The top 5 Canadian animals for Canada Day

Canadian wildlife is second to none.

Narrowing down a list of Canada’s five greatest animals isn’t going to be easy, but our very own Mia Gordon and Nathan Coleman gave it a try. Watch the video above to see the list, or keep scrolling for photos.

The beaver

UGC -  36771222 - Mike Digout - Beaver

(Mike Dugout/submitted)

They’re on the nickel, they are semi-aquatic, and one of the only mammals that can manufacture their own environment. What other animal can build its own lodge? Especially given the price of timber these days.

The moose

UGC -  36748470  - Mark Windsor - Moose

(Mark Windsor/submitted)

If we’re talking about indispensable, the moose has to be on this list. You can barely find a Canadian beer without a moose on the label. They’re enormous animals that live everywhere except PEI. They are even on Ontario’s coat of arms.

The orca

UGC - 36699134 - Norm Wilson - Orca

(Norm Wilson/submitted)

When we think of Canada, and particularly B.C., the orcas just hit home. They're one of the country's most iconic marine animals!

Salmon

UGC - 35764582 - Brenda - salmon

(Brenda/submitted)

Canada is home to plenty of fish - but the noble salmon deserves a spot on this list.

Canada goose

UGC - 36720766 - Paul Lantz - Canada goose

(Paul Lantz/submitted)

The Canada goose seems like a good fit, but looking at the change in my pocket, the loon on the loonie. And then on the toonie there’s a polar bear, how did we miss that? Maybe it's too hard to narrow it down to just five animals - can we just agree that all Canadian wildlife is great?

Happy Canada Day!

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Happy Canada Day!