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.



State Animals Designation Only

State Symbols

Animal - Species - Designation - Adopted

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 Animal
1972
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
State Mammals & Animals
Mammals are vertebrates (backboned animals) that feed their young on mother's milk.