DURANT, Okla. —
The Oklahoma State Health Department is preparing to test a beaver for rabies after it bit a small boy near Durant.
The incident happened on Saturday outside an apartment complex in Durant.
Tammy Lane said her 5-year-old son went outside to get the family cat. Instead of finding a feline, however, he was attacked by a beaver.
“I heard screaming. I went to see what was happening. His leg was pretty bad,” she said.
Lane said when her son tried to pet the beaver, it bit him. She rushed him to a local hospital and called police.
“They didn't believe it was a beaver. They thought it was a raccoon,” Lane said.
However, Lane's boyfriend took a photo of the beaver after he beat it with a crowbar.
A Durant Police Department spokeswoman said this was the department's first report of a beaver attack.
“We get our share of dog bites, cat bites. This is our first one for beavers,” said Lt. Carrie Wyrick.
Lane said the 60-pound beaver was bigger than her 42-pound son and could have easily carried him away. The animal bit a chunk out of the boy's calf.
“My biggest worry is that he has rabies, and I don't know. Nobody knows,” Lane said.
Health department officials said rabies in beavers is rare. Workers will test the beaver on Wednesday.
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