Rabid beaver attacks NY man swimming in Pa. river

[August 13, 2012]  PINE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP) -- A Boy Scout leader from New York who was attacked by a rabid beaver while swimming in the Delaware River is recovering.

The Poughkeepsie Journal reports (http://pojonews.co/PgKSHr) that 51-year-old Normand Brousseau, of Pine Plains, was swimming in eastern Pennsylvania on Aug. 2 when a beaver swam through his legs and bit him in the chest.

The animal then bit him in the leg, buttocks, arm, hand and torso before he managed to grab it and hold its jaw closed.

One Boy Scout pulled Brousseau to shore, where he tossed the beaver away from him. The Scouts then used rocks to kill the animal.

A day after the attack, a doctor confirmed the beaver had rabies.

Dutchess County health officials say a rabid beaver attack is unusual.

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Information from: Poughkeepsie Journal, http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/

[Associated Press]

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