Two girls are recovering after being bitten by a rabid beaver while swimming in Lake Anna, authorities said.



The 11-year-old and 8-year-old sisters were attacked Sunday near Sorbie Cove in Louisa, Louisa County Sheriff's Maj. Donald Lowe said. The Spotsylvania County girls have since been released from the hospital.



The Free Lance-Star reported that Lowe said somebody already had shot and killed the beaver by the time the authorities responded to the incident. Police then turned the beaver over to the health department, which confirmed the animal had rabies.



Both girls are receiving shots for rabies.



Virginia Department of Health officials said it's just the fourth time in the past decade that a beaver in Virginia has been confirmed to have rabies.