Hall County officials confirmed a beaver that bit a young girl while she was swimming in Lake Lanier tested positive for rabies. The attack happened Saturday on private property off Schofield Road in the Sardis area of Gainesville.
The beaver bit the girl on the leg. Her father beat the rodent to death while rescuing his daughter.
A state Department of Natural Resources game warden who responded to the incident said the beaver weighed around 50 pounds.
“Our officer said there was nothing to indicate to him that there might have been baby beavers in the vicinity that were being protected, or that the beaver was visually sick, or whether it was just an otherwise angry beaver,” says DNR Law Enforcement Division Public Information Officer Mark McKinnon.
DNR turned the case over to Hall County Animal Control, which shipped the beaver to the Georgia Public Health Lab in Decatur for rabies testing. The test came back positive on July 11.
Hall County put up positive alert signs in the area where the rabid animal was located. The county advised people to report any suspicious animal behaviors to Hall County Animal Services at 770-531-6830. During non-working hours, people should notify Hall County Dispatch at 770-536-8812.
The unusual attack spurred officials to encourage pet owners to vaccinate their pets against rabies.
Vaccines are available at the Hall County Animal Shelter for $10 Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 1688 Barber Road in Gainesville. To schedule an appointment, call the animal shelter at 678-450-1587.
