This is the moment the family of an eight-year-old fought off a rabid beaver after the boy was bitten by the raging rodent, which terrorized several people at a New Jersey lake on Sunday.
The bizarre attack occurred just before 6pm at Lake Henry in Continental Soldiers Park, which is in the Mahwah municipality near Newark. The Township of Mahwah confirmed on Tuesday that the animal tested positive for rabies.
The Mahwah Police Department told News12 New Jersey that the boy had been fishing with his family before the attack.
He had tried to run from the berserker beaver, but it bit him in the thigh after he tripped, Mahwah Police Captain Michael Blondin told the Daily Mail.
The captain added that a family friend was able to get the beaver off with several kicks and strikes, but it stayed nearby as first responders arrived.
A dramatic video of the boy’s family and friends leaping into action to fend off the aggressive animal confirmed Blondin’s account.
Two of them could be seen in the water before a third joined the fray. They picked up the beaver and slammed it into the water before retreating to the shore, but the rodent followed them.
One of them fell backwards, and the beaver could be seen attempting to bite before one man pushed its head down while another family member kicked the animal away.
An eight-year-old boy was bitten by a rabid beaver at a New Jersey lake on Sunday. His family members and family friends are pictured fending off the animal in the water
As they retreated to shore, one of them fell backwards as the beaver continued to advance and attack
The boy who fell backward then held the beaver down to prevent it from continuing its assault
The boy holding the beaver down then picked it up and tossed it several feet back into the water. The unruly rodent continued to circle as a small white dog waded into the water and barked at it.
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The eight-year-old was transported to a local hospital for treatment. The extent of his injuries remains unclear.
According to the Township of Mahwah, other lake-goers were also bitten on Sunday, and they are all receiving treatment.
The township urged anyone who had contact with the beaver to notify the local health department for evaluation and potential treatment as well.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Mahwah Township Health Department for further comment and additional details on the condition of the child who was attacked.
Rabies is an extremely deadly virus that spreads from the saliva of an infected animal to humans, but it can be treated.
The boy who was holding the beaver down then picked it up before throwing it several feet back into the water
The beaver is pictured mid-air after the boy threw it. It continued to circle aggressively afterwards
Beavers are common in New Jersey and not typically known to be dangerous. They are the second-largest rodents in the animal kingdom. A beaver is pictured (stock image)
However, if symptoms start, rabies is almost always fatal, according to Rabies Watch.
Beavers are common in New Jersey and are not typically known to be dangerous, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.
However, they will defend themselves or their territory if threatened, according to Critter Control.
Beavers are approximately 3 to 4 ft in length and weigh between 30 and 70 lbs. They are the second-largest rodents in the animal kingdom, surpassed only by capybaras.
