DURANT, Okla. -- The Oklahoma State Health Department is preparing to test a 60-pound beaver for rabies after it bit a small boy outside an apartment complex in southern Oklahoma.

Tammy Lane said her 5-year-old son went outside to get the family cat on Saturday. But instead of finding a feline, he was attacked by a beaver after trying to pet the animal, according to KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City.

"I heard screaming. I went to see what was happening. His leg was pretty bad," Lane said.

She rushed her son to a local hospital and called police.

"They didn't believe it was a beaver. They thought it was a raccoon," Lane said.

However, Lane's boyfriend took a photo of the beaver after he beat it with a crowbar.

A Durant Police Department spokeswoman said this was the department's first report of a beaver attack.

"We get our share of dog bites, cat bites. This is our first one for beavers," police Lt. Carrie Wyrick said.

Lane said the 60-pound beaver was bigger than her 42-pound son and could have easily carried him away. The animal bit a chunk out of the boy's calf.

"My biggest worry is that he has rabies, and I don't know. Nobody knows," Lane said.

Health Department officials said rabies in beavers is rare. Workers planned to test the beaver on Wednesday.