A rabid beaver jumped out of the water and chased children in Springfield on Saturday, just a little more than a week after another beaver attacked a woman while swimming.
Authorities said the children were standing on a dock at the Hidden Pond Nature Center when the beaver jumped out of the duck-weed-covered pond onto the dock, lunging at a 4-year-old girl. The children scattered, but the beaver aggressively chased them, authorities said.
The children had been attending a fishing event.
An animal control officer was called to the scene, cleared the area and shot the beaver, which tested positive for rabies.
In the previous incident, an 83-year-old woman was attacked while swimming in Lake Barcroft.
Fairfax County police said the two beaver incidents are rare.
"I hadn't seen anything like this and to have two in a matter of days is highly unusual," said Lucy Caldwell, of Fairfax County police.
