Maryland Rabid Beaver Attacks: Why Parks Closed Two Lakes
A 13-year-old swimmer was seriously injured by a rabid beaver at Cunningham Falls State Park in Thurmont, Maryland, on July 26, 2026.
The swimmer was Dominick Cebula. He was airlifted to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and had three surgeries on his chest and hands to repair nerve damage. The beaver was caught, euthanized, and later confirmed to have rabies, a virus that infects the brain and nerves. The Guardian
His father, Jeff Cebula, identified him as the swimmer involved. Dominick had been swimming underwater when the animal latched onto his chest and then bit his hand. He received rabies post-exposure shots around each bite site. Post-exposure treatment acts like an emergency block, helping the immune system stop the virus before it reaches the brain. The Guardian Local reporting detailed the underwater encounter. WUSA9
Maryland Department of Natural Resources records show the beaver tested positive for rabies on July 27, 2026. That lab result came one day after the attack. Maryland DNR
On August 5, 2026, a 19-year-old fisherman was bitten on the leg by a beaver at Cunningham Falls State Park. That beaver was also caught and euthanized. State officials confirmed it was rabid. The Guardian
On the same day, August 5, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources said it was investigating a potential rabies outbreak at Cunningham Falls, meaning more than one linked case. The agency closed additional areas of the park after the second attack. It dismantled a nearby beaver lodge and set up daily surveillance, or regular checks, at the lake for other beavers. Maryland DNR
Maryland Park Service reopened Hunting Creek Lake at Cunningham Falls after the rabid beavers were removed. The reopening was announced on August 24, 2026. Maryland DNR In a separate incident, a 10-year-old girl was attacked by a beaver while canoeing at Seneca Creek State Park in Maryland. A portion of that park in Montgomery County was temporarily closed. The closure was announced on August 14, 2026. Maryland DNR
Maryland DNR advises people to stay at least 25 yards away from beavers, both in park waters and on shore. The Guardian The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention received 17% more rabies-related inquiries from July through August than in the same period in 2025. The increase coincided with the Maryland cases and heightened public attention. The Guardian
The broader context here is administrative rather than zoological. Park managers used closures, lodge removal, and daily surveillance as containment tools. Each step followed a confirmed exposure. Access was restored only after targeted removal.
Looking at what this means for public land management, the sequence is instructive. Two rabid beavers at one lake within ten days triggered an outbreak investigation. A third incident at a different park widened the footprint. For officials balancing recreation and risk, the margin for delay was narrow. Closures carried costs. So did inaction.
