Sean McCormack & The Not-so-Crazy Idea of Urban Beavers

What happens when a bold idea turns into rewilding success? Vet and conservationist Sean McCormack joins me to share the story of the Ealing Beaver Project: urban nature, community empowerment and the return of one of Britain's most important ecosystem engineer. 

2:15 – Breaking Into A Conservation Career

Challenges and hurdles Sean faced in his clinical work and breaking into wildlife conservation.

9:33 – The Water Vole Spark: How Ealing’s Beaver Project Began

How a small mammal set off a rewilding initiative in West London.

17:03 – Red Tape and Restoration: Launching a Beaver Reintroduction Project

The planning, permissions, and bureaucracy in urban wildlife projects.

22:03 – Community & Conservation: How Ealing Welcomed Its Beavers

Local support, reactions, and how public engagement shaped the project’s success.

32:03 – Beavers as Nature-Based Solutions to Urban Flooding

How beavers overdelivered.

35:15 – Biodiversity Boom: Wildlife Returns to Ealing

From a biodiversity "dead zone" to a newly thriving ecosystem.

40:05 – Where Did the Beavers Come From?

The origins of the UK’s new beaver populations and their rewilding journey.

43:22 – The Work of the Beaver Trust

The national charity helping restore beavers to British landscapes.

46:03 – Meet the Ealing Beaver Family

The original family of 5 and their quirks.

48:00 – Population Control & Human Management

How beavers regulate themselves—and future horizons for the kits.

52:00 – Why the UK Needs Wild Beavers

Sean’s passionate plea for nationwide beaver reintroduction.

55:48 – The Peregrine Falcons of West London

More thriving urban wildlife.

1:03:33 – The G.O.A.T: Meeting Sir David Attenborough

Sean shares the unforgettable moment of meeting Britain’s natural history legend.

All the links where you can find Sean and his multiple endeavours: 

https://ealingwildlifegroup.com/
https://theealingbeaverproject.com/
https://drseanmccormack.com/
https://shows.acast.com/seanswildlife
https://www.youtube.com/c/EalingWildlifeGroup/videos
https://www.instagram.com/thatvetsean
https://www.facebook.com/thatvetsean

For more content and interactive discussions on the topic, follow the channel on Instagram page: https://instagram.com/vetvibes_podcast?igshid=MzRIODBiNWFIZA==