What rodent is described by the Canadian Encyclopedia as having "had a greater impact on the history and exploration of Canada than any other"?

The beaver has "had a greater impact on the history and exploration of Canada than any other animal". Although commonly known as the North American beaver in Canada, their scientific name is Castor Canadensis. The beaver can be found in every province of Canada.

Beginning in the 16th century, the fur trade was the backbone of the colonial economy and a major international industry for roughly 300 years. The fur trade was instrumental in the development of the country that would become Canada. Early explorers, voyageurs (a boatman employed by the fur companies in transporting goods and passengers to and from trading posts), and coureur des bois (a woodsman or trader of French origin), pushed further and further into the North American interior to expand the trade, as well as France’s, and eventually Britain’s claim over the land. At the heart of the fur trade was the beaver, whose pelts were used to make everything from wool felt hats to robes and winter coats. These were in demand in Europe at the time, and caused greater exploration and settlement.

The use of the beaver as a symbol stems back to the fur trade. The Hudson’s Bay Company put the animal on their coat of arms in 1621. Given the history of companies and governments using the image of the beaver for representative and monetary purposes, it is not hard to see why the beaver was given royal assent on March 24, 1975, thereby making them Canada’s official national animal.