Did you know Canada has two national animals? The beaver and the horse?

By BBC Wildlife Magazine

Published: Monday, 13 February 2023 at 12:00 am


One national animal was not enough for Canada, they have two! The first of these is the charismatic North American beaver. Beavers are the largest rodents in North America, and, after the Capybara, the second largest in the world. Like capybaras they are semi-aquatic, building dams and lodges to live in using tree branches.

Due to the wide-ranging impacts of their damming – including the creation of new wetlands for other species to live in – they are considered to be a keystone species.

The other national animal of Canada is the Canadian horse, a horse breed usually used for riding anddriving. It was only made a national animal in 2002.

 

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