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Beaver shot in the face raising a family after recovery

News imageSSPCA A close up of the beaver. He has smooth brown fur and is sitting on his back legs. Behind him is the open door to a metal crate.SSPCA
The beaver, nicknamed Fig, lost teeth in the shooting three years ago

A beaver who was shot in the face three years ago has recovered and is now raising a family, its rescuers have said.

The male, nicknamed Fig, was found badly injured by a member of the public in Perthshire.

His injuries included the loss of two top incisors and his head was peppered with shrapnel.

Fig received extensive care at the Scottish SPCA's National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Clackmannanshire before being released at a nature centre, near Doune, where there are other beavers.

News imageSSPCA A black and white image showing an x-ray of the beaver's head. Fragments of shot pepper the front of his head. The bones in one of his paws is also visible.SSPCA
News imageSSPCA Two women stand watching Fig emerge from a small metal crate in a grassy area at Argaty Red Kites Centre.SSPCA
An X-ray showed fragments of shot in Fig's face.
Fig was released at Argaty Red Kites Centre following his recovery.

During his recovery, Fig's teeth grew back due to the roots not being damaged.

He was released at Argaty Red Kites Centre in collaboration with the Beaver Trust.

The Scottish SPCA said: "Since his release, Fig has found a mate and is raising young - showing he's healthy, settled and able to express natural behaviours.

"We're so thrilled to see Fig thriving back in the wild."

Beavers have been a protected species in Scotland since May 2019.

It is illegal to kill beavers or destroy established dams and lodges without a licence.

Beavers were once a native species and over the years there have been a number of licensed reintroduction schemes.

There have been incidents of illegal releases of beavers in Perthshire in the past.

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