A dead beaver found at Seneca Creek State Park in Montgomery County has tested positive for rabies, the third positive finding at a Maryland state park in recent weeks.

State Department of Natural Resources officials located a beaver carcass on Monday in the Berryville Area of Seneca Creek State Park, downstream from where a 10-year-old was bitten last week, said Rachael Pacella, a spokesperson for the department.

“We are unsure if this beaver was involved in the incident,” she said.

The beaver who bit the 10-year-old on Aug. 13 escaped into the water. “Efforts to locate and test additional animals continue,” she said.

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Another beaver attempted to charge at a boat that was canoeing in the park, according to a news release.

Much of the park is closed to the public. All water access, including swimming, fishing and boating, is prohibited until officials determine that the area is safe for visitors.

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In Frederick County, parts of Cunningham Falls State Parkt have been closed since July 26. Beavers bit a 13-year-old and a 19-year-old there in separate incidents. Both beavers were captured and euthanized and tested positive for rabies.

Data does not indicate that there is a rabies outbreak in either Frederick or Montgomery counties, according to the release.

Rabies in rodents like beavers is rare. Prior to this summer, the last rabid beaver attack in Maryland happened in 2021.