Scout leader attacked by beaver

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EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A New York Boy Scouts leader is recovering after being attacked by a rabid beaver in the Delaware River, officials said.

Normand Brousseau, 51, an assistant scoutmaster from Pine Plains, was with another leader and four Scouts on a field trip at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in Pennsylvania Aug. 2 when he was attacked, the Poughkeepsie Journal reported Monday.

Brousseau was swimming in the river when the beaver approached him.

"It came through my legs and attached itself to my chest," he said. "I thought it was a giant carp fish."

Then, it began biting him. Brousseau was bitten on a leg, arm, hand, waist and buttocks.

Brousseau managed to get a hold of the beaver and bring it to shore, Boy Scout Nick Hedges, 16, said.

"We started throwing rocks at it," Hedges said. "We could see it was still dangerous."

Brousseau was then taken to the Pocono Medical Center in East Stroudsburg, Pa., where he was treated for his injuries. Since the incident he has had more than 20 rabies shots.

Local officials said rabid animal attacks are usually rare, but are move prevalent during the summer.

"This is the time of year people will encounter more bats because they're active now -- they're coming into contact with them more often," said Stephen Capowski, director of environmental health services for the Dutchess County Health Department.