Beaver Wins This Round: Bites Man's Hand After Taking Punch in Fairfax County, Say Police

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — A beaver bit a man on the hand Sunday night after the man punched the animal near a pond in the Falls Church area of Fairfax County, according to Fairfax County Police. The man says the incident began when the beaver came out of the water, bit his shoe and wouldn't let go.

The incident took place just before 7:30 p.m. Sunday near Montauk Court and New Providence Drive (see map below). The man, 52, reported to police that he was at the water's edge when the beaver came out of the water and bit his shoe.

In an attempt to get the beaver to release his bite, the man punched the beaver in the head several times and then fell backward, police said. The beaver’s bite did not break the skin, but the man sustained a cut to the hand, according to police.

Also read: More Than 80 Cats Seized from Falls Church Area Home: Police

The beaver was not caught, so authorities weren't able to test it for rabies, police said. The man will undergo treatment for the rabies virus as a precaution.

Four years ago, an 83-year old woman swimming in Lake Barcroft was attacked by a beaver.

Here's the approximate location of the beaver incident Sunday night (Google maps):

PHOTO of beaver (not beaver from Sunday's incident) courtesy of National Park Service