A 13-year-old boy from Maryland, Dominick Cebula, is recovering after undergoing several surgeries and dealing with nerve damage following an attack by a rabid beaver. The incident happened on July 26 at Cunningham Falls State Park in Thurmont, Maryland. Dominick was swimming when a beaver attacked him underwater, biting his chest. His father, Jeff Cebula, told WUSA that Dominick tried to remove the beaver by grabbing its head and leg but was unable to shake it off. After the beaver bit his right hand, Dominick fought it off and was airlifted to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. There, he had three surgeries to repair nerve damage to his chest and hands. Dominick also received a rabies post-exposure shot, with his father noting that the treatment required multiple shots around the bite sites. The beaver was later confirmed to have rabies after being caught and euthanized. This is not the first beaver attack in Maryland. On August 5, a 19-year-old fisher was allegedly bitten on the leg by a rabid beaver at the same park before the animal was caught and euthanized. A few days later, a 10-year-old girl was attacked by a beaver while canoeing at Seneca Creek State Park, according to CBS News. In response, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced an investigation into a possible rabies outbreak at Cunningham Falls State Park. Actions included dismantling a nearby beaver lodge and setting up daily surveillance at the lake using DNR staff and a wildlife damage control cooperator. The DNR also began nighttime monitoring and daytime checks to remove any additional beavers. Officials reminded the public to maintain a minimum safe distance of 25 yards from beavers, as they are generally non-aggressive and avoid human contact. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that from July through August, it received 17% more rabies-related inquiries than during the same period in 2025. This included reports of mass exposure events involving more than one person. Rabies is a serious viral disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, typically through a bite. Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal, but it is preventable with timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment. PEP involves a series of shots administered after potential exposure to the rabies virus, before symptoms begin. Common early symptoms of rabies include anxiety, insomnia, fear of water (hydrophobia), excessive salivation, fever, and headaches. The recent incidents have raised awareness about the risks of rabies from wildlife encounters, particularly with beavers. While beavers are generally not aggressive, the possibility of rabies infection underscores the importance of caution and prompt medical attention following any potential exposure. Public health officials continue to monitor the situation and advise people to stay informed and take preventive measures when encountering wildlife.