Lake George’s New Apex Predator? Rabid Beaver Declares War on Fourth of July Swimmers
Vacation Interrupted by Nature’s Most Unexpected Predator
For generations, Americans have worried about sharks, alligators, jellyfish, and the occasional snapping turtle while cooling off in lakes and rivers. This Fourth of July weekend, however, Mother Nature decided to throw everyone a curveball. Instead of a Hollywood style predator, three swimmers at New York’s scenic Lake George found themselves under attack by what may be the angriest beaver in America. If Jaws had been directed by a Canadian, this probably would have been the opening scene.
Meet the Beaver That Chose Violence
The bizarre encounter unfolded near Turtle Island, where 29 year old Brandon Shortsleeve, his brother, and a friend had been enjoying a relaxing swim for all of five minutes before things went completely off the rails. Brandon’s friend suddenly started screaming that something was attacking him. Assuming it was a fish, a snapping turtle, or perhaps just some holiday weekend panic, Brandon jumped into action. Instead of finding any of those, he grabbed what he initially described as a “little brown blob.” Seconds later, the blob introduced itself with a pair of enormous orange teeth, a flat tail, and an apparent desire to fight absolutely everyone in the water.
Round One… and Round Two
The young beaver immediately bit Brandon on his finger, wrist, and stomach as he wrestled with the tiny aquatic menace. In perhaps the most American response imaginable, Brandon grabbed the beaver and launched it as far as he could into Lake George. Problem solved? Not even close. Like the villain in every horror movie who refuses to stay down, the beaver simply turned around and swam right back for another attack. “The first time my friend ended up picking it up, it swam back at him,” Brandon later recalled. “So we were like, okay, it’s just out for blood.”
Wildlife Experts Say This Isn’t Normal Beaver Behavior
Wildlife experts say healthy beavers generally avoid humans at all costs. Their usual strategy is to slap their tails on the water as a warning before disappearing into the distance, not repeatedly challenge three adults to what can only be described as a waterfront cage match. Because of the animal’s relentless aggression, doctors immediately started both bite victims on the full rabies post-exposure vaccination series. Officials with New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation believe the beaver was almost certainly infected with rabies, though they reassured the public that beavers are considered “dead-end hosts,” meaning they’re unlikely to spread the virus throughout the rest of their colony. Translation: there probably isn’t an organized beaver uprising underway.
New York Launches the Great Beaver Hunt
State officials temporarily closed the swimming area around Turtle Island while conservation officers attempted to locate the furry fugitive. Unfortunately, finding one specific beaver somewhere in a massive lake is about as easy as finding one particularly angry squirrel in Central Park. Camping remained open, although it’s probably safe to assume visitors spent the rest of the holiday giving every floating log a second look.
The Odds Are Still in Your Favor
The good news is that attacks like this are incredibly rare. In fact, Brandon said medical staff told him he’s more likely to be struck by lightning than experience another beaver attack. Still, if you’re swimming this summer and notice a beaver aggressively paddling toward you instead of away, it may be time to leave the water. Because somewhere beneath the calm surface of Lake George, there’s apparently one beaver that completely misunderstood the phrase “Leave It to Beaver.”
