Before Canada became analogous with our beloved beer, hockey, and maple syrup, there was another emblem that captured the nation’s heart and spirit 50 years ago: the beaver.
Found throughout Canada, beavers are gnaw-torious for their lumberjack expertise and impressive dam-building skills. However, their importance to Canada extends far beyond these incredible traits.
With the 50th anniversary of the beaver becoming Canada’s national symbol approaching on March 24, experts are celebrating North America’s largest rodent.
Jean-François Lozier, curator of French North American history at the Canadian Museum of History, appreciates how fitting it is to have the beaver as Canada’s symbol.
“Beavers are … industrious, clever animals,” said Lozier. “They’re humble, and that image of Canadians being nice folks, hardworking, not causing trouble, reinforces the beaver as an (emblem).”
With their flat tail and self-sharpening incisors, Lozier says the critters also have an “iconic silhouette” that makes them easier to distinguish from other animals, and we cannot take having them as our symbol “for granted.”
Lozier says the beaver represented Canada during the Second World War long before it became official in 1975. But our neightbours to the south almost beat us to it.
Earlier in the 1970s, a New York State senator decided the beaver should be the official state emblem because of their centrality to the fur trade. The rodents were well known for their stunning pelts during the trade that stretched from the creation of the Hudson’s Bay Company in 17th century to the middle of the 19th century when fashion changed.
Lozier said when Canadians and the media caught wind of the New York proposal, they pushed for the beaver to become an official Canadian symbol through signed petitions and other forms of advocacy.
Lozier says a private member’s bill was soon “passed with no resistance” and given Royal Assent the next day — officially designating the beaver as Canada’s national symbol.
Executive director at the Fur Institute of Canada, Doug Chiasson, says the beaver played an integral role in early trade relationships and motivated European exploration.
“You could use sheep’s wool to make felt, you could use rabbit fur to make felt,” said Chiasson, “but the highest quality of felt is made from beaver fur.”
Fueling early economic development, beaver pelts were highly desired by Europeans for their felt hats, and were even used as a form of currency. Chiasson says beavers were especially prized due to their “wooly underlayer” of fur, lying beneath the beaver’s outer protective guard hairs.
Beavers are intense groomers, according to Lesley Fox, Executive Director of The Fur-Bearers and certified Humane Education Specialist through the National Association for Humane and Environmental Education.
The semi-aquatic rodents spread oil from the underside of their flat tails to their fur, helping them swim and stay warm. She says this oil makes their fur “shiny” and “luscious,” adding to why the pelts are so sought after for fashion and commercial gain.
However, Fox has a different appreciation for beavers that extends beyond their silky, water-resistant fur. She is using this anniversary as an “invitation” to appreciate the animal’s contributions to Canadian ecosystems and wetlands.
“This anniversary is really an important milestone to revisit our relationship with the beaver,” said Fox. “In particular, it calls upon us to reevaluate the worth of a beaver.”
Fox’s admiration for beavers encompasses their behavior and environmental contributions.
Nestled in the heart of Wood Buffalo National Park in Alberta, Canada’s largest national park, is a remarkable testament to the animal’s role in our ecosystems: the world’s largest beaver dam.
Visible from space, the dam stretches approximately 775 meters in length, equivalent to seven football fields, and contains run-off water from the Birch Mountains at the southernmost end of the park. It is believed to be the work of multiple generations of beavers, as it is covered in a layer of grass, indicating its age.
Fox says the hardworking animals are constantly improving these structures, “and we have a lot to learn from them in the qualities they possess, like teamwork.”
Beavers possess many endearing traits beyond their impressive collaboration. These furry architects are among the few mammals, aside from humans, capable of completely transforming their environment by constructing dams, canals and lodges. Their efforts benefit not only themselves but the entire ecosystem.
All these unique traits have made beavers a symbol not just for the nation, but for many aspects of Canadian life.
Since 1937, the beaver has been featured on the Canadian nickel, reflecting its history as a cultural emblem and valuable resource. Companies like the historic Hudson’s Bay Company have incorporated the rodent into their logo, while others, like BeaverTails, have built their brand entirely around the rodent.
Fox stresses the need for Canadians to look at the beaver’s contributions to “connections and relationships as opposed to the exploitation and commercialization of wildlife for fashion.”
While many people object to fur on principle, Chiasson says it’s sustainable and renewable. “[Fur] can be remodeled, reused, and recycled in ways that synthetics can’t.”
Beavers have also been good stewards of their ecosystems in other ways, according to Fox.
“Beavers keep fresh water on the land which contributes to salmon populations,” she said. “Salmon is huge and is a food source for a variety of other species including eagles and bears.” She explains that salmon carcasses left in the forest enrich the soil with nitrogen and other minerals, creating a healthy base for plants to grow.
“There’s a misconception that beavers ruin forests,” said Fox. “They chop down trees, make a big mess, they’re decimating our forests and sometimes you hear those criticisms even from municipalities.” She says that if the public looks at research, they can see that “beavers actually help forests regenerate.”
Fox explains that when beavers chew on trees, they release chemicals that stimulate growth and reproduction. Additionally, when they chop down trees, it allows more sunlight and water to reach the forest floor, helping plants access these competitive resources.
“There’s evidence that forests surrounding beaver ponds fare better during times of forest fires,” said Fox, reflecting on the irony.
“All along they’ve been there,” said Fox. “They’re this integral part of Canada whether they started our business or whether they keep fresh water on the land – they’ve been this integral citizen of Canada.” She says beavers need to be appreciated for what they did for Canada in its early days and for what they continue to do for us today.
As we celebrate this half-century milestone, experts and industries are hosting events and reflecting on the buck-toothed mammal’s role in shaping Canada. From their historical impact to their environmental contributions, beavers remain an integral part of our national identity.
