Following numerous reports of an unusually aggressive beaver causing bites and scratches near Six Mile Creek in Ithaca’s Mulholland Wildflower Preserve, Tompkins County Whole Health is calling for individuals who may have had contact with the animal in the past week. Health officials are especially concerned about the possibility of rabies, given the atypical behavior exhibited by the beaver.
A New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officer successfully captured the adult beaver, which displayed further signs of illness in addition to aggression, raising the risk level. The beaver has been transported to Cornell for rabies testing, with results expected by Tuesday. The Environmental Health Division noted that healthy beavers generally avoid human contact unless their habitats or offspring are threatened.
In response to this incident, Tompkins County Whole Health is urging the public to avoid contact with unfamiliar domestic and wild animals and to ensure pets are up to date with their rabies vaccinations. They are also advising the public to report any animal bites, scratches, or contact with potentially infectious material to Tompkins County Environmental Health.
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