The official animal of Canada

[DeadPoolX 9]

I started thinking: The UK has the lion. The U.S. has the eagle. What does Canada have? The beaver -- a little buck-toothed water rat that gnaws trees down in an odd form of assisted suicide.

Does this beaver have heat vision? Is it a ninja? Maybe a vampire? Can it go 12 rounds in a cage match versus an otter? Was Jerry Mathers somehow involved? Can a REAL beaver (Rob & Mel, I know what you're thinking!) be eaten?

These are questions that have never been answered...

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Early Canadian economy and the raison d'etre for much of Canada's early existence - at least for its European discoverers - was the fur trade. Beaver pelts were the 'fur' of choice as it was used extensively to make men's hats - beaver hats were very much in fashion at the time and for many years afterwards. When the French were defeated on the Plains of Abraham and "Canada" came under British rule, Britain actually discouraged settlement in the areas west of Lower Canada (Quebec), wanting to preserve the rich and lush forests and rivers for the fur trade and afraid that settlement would impact the availability of these animals. It was only with the American Revolution and the arrival of UELs (United Empire Loyalists) that Britain's hand was forced to open up the fur trade lands in Ontario (Upper Canada) for settlement. They tried to settle all the UELs in the Maritimes first but literally ran out of land for grants. Then they started to give grants along the St, Lawrence River - then along the Shores of Lake Ontario, then along the shores of Lake Erie and finally along places like the Thames River and the Detroit River. Squatters had already settled on many of these areas and the legal battles of land ownership continued well into the 19th century.

Anyway, it was because of the wealth derived from beaver pelts and the role the fur trade played in Canada's history that the beaver was chosen as the symbolic animal of Canada. Heck, at one time beaver pelts were even used as the monetary unit of exchange.

Oh, and yes, you can eat beaver, although I understand it is better in a stew (and yes, Rob and Mel, I know what you're thinking too!).

Edited May 1, 2009 by Kathryn41

[The_Dude 1,142]

I started thinking: The UK has the lion. The U.S. has the eagle. What does Canada have? The beaver -- a little buck-toothed water rat that gnaws trees down in an odd form of assisted suicide.

Does this beaver have heat vision? Is it a ninja? Maybe a vampire? Can it go 12 rounds in a cage match versus an otter? Was Jerry Mathers somehow involved? Can a REAL beaver (Rob & Mel, I know what you're thinking!) be eaten?

These are questions that have never been answered...

I would like to submit to you..... The Polar Bear. It eats people.... because it can. You could then move the Federal Capital to Churchill, Manitoba

[DeadPoolX 9]

Early Canadian economy and the raison d'etre for much of Canada's early existence - at least for its European discoverers - was the fur trade. Beaver pelts were the 'fur' of choice as it was used extensively to make men's hats - beaver hats were very much in fashion at the time and for many years afterwards. When the French were defeated on the Plains of Abraham and "Canada" came under British rule, Britain actually discouraged settlement in the areas west of Lower Canada (Quebec), wanting to preserve the rich and lush forests and rivers for the fur trade and afraid that settlement would impact the availability of these animals. It was only with the American Revolution and the arrival of UELs (United Empire Loyalists) that Britain's hand was forced to open up the fur trade lands in Ontario (Upper Canada) for settlement. They tried to settle all the UELs in the Maritimes first but literally ran out of land for grants. Then they started to give grants along the St, Lawrence River - then along the Shores of Lake Ontario, then along the shores of Lake Erie and finally along places like the Thames River and the Detroit River. Squatters had already settled on many of these areas and the legal battles of land ownership continued well into the 19th century.

Anyway, it was because of the wealth derived from beaver pelts and the role the fur trade played in Canada's history that the beaver was chosen as the symbolic animal of Canada. Heck, at one time beaver pelts were even used as the monetary unit of exchange.

Oh, and yes, you can eat beaver, although I understand it is better in a stew.

Oh please... that's what my wife said. I know better! The beaver is cursed! Curse, I tell you! It's beady little eyes and that flat tail. It's planning something, oh yes.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Well, of course it is planning something, hehehehe! I never said that it wasn't - nice innocuous little animal keeping to itself in its little underwater dens - and the next thing you know it has dammed up the whole river and flooded the valley:-). Much more subtle than a polar bear!

Edited May 1, 2009 by Kathryn41

[trailmix 77]

The question is...why not.

Edited May 2, 2009 by trailmix

[beans 7]

lol I always liked the beaver..its cute. Our retention pond in our backyard houses a turtle, a beaver, geese, and a pelican (yes I am aware that the last one is rather odd lol)

[Reba 2]

The question is...why not.

Exactly!

[Ontarkie 14,222]

i always liked what one of my teachers told our class about the beaver. I just wish I could remember exactly how she said it but it was something like the Beaver is so adaptable can live in all types of weather all over the place, change the direction of water, make new ponds and rivers and be almost whiped out from hunting and still come back time to do its job just like Canadians strong and resilient.

Well thats somewhat of what I remember

Danielle

Edited May 3, 2009 by Ontarkie

[scandal 951]

.... Our home and native land....