Is the Moose a Canadian Symbol?

By Staff WriterLast Updated December 12, 2023

The moose is a Canadian symbol that represents the country’s native wildlife. A bronze statue of a moose can be found in the public galleries of the Parliament’s House of Commons. The moose is also featured on the coat of arms of the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario.

Moose can be found in every Canadian province, with a total population of approximately 500,000 to 1 million. The name derives from the Algonquin word “mooswa,” meaning “twig-eater.” Moose can live up to an average of 15 to 25 years, and they are the largest species in the deer family. Antlers are found only on male moose, who shed them every November or December. A new set grows in the summer.