Two beavers have attacked four people in the last few months in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Both beavers were killed and tested positive for rabies.
The first incident happened in late April when a fisherman was bit. As the man struggled with the beaver, he was bit but successfully killed the vicious animal.
The second separate set of attacks were to a married couple and a young child near Pennypack Creek, also near Philadelphia. The beaver managed to get away in both cases even though the husband in the first attack clubbed it with a rock.
A beaver was found and tested positive for rabies at the University of PA’s New Bolton Center. The injuries to the beaver are consistent with the husband’s chilling tale of what transpired with him and his wife.
So what is so unusual about a rabid beaver? Raccoons are the biggest carriers of the fatal disease in PA. Approximately 350-500 cases are reported each year related to raccoons. But not beavers. Another mammal I’ve associated with rabies is a bat.
Imagine if you will the sheer size of a beaver attacking you. A male beaver can weigh up to 55 lbs. where a male raccoon can weigh 23 lbs. up to 40 lbs. Can you imagine this huge animal attacking these unsuspecting people at a park? Attacking a child? Imagine these incisors chomping on you. These teeth are used to cut through a tree’s bark, not human flesh!
Raccoons and beavers are nocturnal animals. Meaning they are awake at night, not during the day. That would be the first red flag for me if I see either one of these during daylight hours. That would be my first rule of thumb to anyone. Get the hell out of there if you see a raccoon or beaver during daytime hours!
Unfortunately I’ve had the opporutunity to see a raccoon during the day but I was safe in a vehicle with my husband. We were driving somewhere in the country when we came upon a raccoon that not only was walking funny and funny. We knew the raccoon had rabies. What to do, what to do…..I decided we should call the Game Commission. But, as I recall, we had no luck getting through to them. We left the scene.
Another story of a rabid raccoon happened to my father-in-law’s pet dog, Rebel. Inside his house, my father-in-law, Ed, heard Rebel screaming. As he opened up the back door to the porch, he came upon a horrific site. A raccoon was latched on to Rebel’s back leg and wouldn’t let go. Ed took a lawn chair and hit the raccoon repeatedly. This raccoon would not release his teeth from Rebel’s leg. Finally, Ed managed to kill the raccoon. The raccoon tested positive for rabies.
Here’s the kicker…poor Rebel’s rabies vaccination had only run out one week prior to that incident. Because of this and the fact Ed had another dog as well, Rebel would have to be quarantied for at least six months. Rebel wouldn’t be permitted to touch another dog, not even noses, for fear of transmitting the rabies virus. Because of these circumcstances and the fact of Rebel’s advanced age, Ed made a tough decision to euthanize his dog.
After Ed picked up the raccoon and placed it in a bag to get tested, he was told he had to wash his hands and arms with gasoline to kill any rabies virus he may have come in contact.
As I stated earlier, another mammal I’ve associated with rabies is a bat. When I lived at home, we had not one, but two bats enter our house. And each time was scary as hell. The first time we opened up windows for this intruder to leave. The intruder decided it preferred to be outside. I was happy with that decision!
The second time…not so lucky. I don’t know how either of these bats entered the sanctuary of our home but they did. And the second one didn’t leave through any window. The second one gave everyone in our home much excitement as we closed doors on it as it flew directly for us. There was screaming, yelling….most likely from me….haha…..but in the end, it was killed by my brother. Never did know if it had rabies or not.
So if you see a raccoon during the day……stay away and call the Game Commission at 610-926-3136.
Unfortunately, the victims bit by these beavers have to go through a series of shots. Please be aware of your surroundings and take the proper precautions.