About Dr Sean McCormack

Last updated: October 11, 2026 11:46 pm

Dr Sean McCormack BSc (Hons) MVB MRCVS is an Irish veterinary surgeon, conservationist and wildlife presenter based in London. He is the founder of Ealing Wildlife Group and the Project Lead and licence holder for the Ealing Beaver Project, which brought beavers back to London for the first time in 400 years.

A lifelong nature nerd

Sean has been, in his own words, a “self-confessed nature nerd” for as long as he can remember. One of his earliest memories is from his early childhood in Co Cork, when his dad woke him and his brothers and sisters very early one morning to watch a mother fox and her cubs playing around their den at the top of the field their kitchen window faced.

"I was in awe of such beautiful, wild and usually shy creatures living their lives right in front of us, when all of our neighbours were still fast asleep. When that wild field I spent so much time in, discovering nature as a kid, was bulldozed for a housing development, I was crushed. Perhaps that was the beginning of my journey as a conservationist, as it changed something in me for sure."

– Sean

He volunteered with conservation organisations from an early age, and his first taste of television was on RTÉ’s Super Garden, where he designed a garden for wildlife and people to share.

Training as a vet

Sean studied for a BSc (Hons) in Animal Science, which included time at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He then trained in Veterinary Medicine at University College Dublin, graduating with an MVB in 2010. Along the way he took elective modules in zoo and wildlife medicine and postgraduate study in Applied Animal Ethics and Welfare Science. He is a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS).

Six years on the front line

After qualifying, Sean spent six years in clinical practice in first-opinion and referral small animal hospitals. He treated dogs, cats, rabbits, reptiles, birds, zoo animals and injured wildlife. That hands-on experience still shapes the practical, no-nonsense advice he gives pet owners today.

From consulting room to conservation

In 2016 Sean moved into an industry role as a vet consultant in pet nutrition. The better work-life balance gave him time for his true passion: wildlife.

That year he started leading bat walks around the Wharncliffe Viaduct in Hanwell. The walks became so popular that they grew into Ealing Wildlife Group, a volunteer-led community group with around 8,800 members and a YouTube channel followed by more than 38,000 people. Under Sean’s leadership as Chair, the group:

reintroduced harvest mice across Ealing, including to Perivale Wood for the first time in 45 years
installed a nest box and live webcam for the peregrine falcons at Ealing Hospital
managed habitat for great crested newts, bats, barn owls and hedgehogs
helped write Species Action Plans for Ealing's Biodiversity Action Plan
received the King's Award for Voluntary Service in 2023, the highest award a UK volunteer group can receive

In April 2026, after ten years, Sean handed over the Chair. He remains part of EWG’s team as Rewilding & Conservation Officer, focusing on habitat restoration and species reintroductions.

Bringing beavers back to London

Sean’s best-known project is the Ealing Beaver Project, a partnership with Citizen Zoo and others which he leads and holds the licence for. In October 2023 a family of five Eurasian beavers was released at Paradise Fields in Greenford. They have since bred three times, reduced flooding downstream and transformed the site into a haven for wildlife. The project has featured on BBC One in Sir David Attenborough’s Wild London, which Sean was hired on as wildlife consultant, and in the award-winning film Beavers in Paradise. Sean is also an Ambassador for Beaver Trust.

Broadcaster, writer and author

Sean believes good science should be fun. He has appeared on BBC Springwatch and Autumnwatch, The One Show, ITV This Morning, Lorraine, CBeebies and Channel 5 News, and is a regular voice on BBC Radio London. He writes a weekly vet column, Paws & Claws, for The Sun on Sunday, and has been quoted by The Sunday Times, The Guardian and The Telegraph. He hosts his own podcast, Sean’s Wild Life.

He co-wrote The Happy Dog Cookbook (2019) with Annabel Karmel, with all profits going to the charity StreetVet. In 2025 he launched his own imprint, Harvest Mouse Publishing, with the children’s picture book Beaver Believers.

Key facts at a glance

Name: Dr Sean McCormack BSc (Hons) MVB MRCVS

Based in: London, UK (originally from Ireland)

Qualified: University College Dublin, MVB, 2010

Roles: Head Vet at Tails.com; Rewilding & Conservation Officer and founder of Ealing Wildlife Group; Project Lead of the Ealing Beaver Project; Ambassador for Beaver Trust

Awards: King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2023 (Ealing Wildlife Group)

Books: The Happy Dog Cookbook (2019); Beaver Believers (2025)

Podcast: Sean’s Wild Life

Agent: David Foster Management

What drives Sean

"I want people to realise that incredible wildlife isn't just on the other side of the world. It's in your local park, your garden and your back yard, and it needs you."

– Sean

Sean is a passionate advocate for animal welfare. He has spoken out on the health problems caused by breeding extreme flat-faced (brachycephalic) dogs, and on dangerous dogs and cosmetic mutilations. He talks openly about vet wellbeing and pet loss, and he believes conservation works best when local people lead it.

When he is not working, you will find him behind a camera lens photographing wildlife, rescuing the odd injured bird, or planning his next wildlife adventure.

Frequently asked questions

Where did Sean McCormack train as a vet?

Sean trained at University College Dublin, graduating with a degree in Veterinary Medicine (MVB) in 2010. Before that he completed a BSc (Hons) in Animal Science. He is registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Is Sean McCormack Irish?

Yes. Sean is originally from Ireland, growing up mainly in Co Cork and Co Kildare, and has lived and worked in London for many years.

Does Sean still work as a vet?

Yes. After six years in clinical practice, Sean moved into an industry role in 2016 and is Head Vet at Tails.com, where he advises on pet nutrition and health, as well as working as a consultant for other pet and veterinary brands. He also uses his veterinary skills in his conservation work, including with the Ealing beavers and harvest mice.

What is Ealing Wildlife Group?

Ealing Wildlife Group is a volunteer-led community conservation group in West London that Sean founded in 2016. It runs wildlife walks, surveys, habitat projects and species reintroductions, and it won the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2023.