Rabid Beaver Munches On NY Scout Leader Swimming In PA River
A rabid beaver attack, said to be rare, has left one New York Boy Scout Leader infected with rabies after an attack in a Pennsylvania river that serves as a reminder that not all furry creatures are friendly.
Fifty-one-year-old Norman Brousseau of Pine Plains, New York is an assistant scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 32 of Elizaville. Brousseau was with a fellow leader as well as four Scouts during a field trip at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Pennsylvania.
The beaver attack occurred in the Delaware River, and Brousseau describes a terrifying brush with the dangerous, infected creature.
Brousseau was using a pool noodle when he spied the “dark shape” of the beaver in the river. He says that the beaver immediately chomped on him — and he had to put his Scout training to good use in getting free of the rabid beaver:
“It came through my legs and attached itself to my chest… I thought it was a giant carp fish.”
Brousseau was bitten in the initial attack, wrestling free of the rabid beaver and flinging it away. But the beaver returned, snapping and attempting to continue nibbling on his flesh.
According to a local news source, the rabid beaver began to bite Brousseau “in the leg and then again in his buttocks, arm, hand and waist,” until the scout leader says “the adrenaline kicked in.” He explains:
“I grabbed it in its mouth… I had it around its bottom jaw as tightly as I could because I knew it was going to either bite me or bite the boys. I called the Scouts to come give me a hand.”
Between Brousseau and the boys, they were able to throw the beaver up onto the riverbank where it “then it started attacking the noodle.” The leaders and boys were able to then kill the beaver by throwing rocks at it. A passing couple in a canoe were able to summon emergency services, and, after the rabid beaver was confirmed to be infected with the disease, Brousseau was treated for rabies.
He says the scary incident serves as a reminder for nature-lovers to be on the lookout for animals that may be acting oddly or behaving aggressively:
“When you go out into nature, you always need to veer on the side of caution,” he said. “Don’t assume a wild animal is not sick. You have to be on your toes at all times.”
In the wake of the rabid beaver attack, wildlife experts caution people to be wary of animals that are exhibiting unusual behavior.
Tags : boy scouts, delaware river, delaware water gap, rabid beaver, rabid beaver attack, rabid beaver attacks boy scouts, rabid beaver delaware river, rabid beaver pennsylvania, Rabies
Posted: August 13, 2012
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Aug 13, 2012
I'd like to attack YOUR beaver.
Aug 13, 2012
punxsutawny phil what are you doing? ahhh
Aug 13, 2012
I have one of those at my house, it attacks every 28 days.
Aug 13, 2012
you're a sick man….
Aug 13, 2012
you're a sick man….
Aug 13, 2012
The Beaver wasn't rabid, just didn't like the Boy Scouts of America's stance on gays and lesbians.
Aug 13, 2012
That's just too damn funny.
Aug 13, 2012
Okay, isn't rabies the same as hydrophobia? So what was the beaver doing in the water (other than munching on the scout leader, I mean). This is really strange…
Aug 13, 2012
Shouldn't go swimming with a woody… just sayin
Aug 13, 2012
I feel sorry for the beaver. What a dumb ass, just shows the stupidity of boy scouts of america.. The scout leader got what he deserves.
Aug 13, 2012
Okay, first of all, why is a scout leader using a pool noodle in a river? If a scout (or he) needs a noodle to swim, they shouldn't be in anything but a pool. He was "using" one — for what? And it would have been nice if "pool noodle" were even defined for those who may not know what it is. Just competent journalism.
Secondly and more importantly, how can people know what "unusual behavior" in wildlife is when most can't even ID most of what they see much less have learned or observed "normal" behaviors?
Aug 13, 2012
Okay, first of all, why is a scout leader using a pool noodle in a river? If a scout (or he) needs a noodle to swim, they shouldn't be in anything but a pool. He was "using" one — for what? And it would have been nice if "pool noodle" were even defined for those who may not know what it is. Just competent journalism.
Secondly and more importantly, how can people know what "unusual behavior" in wildlife is when most can't even ID most of what they see much less have learned or observed "normal" behaviors?
Aug 14, 2012
Ward, you were a little Rough on the Beaver last night!
Aug 14, 2012
I guess this is what is called "pay-back." Regards, John Jacob Astor.
Aug 14, 2012
I guess this is what is called "pay-back." Regards, John Jacob Astor.
Aug 14, 2012
what a bunch of morons.
Aug 14, 2012
a slippery beaver when wet can be alot of trouble.
Aug 14, 2012
If you are reading this story, and you don't know what a pool noodle is, you can Google it. it has nothing to do with Journalism. Sorry you had to burn an extra 5 calories looking something up seasprite1992.
And Secondly, if you don't know what "Normal" Animal behavior is, you should not be in the woods to begin with. You should stay in your apartment, where you know the normal behavior of the roaches and rats that live with you!
Aug 14, 2012
I have to admit, that is pretty damn funny. You have to be nice to the beaver.
Aug 14, 2012
Maybe if this happens to all you morons on here you won't be so jolly, IDIOTS!
Aug 14, 2012
this guy is a fucking idiot, I'm glad I don't have kids in his boy scout troop.
Aug 14, 2012
this guy is a fucking idiot, I'm glad I don't have kids in his boy scout troop.
Aug 14, 2012
I thought this was an article about a bunch of pissed off lesbians.
Aug 14, 2012
its a wood chuck not a beaver
Aug 14, 2012
Leave it to beaver.LOL.
Aug 14, 2012
Giggity!
Aug 14, 2012
Killed the rabid beaver by throwing rocks at it…..Sounds like this Scoutmaster had the right guys for the job. Always prepared.
Aug 14, 2012
LMAO!!!
Aug 14, 2012
This isn't news, everybody knows Boy Scout Troopleaders have a problem with beavers…..
Why do you think they only go camping with little boys?
Aug 14, 2012
HA!!
Aug 14, 2012
Having munched on beavers from time to time…..Karma's a bitch!
Aug 14, 2012
Having munched on beavers from tome to time…I guess you could call it Karma!
Aug 14, 2012
“then it started attacking the noodle.” That's funny, usually its the noodle that attacks the beaver…
Aug 14, 2012
really? and why is that, what a dumb statement
Aug 14, 2012
That is an angry beaver
Aug 14, 2012
Sandra Burr, what part of my post didn't you understand? As a former newspaper reporter myself, *I* know what a pool noodle is. I was saying (if you'll re-read what I wrote) that it was poor journalism NOT to describe what that is. A reader should not have to do the alleged journalist's job.
Secondly, *I* am a lifelong observer and photographer of many species of wildlife and know exactly what to look for. Again, brush up your reading comprehension: My comment was aimed at those very couch potatoes you erroneously presumed me to be. Jeez, don't they have schools in Kansas or are you living somewhere over the rainbow?
Aug 14, 2012
How very tolerant and caring these comments are. So much for practicing what you preach.