Here's something to keep in mind if you encounter a beaver out of water at, say, Anchorage's University Lake dog park. Two reports have emerged this month on beaver attacks in Eastern Europe: Belarus officials say a fisherman bled to death from a sliced artery in his leg after trying to get himself photographed with a beaver, and a Russian videotaped a beaver attacking him when he got too close. The Telegraph has a report on the fatal attack; skip below to see the frightening video from the Russian who survived the beaver's buzz-saw teeth.
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 [Belarus wildlife official Sergei] 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.
Read more from The Daily Telegraph: Beaver 'bites man to death'
The Los Angeles Times rounds up some recent accounts of beaver attacks in the U.S.
Anchorage