Lake George Beaver Attack Sends 2 Swimmers for Rabies Shots on July 4
Updated
Updated · WPTZ · Jul 9
Lake George Beaver Attack Sends 2 Swimmers for Rabies Shots on July 4
3 articles · Updated · WPTZ · Jul 9
Summary
Two swimmers, including Burlington man Brandon Shortsleeve, are recovering after a young beaver bit them near Turtle Island in Lake George, forcing both into a rabies-shot cycle.
Five minutes after entering the water on July 4, the group said the animal repeatedly charged instead of fleeing — behavior New York wildlife officials called abnormal and consistent with possible rabies.
Shortsleeve said he pulled the beaver off his friend, was bitten several times, then cleared people from the water after the animal swam away.
New York's Department of Environmental Conservation is patrolling Turtle Island and urging visitors to report any beaver that approaches swimmers or boaters, though no other aggressive incidents have been reported.
Officials said beavers normally avoid humans and rarely spread rabies widely within colonies, making this kind of attack highly unusual.