Another decapitated beaver discovered: Police call for help!

Another decapitated beaver discovered: Police call for help!

In a worrying incident, two decapitated beavers were discovered on two consecutive dates at a composting facility in St. Veit an der Gölsen, Lilienfeld district. The first beaver was found on February 17, 2025 at around 4 p.m. by a facility employee and immediately reported to the Nature Conservation Department of the State of Lower Austria. The country's wildlife management team then took over the recovery of the carcass and forwarded it to the Research Institute for Wildlife Science and Ecology (FIWI) for examination. Autopsy results from March 13, 2025 showed metal-dense shadows in the neck and shoulder area, indicating gunshot trauma, reported Cosmo.

The origin of the animal could no longer be precisely determined due to its long storage in organic waste. Nevertheless, on March 17, 2025, the remains of a decapitated beaver were discovered again in the same composting facility. This carcass was also handed over to the FIWI. Investigations by the Lower Austria State Criminal Police Office were initiated to get to the bottom of environmental crime. The facility employee was able to indicate that the garbage in which the beavers were found came from a truckload of single-family homes in the southern part of the Lilienfeld district, specifically from the communities of Mitterbach am Erlaufsee, Türnitz, Annaberg and St. Aegyd, such as 5min reported.

Legal situation and protection of the beaver

The beaver, scientifically known as *Castor fiber*, enjoys strict protection in Austria according to the European Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive 92/43/EEC as well as the Lower Austrian Nature Conservation Act 2000 and the Lower Austrian Species Protection Ordinance. The illegal killing of these animals represents a serious breach of species protection and raises questions about compliance with animal welfare laws. The Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office is calling on the public to report information about these incidents confidentially by calling 059133-30-3333.

The problem of beaver protection is also relevant beyond the borders of Austria. In Germany, the beaver was eradicated by human influences in the 19th century, but was successfully reintroduced in the 1960s to 1980s. The current population in Bavaria is estimated at around 22,000 animals. In Bavaria there is a comprehensive beaver management system, which is supported by volunteer beaver advisors and aims to minimize damage and ensure the conservation status of the beaver population StMUV described in detail.

The case in St. Veit an der Gölsen makes it clear that the protection of these animals is of great importance and that society can no longer turn a blind eye when it comes to illegal activities to the detriment of protected wild animals. Clarifying the incidents could make a decisive contribution to preserving the beaver and its habitat.