Beaver shot with arrow near Orillia on the road to recovery

A beaver found with an arrow shot through its torso is now recovering at Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge in Pefferlaw, Ont. after a massive rescue effort.

“She is the luckiest unlucky beaver I know,” said Kate Purvis, the manager of operations at the wildlife refuge.

Staff at Shades of Hope named the young beaver Lucky because of the ordeal she survived.

They believe she was shot with the arrow somewhere near Orillia several weeks ago.

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Staff at Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge in Pefferlaw, Ont., work on a beaver impaled by an arrow. (CTV News/Rob Cooper)

Staff say the arrow missed the animal’s organs, and didn’t cause any internal bleeding.

“The arrow entered through the shoulder - the right shoulder - through the left scapula and came out through the left side at the point of shoulder, so it was a complete through and through,” Purvis explained.

Two weeks ago, the injured and impaled beaver was flushed out of a culvert by firefighters and trapped by volunteers. 

“The water level got so high the beaver swam out the end we were covering, and we were able to block the culvert and net the beaver,” said Krystal Hewitt, with Speaking of Wildlife.

Staff at Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge in Pefferlaw, Ont., work on a beaver impaled by an arrow. (Source: Shades of Hope/Facebook)

While it’s unclear who shot the beaver and why, Severn Township fire officials say there have been several concerns about the animals causing damage to properties over the past several weeks.

Ritch Lowell, the director of fire and emergency services with the township, says that while managing beavers can be difficult, shooting one with an arrow isn’t the answer.

“We would encourage landowners to chose legal alternatives before trying to kill a beaver or engaging in animal cruelty, which is what happened with this animal,” he said.

Lucky the beaver will continue to receive care at Shades of Hope for several weeks before she is transferred to Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Muskoka to rehabilitate over the winter, with the hope of releasing her back into the wild by spring.

To donate to help with the beaver’s care, click here.