[knuggy]

11 Apr 2013-Telegraph.uk-

The 60-year-old former serviceman, who has not been publicly identified, bled to death before an ambulance could reach him near Minkovichi in Brest region.
Eurasian beavers are common throughout much of Eastern Europe but attacks are rare and fatal cases are almost unheard of, experts said.
Sergei Shtyk, the deputy head of the region's wildlife inspectorate, told The Daily Telegraph the victim had tried to approach the aquatic rodent after he and two friends encountered it as they headed out on a fishing trip.
"It was early morning and already light when they saw a beaver by the road, which was unusual because beavers are nocturnal," said Mr Shtyk.
"One of them went up to be photographed with it, and the animal attacked him and bit him twice, cutting an artery in his thigh, before running away.

"The man's friends tried to bandage him and find a doctor in a nearby village but he died from blood loss before help arrived."
Sergei Shilinchuk, deputy head of Brest's environmental protection committee, said he had never heard of a fatal attack before. "People have lost fingers – that's the worst I've come across," he said. "The beaver is not normally aggressive, but it does have big teeth and immensely powerful jaws; it can cut down a tree three feet wide." Mr Shilinchuk said there was a chance that the animal was rabid, or that it was a young beaver seeking new territory after being forced out by its parents. It was also possible that it had lost its home as waterways rose with the onset of spring.
Belarus's beaver population has grown rapidly, doubling in the last five years in Brest region. There are thought to be up to 80,000 of the animals in the country as a whole. Demand for their fur has dropped off sharply since its Soviet heyday, and current levels of shooting and trapping are not enough to keep the population in check.
"We're making efforts to stimulate commercial use of beaver meat but that hasn't taken off yet," said Mr Shilinchuk. As a result, beavers have become an increasingly common sight, even in populated areas, he added.
Mr Shtyk said the fishermen were partly to blame for the tragedy, because they had approached the creature. "A beaver is a wild animal, after all," he said. A local doctor said the victim might have survived if a tourniquet had been applied to his leg.
Earlier this week, a man in Russia's Tver region posted a video online of a beaver attacking him. He was knocked down but escaped without injuries. "Those who've seen a beaver's teeth will understand," he wrote.

[Kanda444]

holy shit....

[Konglomo]

stimulate commercial use of beaver meat

in the Brest region

[GregK]

No way! Didnt even think this was possible! Thanks! poor guy

[Darkest Angel]

Most likely rabid. Some parasite infections can lead to unusually aggressive behaviours. Or maybe he was having a bad beaver day & lashed out

[Xdeath43]

Well I guess its time to ban beavers

[flangemanager]

The only good beaver is a stuffed beaver.

[Faline]

[kellyhound]

damn
it kinda went like this

[rob666]

Beavers are mean little fuckers...... Encountered a few with an attitude while fishing, they'll swim in circles right in front of you in an effort to intimidate.