A serene fishing outing in New Jersey quickly turned into a scene of chaos when a rabid beaver unexpectedly emerged from a lake, targeting an 8-year-old boy in a dramatic incident that was captured on video.
The alarming event took place on Sunday at Lake Henry in Mahwah. The beaver, without warning, surfaced and aggressively pursued the young boy who was positioned near the water’s edge, according to local authorities.
Footage from the scene reveals the child desperately attempting to climb up the bank to escape, while the beaver follows closely and manages to bite his thigh.
In response, other children hurried to assist, with one managing to seize the beaver and hurl it back into the lake.
The video also captures a small dog valiantly trying to deter the erratic beaver as it moved along the lake’s perimeter.
Authorities confirmed that the beaver attacked the child near the lake’s edge and later tested positive for rabies. Health officials have urged anyone who might have had contact with the animal to seek urgent medical attention.
Authorities said the boy was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, New York, for treatment.
Officials later confirmed the beaver tested positive for rabies.
A rabid beaver charged out of Lake Henry in Mahwah, New Jersey, and attacked an 8-year-old boy on May 3, 2026. (Michael Noonan via Storyful)
The Mahwah Township Health Department said the animal had contact with multiple people over the weekend, and anyone who may have been exposed should seek immediate medical evaluation.
“Individuals who were bitten are currently receiving treatment,” the department said, urging residents to report any contact with the animal.
A beaver chews on a stick in the Boise River near 32nd Street in Garden City, Idaho, in late April. (Sarah A. Miller/Idaho Statesman/Tribune News Service)
Health officials warned that rabies can be carried by any warm-blooded animal and advised the public to avoid wildlife.
The incident remains under investigation.
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