium showing signs of imaginable illness. Officers captured nan animal, removed it from nan parkland truthful it could beryllium tested for rabies.

On Tuesday, nan Township of Mahwah said successful a station connected Facebook that nan beaver astatine Lake Henry had interaction pinch respective group and has since tested affirmative for rabies.

“If you person had immoderate interaction pinch this animal, please notify nan Mahwah Township Health Department immediately,” nan station said. “You will request to beryllium assessed by a expert for aesculapian treatment. Everyone is advised to debar wildlife, arsenic immoderate warm-blooded animal tin transportation rabies.”

Beavers are communal passim New Jersey, according to nan authorities Department of Environmental Protection.