Stop killing after beavers have rabies and bite people in Maryland
The Issue
On August 13, 2026, a 10-year-old girl was bitten by a beaver at Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County. While such incidents are extremely rare, the subsequent discovery of a rabies-positive beaver has sparked concern and led to a temporary closure of a portion of the park. The situation is alarming, yet, it’s crucial to approach it with reason and compassion towards wildlife. Staff hired trappers to kill and behead beavers. Vaccines exist but they don't have money for them. Make a complaint here.
Sadly, after the other bite incidents, removal attempts for all the beavers were made. A wildlife damage officer was looking to trap, likely drown, and behead beavers day and night, because there was no funds for vaccinating.
The death of the beavers was tragic, and it is presumed that this was the same animal involved in the attack. In response, authorities are actively searching for other potentially sick animals by killing and dissecting them, including healthy ones.
There's growing anxiety over culling beavers simply for rabies testing purposes, or to find the one who bit the girl. The culling of these animals is not a solution and could disrupt the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
Maryland's Department of Natural Resources should continue to focus on humane and scientifically-supported methods of coexistence. https://www.animalalliance.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Beaver-Manual_May-2016.pdf
Implementing preventative measures, such as flow devices to manage beaver dams and using rabies vaccines like the maple syrup rabies vaccine used in Ontario, can offer a sustainable way forward without resorting to destructive methods. We would like the funding for vaccines reinstalled. https://thefurbearers.com/our-work/living-with-wildlife/solutions/species-specific-solutions/beavers/
Additionally, any euthanasia and autopsy should only be performed on animals displaying actual symptoms of rabies and after a positive likelihood is established through antemortem tests. https://rapidliverabiestest.wordpress.com/
Please stop trapping and killing beavers after the incidents of beavers who bit children when they were suffering from rabies. These animals died or were euthanized because they were sick. Please do not trap, drown or kill any beavers after these incidents. Instead, use flow devices and live trap/vaccinate the beavers.
Beavers don't bite people unless they have rabies. Please reserve euthanasia to live captured beavers who test probably positive for rabies using antemortem tests, which you can buy online.
https://rapidliverabiestest.wordpress.com/
https://thefurbearers.com/blog/study-helping-landowners-live-with-beavers/
Lethal trapping, which usually includes drowning, is cruel and culling is not necessary for rabies surveillance nor rabies control. Drowning is not an appropriate method of euthanasia. Rabies, being a deadly virus, acts as it's own cull. It is entirely possible to test animals found deceased. Vaccines are the only thing that controls rabies. Culls are never effective and are condemned by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, the world leader on modern rabies management. https://rabiesalliance.org/garc-statement-dog-culling-rabies-control
Please cease culling immediately and use modern humane methods to manage this rabies outbreak.
Here is the DNR's disturbing answer back. Thank you for reaching out regarding your concerns about beaver treatment following recent events. The Department has hired licensed nuisance cooperators to address the incidents at both Seneca Creek State Park and Cunningham Falls State Park; while the efforts at CFSP are now ceased and did not result in the capture of any additional animals, the department has not ruled out the possibility of additional infected animals in the Seneca Creek watershed and will continue surveillance efforts with the intent to test any animals captured. In this regard, the previous statement provided by customer service that the DNR is not trapping healthy animals was erroneous, in so much that we cannot discern the health status of a beaver while it is still alive without elevating the exposure risk to our staff.
While regrettable in some ways, this decision prioritizes public safety and was mutually agreed upon with health officials and the Maryland Park Service. Rabies virus is a grievous public health concern that all parties approach with the utmost seriousness. At this time, the efficacy of anything other than post-mortem testing performed at State lab is considered insufficient to protect public health. The area remains closed to the public and will only re-open after further assessment deems it safe.
Kind regards,
Joshua Tabora
Furbearer Biologist
Western Region Main Office
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
12512 Pleasant Valley Road
Flintstone, MD 21530
240-609-5100
(Staff would have no danger of exposure to live animals if they were vaccinated.)
Beavers play an essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by building dams, which create wetlands. These wetlands support diverse wildlife, help filter water, and mitigate flooding. In tackling this issue, it's imperative to preserve this balance and protect these critical aspects of our environment while ensuring public safety. https://thefurbearers.com/blog/study-helping-landowners-live-with-beavers/
Let’s call for a solution that respects both human and wildlife needs by using coexistence methods instead of culling. Let’s urge Maryland's wildlife authorities to adopt non-lethal methods and avoid unnecessary killings. Together, we can protect our families, preserve our wildlife, and maintain a harmonious relationship with the environment.
Sign this petition to encourage the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to adopt humane and effective coexistence strategies, ensure the safety of park visitors, and protect Maryland’s beaver population from unnecessary harm.
90
The Issue
On August 13, 2026, a 10-year-old girl was bitten by a beaver at Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County. While such incidents are extremely rare, the subsequent discovery of a rabies-positive beaver has sparked concern and led to a temporary closure of a portion of the park. The situation is alarming, yet, it’s crucial to approach it with reason and compassion towards wildlife. Staff hired trappers to kill and behead beavers. Vaccines exist but they don't have money for them. Make a complaint here.
Sadly, after the other bite incidents, removal attempts for all the beavers were made. A wildlife damage officer was looking to trap, likely drown, and behead beavers day and night, because there was no funds for vaccinating.
The death of the beavers was tragic, and it is presumed that this was the same animal involved in the attack. In response, authorities are actively searching for other potentially sick animals by killing and dissecting them, including healthy ones.
There's growing anxiety over culling beavers simply for rabies testing purposes, or to find the one who bit the girl. The culling of these animals is not a solution and could disrupt the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
Maryland's Department of Natural Resources should continue to focus on humane and scientifically-supported methods of coexistence. https://www.animalalliance.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Beaver-Manual_May-2016.pdf
Implementing preventative measures, such as flow devices to manage beaver dams and using rabies vaccines like the maple syrup rabies vaccine used in Ontario, can offer a sustainable way forward without resorting to destructive methods. We would like the funding for vaccines reinstalled. https://thefurbearers.com/our-work/living-with-wildlife/solutions/species-specific-solutions/beavers/
Additionally, any euthanasia and autopsy should only be performed on animals displaying actual symptoms of rabies and after a positive likelihood is established through antemortem tests. https://rapidliverabiestest.wordpress.com/
Please stop trapping and killing beavers after the incidents of beavers who bit children when they were suffering from rabies. These animals died or were euthanized because they were sick. Please do not trap, drown or kill any beavers after these incidents. Instead, use flow devices and live trap/vaccinate the beavers.
Beavers don't bite people unless they have rabies. Please reserve euthanasia to live captured beavers who test probably positive for rabies using antemortem tests, which you can buy online.
https://rapidliverabiestest.wordpress.com/
https://thefurbearers.com/blog/study-helping-landowners-live-with-beavers/
Lethal trapping, which usually includes drowning, is cruel and culling is not necessary for rabies surveillance nor rabies control. Drowning is not an appropriate method of euthanasia. Rabies, being a deadly virus, acts as it's own cull. It is entirely possible to test animals found deceased. Vaccines are the only thing that controls rabies. Culls are never effective and are condemned by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, the world leader on modern rabies management. https://rabiesalliance.org/garc-statement-dog-culling-rabies-control
Please cease culling immediately and use modern humane methods to manage this rabies outbreak.
Here is the DNR's disturbing answer back. Thank you for reaching out regarding your concerns about beaver treatment following recent events. The Department has hired licensed nuisance cooperators to address the incidents at both Seneca Creek State Park and Cunningham Falls State Park; while the efforts at CFSP are now ceased and did not result in the capture of any additional animals, the department has not ruled out the possibility of additional infected animals in the Seneca Creek watershed and will continue surveillance efforts with the intent to test any animals captured. In this regard, the previous statement provided by customer service that the DNR is not trapping healthy animals was erroneous, in so much that we cannot discern the health status of a beaver while it is still alive without elevating the exposure risk to our staff.
While regrettable in some ways, this decision prioritizes public safety and was mutually agreed upon with health officials and the Maryland Park Service. Rabies virus is a grievous public health concern that all parties approach with the utmost seriousness. At this time, the efficacy of anything other than post-mortem testing performed at State lab is considered insufficient to protect public health. The area remains closed to the public and will only re-open after further assessment deems it safe.
Kind regards,
Joshua Tabora
Furbearer Biologist
Western Region Main Office
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
12512 Pleasant Valley Road
Flintstone, MD 21530
240-609-5100
(Staff would have no danger of exposure to live animals if they were vaccinated.)
Beavers play an essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by building dams, which create wetlands. These wetlands support diverse wildlife, help filter water, and mitigate flooding. In tackling this issue, it's imperative to preserve this balance and protect these critical aspects of our environment while ensuring public safety. https://thefurbearers.com/blog/study-helping-landowners-live-with-beavers/
Let’s call for a solution that respects both human and wildlife needs by using coexistence methods instead of culling. Let’s urge Maryland's wildlife authorities to adopt non-lethal methods and avoid unnecessary killings. Together, we can protect our families, preserve our wildlife, and maintain a harmonious relationship with the environment.
Sign this petition to encourage the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to adopt humane and effective coexistence strategies, ensure the safety of park visitors, and protect Maryland’s beaver population from unnecessary harm.
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Petition created on August 24, 2026