Cunningham Falls State Park. Maryland DNR photo.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reopened water access at Hunting Creek Lake and surrounding portions of Cunningham Falls State Park in Thurmont today, after extensive monitoring found no evidence of rabid beavers.
Portions of the park closed following two beaver attacks at the lake – a 13-year-old was bitten while swimming on July 26 and a 19-year-old was bitten while fishing on August 5. Both beavers were dispatched; and both later tested positive for rabies. Since then, DNR’s Wildlife and Heritage Service and the Maryland Natural Resources Police worked with Maryland Park Service staff to confirm the area was safe to reopen.
Biologists conducting thermal surveys after sunset were not able to find additional beavers in the Hunting Creek Lake area. Additional monitoring methods including trail cameras, trapping, and sign surveys indicate that no beavers remain in the area. Further, there have been no staff observations of beavers around Hunting Creek Lake.
An unrelated incident at Seneca Creek State Park, 35 miles away near Darnestown, is still under investigation. The Maryland Park Service closed the Berryville Area, Route 28 parking lot, and associated river access points to the public following a beaver attack on August 13. Those areas remain closed.
Officials continue to investigate the incident, and are still monitoring the area for any signs of beavers.
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.
Anyone bitten or scratched by any wild animal should immediately seek medical attention.
