Via fellow grad student Jacob Montgomery, this Durham Herald-Sun story takes “dog bites man” stories to a whole new level:

Rabid beaver chases couple

BY ROB SHAPARD : The Herald-Sun
[email protected]
Dec 7, 2005 : 9:36 pm ET

CHAPEL HILL — A local couple got a little closer to nature than they wanted when a beaver that turned out to have rabies went after them at Umstead Park in Chapel Hill.

It’s the 22nd confirmed case of rabies among animals in Orange County for the year. But it’s the first rabid beaver. And state veterinarian Carl Williams said it was the first positive rabies test for a beaver in North Carolina since early 2002.

Michelle Oliver said she was crossing Bolin Creek at the popular park off Umstead Drive Sunday when her husband shouted to her from several yards away that a beaver was in the creek. The beaver came toward her, and she gave him a little fake, but the beaver didn’t go for it and kept coming, Oliver said Wednesday.

With a burst of speed she didn’t know she had, Oliver bolted out of the creek bed, with the beaver in pursuit.

Her husband, Billy, then grabbed a large stick, climbed on top of a picnic table near the creek and tried to keep the beaver occupied.

The beaver was hissing at her husband and biting the stick, Oliver said.