WHILE you were sleeping a Belarusian man has met a grisly fate at the hands of a large, semi-aquatic rodent.

The deceased was a 60-year-old fisherman who ran into an aggressive Eurasian Beaver as he embarked on a fishing trip.



The man tried to approach the beaver in order to photograph it, but according to Britain's The Telegraph, the animal attacked him, biting him twice and severing an artery in his thigh.



The man died of blood loss on the way to a local village doctor.



Beavers are not renowned for their lethal force against humans, although they are strongly territorial and can weigh up to 25 kilos.

Then there are those teeth. Those super strong chompers boosted with extra enamel, which continue to grow throughout a beaver's life so it can gnaw through trees.



Beavers also have an extra set of eyelids which are transparent, allowing them to see underwater. They're clever, adaptable creatures which don't always mix well with human civilisation.

A Canadian newspaper reported two years ago that a beaver was killing dogs in Red Deer, Alberta, but it is unclear whether a beaver has ever previously killed a human.

And as this video shows, beavers will attack without provocation.

Originally published as Man attacked by beaver. Dies