The family of a 13-year-old Maryland boy has described the terrifying moment he was attacked by a rabid beaver, saying the animal was a full-grown creature measuring about four feet long.
The July 26 encounter was the first of three reported attacks involving rabid beavers that led Cunningham Falls State Park in Frederick County to shut down, according to a GoFundMe campaign created by the family.
WUSA 9 identified the teenager as Dominick Cebula.
Dominick was swimming in a designated area and watching fish underwater when the beaver abruptly charged, bit into his chest and clung to him, his family said in the fundraiser.
Dominick Cebula, left, and his brother at Cunningham Falls State Park about 10 minutes before Dominick was attacked by a rabid beaver. (Alishia Cebula )
His mother and younger brother witnessed the attack from the shoreline as the animal struck without warning, leaving them horrified, the family said.
Leigh Cebula, Dominick’s aunt, said the animal was far larger than the friendly-looking beavers many people imagine. “This 4-foot-long beaver—not a cute little cuddly beaver—this thing was as big as his 8-year-old brother,” she said. According to Leigh, it emerged from the deeper part of the lake, headed directly toward Dominick and began biting him.
“He did not provoke it, poke it, or mess with it in any way. This was completely unprovoked,” she added.
A beaver swimming in a creek. (Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo, File)
Dominick’s father, Jeff Cebula, told WUSA 9 that the beaver shook its head repeatedly and would not release its grip.
Jeff said Dominick grabbed the animal’s head and one of its legs while trying to force it away. “At that point, he kind of felt that it was locked onto him. And then it started shaking its head, kind of like a dog would do,” he explained.
The boy eventually managed to tear the beaver away from his chest. With his hands raised, he began moving backward in an attempt to create distance, his father said.
The boy’s family said he fought off the beaver twice before being airlifted to Johns Hopkins Hospital for treatment. (Alishia Cebula )
The animal charged once more and bit Dominick’s right hand, forcing him to defend himself and drive it away for a second time.
Emergency crews then airlifted him to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where medical staff treated his injuries and began rabies post-exposure therapy.
“It was so traumatic. He was lifeflighted to Johns Hopkins because the paramedics were worried his lung was punctured. Luckily it wasn’t,” Dominick’s mother, Alishia Cebula, told News Outlet.
The boy is now recovering well after undergoing surgery earlier this month.
Dominick’s younger brother had just left the water to retrieve his goggles when the beaver attacked his older brother, according to the family. (Alishia Cebula )
“He is doing much better. He just had surgery on 9/4 to repair a severed nerve in his finger,” Alishia said. “He had a lot of appointments, especially with the rabies vaccines he had to get. Thank God for the vaccine.
“Luckily, we’re getting to the end of this traumatic event.”
Leigh added that the incident happened in an area where the family had swum for years and had never spotted beavers before.
After the attack, the beaver was euthanized after testing positive for rabies. Swimming access to Hunting Creek Lake at the park was closed soon afterward.
Dominick Cebula underwent surgery to repair a severed nerve in his finger and received rabies post-exposure treatment after the attack. (Alishia Cebula )
The incident marked the first in a series of three attacks at the park.
On Aug. 5, a 19-year-old fisherman was bitten in the ankle by a beaver.
Less than three weeks later, a 10-year-old girl at Seneca Creek State Park was also attacked while wading with an organized group.
