Dominick Cebula, 13, is recovering after a rabid beaver attacked him twice while he was swimming with his family at Cunningham Falls State Park in Maryland. The animal bit his chest and right hand before he was flown to Johns Hopkins Hospital for emergency care and rabies treatment. The July 26 attack was followed by additional beaver incidents and the closure of swimming access at Hunting Creek Lake. The beaver was later euthanized after testing positive for rabies.
| 1) | Teen attacked while swimming at Cunningham Falls |
|---|---|
| 2) | Family describes the sudden and repeated assault |
| 3) | Emergency treatment followed concerns about serious injuries |
| 4) | Rabies testing led to park swimming closure |
| 5) | Additional attacks were reported after the incident |
Teen attacked while swimming at Cunningham Falls
The attack occurred on July 26 at a designated swimming area in Cunningham Falls State Park in Frederick County, Maryland. Dominick Cebula was swimming with relatives and looking at fish underwater when the beaver emerged from deeper water and moved directly toward him.
According to the family, the animal struck Dominick Cebula in the chest and clamped onto him. His mother, Alishia Cebula, and his younger brother saw the attack from the shore. The family said they had regularly visited the area for years and had never seen beavers there before.
Family describes the sudden and repeated assault
The family described the beaver as an adult measuring about four feet long and said the attack was unprovoked. Leigh Cebula, the boy’s aunt, said the animal was much larger than the beavers people commonly imagine and headed toward the boy without being provoked, touched or disturbed.
“He did not provoke it, poke it, or mess with it in any way. This was completely unprovoked.”
His father, Jeff Cebula, said the beaver shook its head while holding onto the boy. Dominick Cebula managed to pull the animal away from his chest, but it lunged again and bit his right hand. The boy fought it off a second time before moving away from the water.
Emergency treatment followed concerns about serious injuries
Emergency crews airlifted Dominick Cebula to Johns Hopkins Hospital because of concerns that the bite to his chest might have punctured a lung. Doctors determined that his lung was not punctured, but he sustained serious wounds and required rabies post-exposure treatment.
The boy later underwent surgery on September 4 to repair a severed nerve in a finger. Alishia Cebula said he was recovering well but had needed numerous medical appointments, including visits connected with the rabies vaccinations. The family described the incident as traumatic and said his recovery was progressing.
Rabies testing led to park swimming closure
The beaver involved in the attack was euthanized after testing positive for rabies. Swimming access to Hunting Creek Lake was closed soon afterward as authorities responded to the confirmed infection and the risk to park visitors.
The closure followed the initial attack at the park and formed part of the response to multiple reported encounters involving beavers. The family said the location had been a familiar swimming area, making the sudden attack particularly unexpected for them.
Additional attacks were reported after the incident
The July 26 attack was described by the family as the first of three rabid beaver attacks associated with the park closure. On August 5, a 19-year-old fisherman was bitten on the ankle by a beaver.
Less than three weeks later, a 10-year-old girl was attacked while wading with an organized group at Seneca Creek State Park. The incidents heightened concern about rabies exposure and aggressive wildlife encounters in recreational waterways, although the available account does not provide additional medical details about the later victims.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | A rabid beaver attacked 13-year-old Dominick Cebula while he was swimming at Cunningham Falls State Park. |
| 2 | The boy was bitten on his chest and right hand and fought the animal off twice. |
| 3 | He received emergency care, rabies treatment and surgery to repair a severed finger nerve. |
| 4 | The beaver tested positive for rabies and was euthanized. |
| 5 | Swimming access to Hunting Creek Lake was closed after the attack. |
Summary
The Maryland incident left Dominick Cebula with significant injuries and a prolonged course of rabies treatment, but his family said he is recovering. The confirmed rabies infection in the attacking beaver prompted the closure of swimming access at Hunting Creek Lake. Subsequent reported attacks underscored the risks associated with close encounters between people and wildlife in recreational areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the attack occur?
The attack occurred on July 26, 2026, while Dominick Cebula was swimming at Cunningham Falls State Park in Frederick County, Maryland.
What injuries did the boy suffer?
The beaver bit his chest and right hand. He later required surgery to repair a severed nerve in a finger and received rabies post-exposure treatment.
What happened to the beaver?
The beaver was euthanized after testing positive for rabies.
Was the park closed after the attack?
Swimming access to Hunting Creek Lake was closed soon after the attack as authorities responded to the confirmed rabies case and additional reported incidents.
