Rabid Beaver Found at Popular Hiking Spot in Upstate New York

Rabid Beaver Caught in Upstate New York

The message was simple: be aware of your surroundings and be cautious about any wildlife acting aggressively.  This comes after a beaver tested positive for rabies at a popular spot for hiking, canoeing, and paddleboarding in Upstate New York.

According to sources, the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health "has confirmed a positive rabies test in a beaver captured after being observed at the Tivoli Bays Wildlife Management Area in the Town of Red Hook on Aug. 6, 2024."

DBCH reminds residents not to approach non-domesticated animals. If residents see an animal acting strangely, or if they, their pet or someone they know gets bitten by, or has an open wound exposed to the saliva or nervous tissue of a domestic or wild animal, call DBCH immediately. -DBCH

Be Aware of Aggressive Wildlife

The DBCH warned visitors enjoying Tivoli Bay in Red Hook, New York (60 miles south of Albany) to be "aware of their surroundings and be cautious of any wildlife acting aggressively."

They also want to know if anyone's had recent or direct contact with a beaver in the area "or unusual interaction and direct contact with wildlife in this area."

If so, they want you to please call DBCH as soon as possible at (845) 486-3404, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., or (845) 431-6465 on nights and weekends.

Rabies Can Be Fatal

According to the DBCH, if you feel like you may have been exposed to rabies, you should seek immediate treatment; it's fatal once symptoms appear, making early intervention essential.

They say that "the virus is typically transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal via bites or scratches. Immediate medical attention following potential exposure is crucial to prevent the onset of symptoms."

Is it Rare for Beavers to Have Rabies?

Wildlife experts say rabies is rare in beavers, but it has happened.

According to a 2011–2020 study, 7.4% of rabies cases in North American beavers were reported in the United States, and there have been incidents where rabid beavers have attacked humans.  In Virginia, in 2012, a rabid beaver attacked two girls; there was also a 2016 incident where a beaver attacked a paddle boarder on Beaver Lake and tested positive for rabies, and in 2023, a  50-pound rabid beaver attacked a girl swimming in a Georgia lake.