Wild Canada: Iconic Wildlife That Define Our Nation
- Jul 22, 2025
- Learn
- 5 min read
The natural tapestry of Canada is weaved together by a wealth of wilderness: dense forests, vast grasslands, towering peaks, and wondrous waters. These diverse ecosystems not only provide nurturing necessities for us humans, but also the habitat needed to support some of the world’s most treasured wildlife.
As stewards of Canada’s ever-evolving story, we have the honour of celebrating the magnificent creatures that we as a nation hold dear. Heading west from the Atlantic Ocean, join us on a cross-country journey as we highlight a small sample of the iconically Canadian animals featured throughout our 2025 collection.
The natural tapestry of Canada is weaved together by a wealth of wilderness: dense forests, vast grasslands, towering peaks, and wondrous waters. These diverse ecosystems not only provide nurturing necessities for us humans, but also the habitat needed to support some of the world’s most treasured wildlife.
As stewards of Canada’s ever-evolving story, we have the honour of celebrating the magnificent creatures that we as a nation hold dear. Heading west from the Atlantic Ocean, join us on a cross-country journey as we highlight a small sample of the iconically Canadian animals featured throughout our 2025 collection.
Woodland Caribou
An ancient landscape awaits you on the west coast of Canada’s most easternly province. Newfoundland’s Gros Morne National Park is where you’ll find the emblematic animal that graces our 25-cent piece and the fine silver Tribute: W Mint Mark. While hiking through the highlands and coastal bogs, you might spot herds of woodland caribou. Interestingly, they are the only species of deer of which both males and females grow antlers.
Beaver
Arguably the most well-known Canadian creature, the beaver is celebrating 50 years of being an official symbol of Canada in 2025. While you can find these industrious eco-engineers all over the country, the extensive aquatic habitat in La Mauricie National Park is the perfect setting to see them. With 150 lakes and many ponds, Parks Canada estimates that over 155 beaver colonies live in this gem of Quebec’s Laurentian Mountains.
Monarch butterfly
Located in the southernmost part of mainland Canada, Point Pelee National Park is a unique blend of wetlands and wooded areas unlike anywhere else. For a brief time each fall, this ecosystem hosts thousands of monarch butterflies, the star of our 2025 Specimen Set. The eastern population of this regal insect rests at Point Pelee before they make the 4000km migration to their wintering groups in central Mexico. Though this journey is filled with a myriad of dangers, in Canada the monarch’s survival depends on our conservation efforts including habitat restoration.
Polar bear
The majesty of Canada’s arctic and star of many Canadian coins, the polar bear is the world’s largest land carnivore. Though they can be found in four provinces and all three territories, northern Manitoba, specifically the Churchill region, provides an amazing opportunity to see these awe-inspiring animals. Thousands of bears gather there in late fall as Hudson Bay starts to freeze over. Unfortunately, it’s not accessible by car, but train and plane are viable options for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Elk (Wapiti)
World renowned for the stunning scenery of Canada’s Rocky Mountains, Banff National Park is home to herds of a spectacular species of deer. Wapiti (also known as elk) are among the most common animals in the park, but surprisingly, also the most dangerous. During the fall rut, bulls become extremely aggressive, using their large antlers to display dominance. Luckily, these magnificent animals can stand nearly 1.5m tall (at their shoulder), so you’ll still have a great view standing at least 50 metres away. Or you could see them up close with our Animal Portraits coin.
Grey wolf
You may not think of coastal regions when you think of where wolves would reside. That’s what makes British Columbia’s Vancouver Island wolves (or sea wolves) truly extraordinary. A sub-species of the better-known grey wolf, who you can see on our latest Great Hunters coins, they have a unique semi-aquatic lifestyle, including an almost entirely marine-based diet. One defining behaviour is their ability to swim between islands on the west coast’s archipelago. They can swim up 12km to reach land and search for migrating salmon, one of their preferred food sources.
Canada’s landscapes are alive with extraordinary wildlife that define our national identity. Each species tells a story—not just of survival and adaptation, but of the deep connection between Canadians and the natural world we call home. As you explore this vast country, take a moment to appreciate the wild beauty that surrounds us.
Celebrate your encounters with Canada’s iconic creatures by learning more about their habitats, supporting conservation efforts, and even collecting a coin as a keepsake. Each piece is a tribute to the wild spirit of Canada—a small way to carry a piece of the wilderness with you, wherever you go.