Overview

• On April 29, 2025, public works employees discovered a dead beaver in a bathing lake on Nitzenhäuser Straße in Künzelsau, Baden-Württemberg.
• Police recovered two crossbow bolts from the beaver's carcass, confirming it was killed unlawfully with a crossbow.
• Beavers are strictly protected under European conservation laws, with penalties for harm or killing except in rare, authorized cases.
• The police investigation is ongoing, and authorities are appealing to the public for eyewitness reports to identify the perpetrator.
• The case highlights the broader context of species protection and the rare exceptions, such as a temporary culling authorization at Berlin Airport in 2024.