Beaver with Red Leaf

Black silhouette of a beaver holding a red maple leaf.

The Canadian flag in its current form, a maple leaf with red and white stripes, was approved by Parliament and made official on February 15, 1965. The red color is a symbol of Canadian sacrifice during World War I and the maple leaf had already been a national symbol for around 100 years.

The beaver, much like the moose, has been considered a Canadian symbol for more than three centuries. Beavers are native to Canada and can be found in wooded areas throughout the nation. They do, however, have limited ranges due to being historically overhunted for their thick fur.