Beavers Return to Britain to Combat Flooding

Why this is here: Eurasian beavers can weigh up to 65 pounds, roughly the size of a fat golden retriever, and are proving to be effective flood engineers in urban and rural landscapes.

Conservationists in Britain are reintroducing beavers to help manage increasing flood risks caused by climate change. Until two years ago, London’s Greenford Tube station flooded with heavy rain, but a family of beavers resettled nearby in 2023 has since dammed a creek, creating a pond that absorbs rainfall and prevents flooding. The Ealing Beaver Project, led by veterinarian Sean McCormack, observed the beavers also increased local biodiversity, attracting new species of birds, bats, and butterflies.

Humans hunted beavers to extinction in Britain over 400 years ago, but a breeding pair—Millie and Bjornar—were reintroduced to Scotland in 2009. While the reintroduction has proven effective, conflicts with farmers arise when beavers damage crops or riverbanks. Some farmers are adapting by protecting trees or even offering beaver-watching tours, but financial support for damage repair is limited to public land.

Several other countries are also exploring beaver-led restoration, but ongoing challenges include balancing conservation with agricultural needs and addressing the beavers’ instinctive dam-building even without natural predators. The work continues as land managers apply for licenses to welcome more beavers to their land.