Official State Animal Designations
State Animal Designations of the Fifty US States
Animals dominate human conceptions of life on Earth not simply by their size, abundance, and sheer diversity but also by their
mobility, a trait that humans share. So integral is movement to the conception of animals that sponges, which lack muscle tissues, were long considered
to be plants. Only after their small movements were noticed in 1765 did the animal nature of sponges slowly come to be recognized.
In size animals are outdone on land by plants, among
whose foliage they may often hide. In contrast, the photosynthetic algae, which feed the open oceans, are usually too small to be seen, but marine
animals range to the size of whales. Diversity of form, in contrast to size, only impinges peripherally
on human awareness of life and thus is less noticed. Nevertheless, animals represent three-quarters or more of the species on Earth, a diversity that
reflects the flexibility in feeding, defense, and reproduction which mobility gives them. Animals follow virtually every known mode of living that
has been described for the creatures of Earth.
Animals move in pursuit of food, mates, or refuge
from predators, and this movement attracts attention and interest, particularly as it becomes apparent that the behavior of some creatures is not so
very different from human behavior. Other than out of simple curiosity, humans study animals to learn about themselves, who are a very recent product
of the evolution of animals.
The word "animal" comes from the Latin animalis, meaning having breath, having soul or living being. The biological definition of the word refers to all members of the kingdom Animalia, whereas in colloquial use, animal often refers to non-human animals. Sometimes the word may refer to only other vertebrates, or just mammals.
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State Symbols
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Animal - Species - Designation - Adopted
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| Alabama |
NA |
| Alaska |
NA |
| Arizona |
NA |
| Arkansas |
NA |
| California |
California Grizzly Bear
(Ursus californicus)
California State Animal -1953 |
| Colorado |
Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
(Ovis canadensis)
Colorado State Animal - May 1, 1961 |
| Connecticut |
Sperm Whale
(Physeter Macrosephalus)
Connecticut State Animal - 1975 |
| Delaware |
Grey Fox
(Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
Delaware State Wildlife Animal - Jun 10, 2010 |
| Florida |
Florida Panther
(Felis concolor coryi)
Florida State Animal - 1982 |
| Georgia |
NA |
| Hawaii |
NA |
| Idaho |
NA |
| Illinois |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
Illinois State Animal - 1982 |
| Indiana |
NA |
| Iowa |
NA |
| Kansas |
American Buffalo
(Bison bison)
Kansas State Animal - Mar 28,
1955 |
| Kentucky |
Gray Squirrel
(Sciurus carolinensis)
Kentucky State Wild Game Animal - 1968 |
| Louisiana |
NA |
| Maine |
Moose
(Alces alces)
Maine State Animal - 1979 |
| Maryland |
NA |
| Massachusetts |
NA |
| Michigan |
NA |
| Minnesota |
NA |
| Mississippi |
NA |
| Missouri |
Missouri Mule
(Equus spp.)
Missouri State Animal - May 31, 1995 |
| Montana |
Grizzly Bear
(Ursus arctos horribilis)
Montana State Animal - Apr 7, 1983 |
| Nebraska |
NA |
| Nevada |
Desert Bighorn Sheep
(Ovis canadensis nelsoni)
Nevada State Animal - 1973 |
| New Hampshire |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
New Hampshire State Animal - 1983 |
| New Jersey |
Horse
(Equus caballus)
New Jersey State Animal - Aug 14,
1977 |
| New Mexico |
Black Bear
(Ursus americanus)
New Mexico State Animal - Feb 8, 1963 |
| New York |
Beaver
(Castor canadensis)
New York State Animal - 1969 |
| North Carolina |
NA |
| North Dakota |
NA |
| Ohio |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
Ohio State Animal - 1988 |
| Oklahoma |
Bison
(Bison bison)
Oklahoma State Animal - 1972 |
| Oklahoma |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
Oklahoma State Game Animal - Jan 30, 1990 |
| Oklahoma |
Raccoon
(Procyon Lotor)
Oklahoma State Furbearing Animal - Jan 30, 1990 |
| Oregon |
Beaver
(Castor canadensis)
Oregon State Animal - 1969 |
| Pennsylvania |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
Pennsylvania State Animal - Oct 2, 1959 |
| Rhode Island |
NA |
| South Carolina |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
South Carolina State Animal -1972 |
| South Carolina |
Mule
(Equus asinus) (Equus caballus )
South Carolina State Heritage Work Animal - Jun 11, 2010 |
| South Dakota |
Coyote
(Canis latrans)
South Dakota State Animal - Mar 5, 1949 |
| Tennessee |
Raccoon
(Procynn lotor)
Tennessee State Wild Animal1972 |
| Texas |
NA |
| Utah |
Rocky Mountain elk
(Cervus canadensis)
Utah State Animal - Feb 1, 1971 |
| Vermont |
Morgan Horse
(Equs caballus)
Vermont State Animal - Mar 23, 1961 |
| Virginia |
NA |
| Washington |
NA |
| West Virginia |
Black Bear
(Ursus americanus)
West Virginia State Animal - Mar 23, 1973 |
| Wisconsin |
Badger
(Taxidea taxus)
Wisconsin State Animal - Jun 20, 1957 |
| Wisconsin |
Dairy Cow
(Bos taurus)
Wisconsin State Domestic Animal - 1971 |
| Wisconsin |
White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus)
Wisconsin State Wildlife Animal - 1957 |
| Wyoming |
NA |
State Mammals
Mammals are vertebrates (backboned animals) that feed their young on mother's milk.
