Beaver beach rescue is a first for Kintyre
Multiple emergency services were involved in the rescue of a stricken beaver.
Police officers, Campbeltown Coastguard Rescue Team and local Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) inspector Enid McMurchy were called out to Machrihanish beach last Friday afternoon after a member of the public reported an animal in difficulty.
To their surprise, they discovered it to be a beaver – previously extinct in Scotland but reintroduced in 2009 – which was going in and out of the surf and resting on the beach.
A call from the rescue team to the Argyll Beaver Centre at Knapdale – the site of the nearest beaver colony, about 50 miles away – provided information on what the animal needed in the short term to prevent dehydration and hypothermia.
With specialist equipment from the SSPCA – a net, blanket and cage! – the beaver was successfully captured and transported to Westwards Veterinary Practice in Campbeltown for further care.
Robert Houston, Campbeltown Coastguard Station manager, said that although Coastguard teams often work in support of the SSPCA, this is Campbeltown’s first beaver rescue.
He added: “We would encourage members of the public to report anything suspicious or unusual on the coast to the Coastguard. A general description of the object and grid reference or What3words is also extremely helpful.
“If anyone finds an injured animal on the coast, we would urge caution, as a bite from an otter, seal, beaver etc can cause serious injury.”
Dominic Sharkey, the vet who treated the beaver, revealed it is also a first for Westwards Veterinary Practice.
“As far as we know, it’s the first time Westwards has treated a beaver,” he said. “I am not sure there have been beavers seen or heard of much in this area at all before.
“The suspicion is that it has somehow come from the colony up in Knapdale – it was fitted with an ear tag which the SSPCA is trying to trace to find out more details about its origin and release.”
The beaver enjoyed an overnight stay in a large dog kennel at the veterinary practice and, despite initially being timid, he enjoyed a swim in an outdoor tub bath – more often used for dogs – the following day.
“Enid got some advice from someone at a beaver society who advised beavers won’t drink, defecate or urinate unless in water, so the bath was useful,” said Dominic. “It definitely seemed much happier being in the water and seemed lively and in good health while in with us.
“The most surprising thing I found was how heavy it was to lift!”
The beaver has since been taken to the SSPCA National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Clackmannanshire, where he is reported as being in good condition, behaving well and eating.
“The SSPCA has been in contact with The Beaver Trust to confirm where its range is, however it is likely to be from the Knapdale population,” said a spokesperson.
“This is the time of year that beavers tend to disperse and look for new territories and it is not uncommon for them to be seen in coastal environments during the process.
“We are not sure when the beaver will be released, however, we hope it will be a very quick turnaround.”
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