UPDATE: Patuxent River State Park Bridge Damage

On Sunday, May 31, we reported that a horse had fallen through a bridge in the Patuxent River State Park earlier that day.

On Monday June 1, we updated that report after confirming with the owner of the horse in question that the bridge was a multi-use bridge. We also heard from sources on the ground that red ants caused the damage.

On Monday, June 8, we received an email from Gregg Bortz, who is a Media Relations Manager for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). His email said that “the cause of the damaged bridge plank is being investigated. DNR has not determined insect damage as the cause.”

This morning, June 9, we confirmed with the owner of the horse that DNR found red ants on the scene. DNR personnel encountered red ants when they went under the bridge to figure how to cut the board. According to our source, “one person was covered with them.”