In London, 66-pound beaver Willow became a local star by helping curb floods

In West London, a nursing beaver named Willow is becoming a local celebrity, and her unusually large size is a big part of the reason.

However, Willow contributes in important ways beyond being a celebrity influencer. She and her crew of fellow beavers also get credit for helping reduce flooding near a local tube station.

Here's what to know

According to a YouTube video posted by CBC News, Willow was among five Eurasian beavers moved in 2023 from Scotland to a site less than 6.2 miles from Heathrow Airport.

At the time, the community was facing the prospect of costly infrastructure work due to repeated flooding, including at a local tube station. However, community groups argued for a natural solution instead of costly engineering work.

The idea was to rely on beavers' natural dam-building to curb excess water flow. Beaver dams slow water down and help form wetlands that can absorb more runoff during heavy rain.

After the beavers were released into the wetland at the end of 2023, that station no longer appears to be flooding, according to the video. 

However, when it comes to garnering attention online, Willow's dam-building does not seem to be her most popular trait.

At the time she was relocated, Willow weighed 66 pounds (30 kilograms), making her the country's largest translocated beaver, the video said. 

She is the matriarch of a colony that keeps expanding and may now include eight or more beavers.

More background

Because beavers disappeared from London about 400 years ago after being hunted for fur, meat, and musk, their return is being treated as a major rewilding milestone for the city.

Chenz Mustafa, an urban beaver officer whose job includes helping the public engage with the animals, said their value extends beyond flood control.

"Yeah, everything downstream is much more protected from flooding than it was before," Mustafa said, per the CBC. "All because they want to hold that water back so that they have enough water to swim in and feel safe."

Mustafa said the beavers' arrival has also made the site more biodiverse, with more fish and birdlife showing up there.

London's mayor has linked rewilding, biodiversity, and flood prevention to social justice, particularly in a city where many people lack gardens.

Where can I learn more?

Willow's story is part of a broader pattern across Britain, where returning beavers reduce flood risk, filter water, and rebuild habitats.

• In West London, beavers returned to a wetland by McDonald's and helped hold back floods.

• In Devon, beavers can transform local environments while reducing both floods and drought stress.

• In Scotland, beaver dams trap water pollution and strengthen calls for cheaper natural infrastructure.

• In Hampshire, beavers are returning to help rebuild habitats lost after centuries of absence.

• Across Britain, a comeback of beavers is reaching a baby-boom milestone after centuries away.

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