Forty-four US states have designated an official state mammal, more than state reptiles (30 states) or state dogs (13 states), but fewer than state birds (all 50). Unlike state birds, where seven states all picked the northern cardinal, state mammals are remarkably diverse: the list includes grizzly bears, moose, armadillos, manatees, the Mexican free-tailed bat (a flying mammal!), a mule, a calico cat, and, in California, a grizzly bear that has been extinct in the state since 1922.
South Dakota was the first state to designate a state mammal, choosing the coyote in 1949. California’s grizzly bear followed in 1953, and a steady trickle of state mammal designations continued through the following decades, with notable bursts in the 1970s as the environmental movement pushed pollinator and wildlife protection into state legislatures. The most recent addition is Delaware’s gray fox (2010). Around 18 states honour the white-tailed deer in some form; eight states have bears; and several have separate designations for state land mammal, state marine mammal, state horse, state cat, and even state flying mammal.
This guide covers every US state mammal designation, when each was adopted, what the species is like, and why it was chosen. Jump straight to your state below, or read on for the complete story. For more state animal symbols, see our guides to state birds, state reptiles, state dog breeds and state insects.
Key facts about US state mammals
- 44 US states have designated an official state mammal or state animal that is a mammal. Six jurisdictions have none: Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
- First US state mammal: South Dakota’s coyote, designated in 1949.
- Most recent: Delaware’s gray fox, designated as state wildlife animal in 2010.
- Most popular state mammal: the white-tailed deer, picked by 11+ states either as state mammal or state game/wildlife animal.
- Most popular bear: the black bear, chosen by Alabama, Louisiana, New Mexico and West Virginia. Grizzly bears are California and Montana’s state animals.
- State with the most mammal designations: Texas, with three separate mammal categories, state small mammal (armadillo), state large mammal (Texas Longhorn), and state flying mammal (Mexican free-tailed bat).
- Only extinct state mammal: the California grizzly bear, extinct in California since 1922 but still on the state flag.
- Only state mammal that is a dolphin: bottlenose dolphin, designated as state water mammal by both Mississippi (1974) and South Carolina (2009).
How states pick their mammals
State mammal designations follow the usual legislative route: a state lawmaker introduces a bill nominating a species, the bill passes through committee review and floor vote, and if passed, the governor signs it into law. State mammals come with more political baggage than most state symbols, because picking a mammal often means picking between hunting interests, conservation interests and regional identity, and lawmakers have genuinely deadlocked over competing mammal bills in multiple states.
Three main rationales appear in state mammal designations:
- Regional ecology. The species is native, visible, and emblematic of the state’s landscape, Alaska’s moose, Nevada’s desert bighorn sheep, Florida’s panther, New Mexico’s black bear.
- Economic or agricultural importance. Several states picked domestic mammals, Wisconsin’s dairy cow, Missouri’s mule, Kentucky’s Thoroughbred horse, that represent significant state industries.
- Cultural or historical meaning. California’s grizzly bear appears on the state flag; Michigan is nicknamed the Wolverine State (though wolverines are no longer confirmed residents); Vermont’s Morgan horse was developed in Vermont and is central to the state’s equine identity.
Many state mammal bills have been driven by schoolchildren, as with state reptiles, birds and insects, mammal designations are civics-friendly bills that lawmakers rarely oppose. Texas’s 1995 “three mammals” designations (small, large, flying) were driven by a state-wide vote among Texas schoolchildren; Washington’s Olympic marmot was championed by elementary students at Wedgwood Elementary in Seattle.
State mammals at a glance
All US state mammal designations, including state land mammals, marine mammals, flying mammals, horses, cats and wildlife animals.
| State | State mammal(s) | Category | Year adopted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Black Bear | State mammal | 2006 |
| Alaska | Moose | State land mammal | 1998 |
| Alaska | Bowhead Whale | State marine mammal | 1983 |
| Arizona | Ringtail | State mammal | 1986 |
| Arkansas | White-tailed Deer | State mammal | 1993 |
| California | California Grizzly Bear | State animal | 1953 |
| Colorado | Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep | State animal | 1961 |
| Connecticut | Sperm Whale | State animal | 1975 |
| Delaware | Gray Fox | State wildlife animal | 2010 |
| Florida | Florida Panther | State animal | 1982 |
| Florida | Manatee | State marine mammal | 1975 |
| Georgia | White-tailed Deer | State mammal | 1983 |
| Georgia | North Atlantic Right Whale | State marine mammal | 1985 |
| Hawaii | Hawaiian Monk Seal | State mammal | 2008 |
| Hawaii | Humpback Whale | State marine mammal | 1979 |
| Idaho | Appaloosa Horse | State horse | 1975 |
| Illinois | White-tailed Deer | State animal | 1980 |
| Kansas | American Bison | State mammal | 1955 |
| Kentucky | Gray Squirrel | State wild animal | 1968 |
| Kentucky | Thoroughbred | State horse | 1996 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Black Bear | State mammal | 1992 |
| Maine | Moose | State animal | 1979 |
| Maryland | Calico Cat | State cat | 2001 |
| Massachusetts | North Atlantic Right Whale | State marine mammal | 1980 |
| Massachusetts | Morgan Horse | State horse | 1970 |
| Michigan | White-tailed Deer | State game mammal | 1997 |
| Mississippi | White-tailed Deer | State land mammal | 1974 |
| Mississippi | Bottlenose Dolphin | State water mammal | 1974 |
| Missouri | Missouri Mule | State animal | 1995 |
| Montana | Grizzly Bear | State animal | 1983 |
| Nebraska | White-tailed Deer | State mammal | 1981 |
| Nevada | Desert Bighorn Sheep | State animal | 1973 |
| New Hampshire | White-tailed Deer | State animal | 1983 |
| New Hampshire | Bobcat | State wildcat | 2015 |
| New Jersey | Horse | State animal | 1977 |
| New Mexico | American Black Bear | State animal | 1963 |
| New York | American Beaver | State animal | 1975 |
| North Carolina | Eastern Gray Squirrel | State mammal | 1969 |
| North Carolina | Virginia Opossum | State marsupial | 2013 |
| Ohio | White-tailed Deer | State animal | 1988 |
| Oklahoma | American Bison | State animal | 1972 |
| Oklahoma | Raccoon | State furbearer animal | 1989 |
| Oregon | American Beaver | State animal | 1969 |
| Pennsylvania | White-tailed Deer | State animal | 1959 |
| South Carolina | White-tailed Deer | State wildlife animal | 1972 |
| South Carolina | Bottlenose Dolphin | State migratory marine mammal | 2009 |
| South Carolina | Marsh Tacky | State heritage horse | 2010 |
| South Dakota | Coyote | State animal | 1949 |
| Tennessee | Raccoon | State wild animal | 1971 |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Walking Horse | State horse | 2000 |
| Texas | Nine-banded Armadillo | State small mammal | 1995 |
| Texas | Texas Longhorn | State large mammal | 1995 |
| Texas | Mexican Free-tailed Bat | State flying mammal | 1995 |
| Utah | Rocky Mountain Elk | State animal | 1971 |
| Vermont | Morgan Horse | State animal | 1961 |
| Washington | Olympic Marmot | State endemic mammal | 2009 |
| Washington | Orca | State marine mammal | 2005 |
| West Virginia | Black Bear | State animal | 1973 |
| Wisconsin | American Badger | State animal | 1957 |
| Wisconsin | White-tailed Deer | State wildlife animal | 1957 |
| Wisconsin | Dairy Cow | State domestic animal | 1971 |
| Wyoming | American Bison | State mammal | 1985 |
Most shared US state mammals
- White-tailed Deer (11+ states): Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin. The most ubiquitous mammal on the state symbol list, white-tailed deer are abundant across the eastern US and a major game species in every state that picked them.
- Black Bear (4 states): Alabama (state mammal), Louisiana (state mammal), New Mexico (state animal), West Virginia (state animal). Black bears are North America’s most widespread bear species, native to 40+ US states.
- American Bison (3 states): Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming. Bison are the national mammal of the United States (designated 2016) as well as the state mammal of these three.
- American Beaver (2 states): New York and Oregon. Oregon’s nickname is “The Beaver State,” and beavers appear on the Oregon flag.
- Morgan Horse (2 states): Massachusetts (state horse) and Vermont (state animal). Morgans were the first American horse breed and were developed in Vermont from a single stallion.
- North Atlantic Right Whale (2 states): Georgia and Massachusetts. Both states’ shores are on the species’ migration route.
- Bottlenose Dolphin (2 states): Mississippi and South Carolina.
The complete state-by-state guide
Alabama, Black Bear
Alabama designated the American black bear (Ursus americanus) as its state mammal in 2006. Alabama’s black bear population had collapsed to just a few dozen individuals by the 1990s, concentrated in the Mobile River basin and along the Alabama-Florida border; the designation was explicitly a conservation statement. Populations have since recovered significantly, recent estimates put the state’s black bear count at several hundred, though they remain listed as threatened within Alabama. Alabama also has a state game mammal: the white-tailed deer, designated in 1969.
Alaska, Moose & Bowhead Whale
Alaska designated the moose (Alces alces gigas, the Alaskan subspecies) as state land mammal in 1998 and the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) as state marine mammal in 1983. Alaskan moose are the largest deer on Earth, bulls weigh up to 700 kg and stand 2 metres at the shoulder, and roughly 175,000 live in the state. Bowhead whales are equally Arctic: they navigate sea ice using their massive, reinforced skulls to break through pack ice for air, can live over 200 years (the longest-lived mammal on the planet), and remain a cultural and subsistence cornerstone of Alaska’s Iñupiat communities.
Arizona, Ringtail
Arizona designated the ringtail (Bassariscus astutus) as its state mammal in 1986. Despite the nickname “ring-tailed cat,” the ringtail isn’t a cat at all, it’s a member of the raccoon family (Procyonidae). These slender, fox-like animals are famously agile climbers that can rotate their hind feet 180 degrees to descend vertical cliff faces head-first. Ringtails were once kept by miners and settlers as “miners’ cats” to control rodent populations in cabins and mines. They’re nocturnal, widespread across Arizona’s canyons and rocky terrain, but rarely seen.
Arkansas, White-tailed Deer
Arkansas designated the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) as state mammal in 1993. Arkansas’s deer population crashed to just a few hundred in the 1920s due to unregulated hunting, but intensive state-led recovery programmes starting in the 1940s have brought the population back to around 1 million. White-tailed deer are now the dominant large herbivore across the state’s Ozark and Ouachita forests and are central to Arkansas’s $500 million annual hunting economy.
California, California Grizzly Bear
California designated the California grizzly bear (Ursus arctos californicus) as its state animal in 1953, 31 years after the last confirmed California grizzly was killed in Tulare County in 1922. The California grizzly was a distinct population that once roamed the entire state; early 19th-century accounts describe thousands of bears in the Central Valley alone. They were hunted to extinction in under a century. The California state flag still features a grizzly bear, making it one of the most striking symbolic anomalies in US state symbolism: a state animal that no longer exists within the state. For a closer look at the body structure, claws, and shoulder hump that distinguish grizzlies from black bears, see our Grizzly Bear Anatomy guide.
Colorado, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep
Colorado designated the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) as its state animal in 1961. Bighorn rams have some of the most extraordinary skulls in the mammal world, the horns can weigh over 14 kg, more than the rest of the skeleton combined, and ram-on-ram clashes during the rut produce impacts equivalent to a low-speed car crash, which the sheep survive due to a reinforced double skull wall and a flexible tendon system. Colorado’s bighorn population is concentrated in the Rocky Mountains above the tree line, where the species’ exceptional climbing skill keeps them safe from most predators.
Connecticut, Sperm Whale
Connecticut designated the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) as its state animal in 1975 to honour the state’s 19th-century whaling history. New London, CT was one of the major American whaling ports, with fleets sailing as far as the Pacific in pursuit of sperm whales. The species is the largest toothed predator on Earth, males reach 20 metres and 57 tonnes, and has the largest brain of any animal, averaging 7-9 kg (roughly six times the size of a human brain). Sperm whales can dive to 2,000 metres and hold their breath for 90 minutes while hunting giant squid.
Delaware, Gray Fox
Delaware designated the gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) as its state wildlife animal in 2010, the most recent US state mammal designation. The gray fox is the only North American canid that regularly climbs trees, thanks to its rotatable hooked claws. Delaware’s gray fox population is stable across the state’s remaining forests and is one of several native species making a comeback as abandoned farmland reverts to secondary forest. Unlike red foxes, which are largely European-imported, gray foxes are native to North America and are the only surviving members of an otherwise extinct genus.
Florida, Florida Panther & Manatee
Florida has two mammal designations: the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) as state animal (1982) and the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) as state marine mammal (1975). The Florida panther is a critically endangered subspecies of puma, with fewer than 200 individuals surviving in the wild, almost all of them in the Big Cypress Preserve and Everglades National Park. Manatees are large, slow-moving aquatic herbivores that graze on seagrass in Florida’s warm coastal waters; they’re related to elephants, and their closest living relative is the elephant. Both species are federally protected.
Georgia, White-tailed Deer & North Atlantic Right Whale
Georgia designated the white-tailed deer as state mammal in 1983 and the North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) as state marine mammal in 1985. Georgia is the only state where North Atlantic right whales reliably give birth; the coastal waters off Savannah are the species’ primary calving ground each winter. Right whales are among the most endangered large whales on Earth, fewer than 350 remain, and population growth is severely limited by ship strikes and fishing-gear entanglement along the US Atlantic coast.
Hawaii, Hawaiian Monk Seal & Humpback Whale
Hawaii has two mammal designations: the Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi) as state mammal (2008) and the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) as state marine mammal (1979). The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the rarest seals in the world with around 1,500 individuals, all endemic to Hawaii. Humpback whales migrate from Alaskan feeding grounds to Hawaii’s warm waters every winter to breed and give birth, and the annual “whale season” from November through May is a major Hawaii tourism draw. Hawaii is the only US state with mammals that evolved in geographical isolation on the islands.
Idaho, Appaloosa Horse
Idaho designated the Appaloosa (Equus ferus caballus) as its state horse in 1975. The breed was developed by the Nez Perce people of the Palouse region of what is now Idaho, Oregon and Washington, and is named for the Palouse River. Appaloosas are famous for their striking spotted coat patterns, typically a solid-coloured front and a white “blanket” with dark spots over the hindquarters. The breed was nearly destroyed when the US Army systematically killed Nez Perce horses following Chief Joseph’s surrender in 1877, but was rebuilt from remnant bloodlines starting in 1938.
Illinois, White-tailed Deer
Illinois designated the white-tailed deer as its state animal in 1980 after a state-wide schoolchildren’s vote. Illinois’s deer population was nearly extirpated by the early 1900s, but reintroductions and habitat recovery have made it one of the most abundant large mammals in the state today, perhaps 800,000 individuals statewide. Illinois’s agricultural landscape is now so dense with edge habitat (forest meeting cropland) that it’s ideal for white-tailed deer, whose population has arguably exceeded pre-colonial levels.
Kansas, American Bison
Kansas designated the American bison (Bison bison) as state mammal in 1955, one of the earliest state mammal designations. The 1800s-era slaughter of bison reduced the North American population from an estimated 30-60 million to fewer than 1,000 animals; many of the bison that repopulated the Great Plains in the 20th century are descended from small preserved herds, several in Kansas. The state’s Maxwell Wildlife Refuge and Tallgrass Prairie Preserve together maintain a combined herd of around 300 bison, a fraction of the hundreds of thousands that once grazed the Kansas prairies.
Kentucky, Gray Squirrel & Thoroughbred
Kentucky designated the gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) as state wild animal in 1968 and the Thoroughbred (Equus ferus caballus) as state horse in 1996. Kentucky is synonymous with Thoroughbred racing, the state’s limestone-rich bluegrass regions produce strong-boned horses that have dominated the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and most other major American races for over a century. The breed originated in 17th-century England from three foundation stallions but was refined in the American South and particularly in Kentucky.
Louisiana, Louisiana Black Bear
Louisiana designated the Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) as state mammal in 1992. The subspecies was federally listed as threatened in 1992 (the same year as the designation) and was one of the inspirations for the “teddy bear”, President Theodore Roosevelt famously refused to shoot a Louisiana black bear on a 1902 Mississippi-Louisiana hunt, and the Washington Post cartoon commemorating the incident led to the creation of the toy. The Louisiana black bear was delisted in 2016 after habitat recovery, making it one of the great American wildlife recovery stories.
Maine, Moose
Maine designated the moose (Alces alces) as its state animal in 1979. Maine has the largest moose population in the lower 48 states, roughly 60,000-70,000 animals across the forested northern two-thirds of the state, and moose are deeply embedded in Maine’s cultural identity, from Stephen King novels to state tourism. Maine’s moose population has declined significantly in recent years due to winter tick infestations, a problem that has worsened as winters have warmed. The annual moose hunt remains one of the most competitive draw lotteries in the US hunting calendar.
Maryland, Calico Cat
Maryland designated the calico cat (Felis catus) as state cat in 2001, one of the few state-mammal designations that honours a domestic rather than wild animal. Calico isn’t a breed but a colouration pattern: white with patches of black and orange, found only in female cats due to the genetics of coat-colour inheritance (the gene sits on the X chromosome). Maryland’s choice nods to the state flag, whose black, gold and red matches the calico pattern. Maryland’s state cat is not, strictly speaking, a state mammal, but it is the closest thing Maryland has in the mammal category.
Massachusetts, North Atlantic Right Whale & Morgan Horse
Massachusetts designated the North Atlantic right whale as state marine mammal in 1980 and the Morgan horse as state horse in 1970. Massachusetts’s coastal waters, particularly Cape Cod Bay, are critical feeding habitat for right whales each spring, when the whales arrive to feed on dense copepod blooms. The Morgan horse is America’s oldest native horse breed, developed from a single 1789 stallion named Figure owned by Vermont schoolteacher Justin Morgan. Morgans are compact, muscular, surefooted horses that were used as cavalry mounts in the American Civil War.
Michigan, White-tailed Deer
Michigan designated the white-tailed deer as state game mammal in 1997. Michigan is nicknamed the “Wolverine State,” though wolverines are not believed to have been present in Michigan for at least a century (one was sighted in 2004 but it was a transient). The state’s deer population is among the largest in the country, roughly 1.7 million animals, and Michigan’s annual deer hunting season generates hundreds of millions of dollars for the state economy. The deer designation, not the wolverine, reflects which mammal actually lives in the state today.
Mississippi, White-tailed Deer & Bottlenose Dolphin
Mississippi designated the white-tailed deer as state land mammal and the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) as state water mammal, both in 1974. Bottlenose dolphins are the most familiar dolphin species worldwide, known for their intelligence, curious nature, and complex social structures. Mississippi’s Gulf Coast is home to resident bottlenose dolphin populations that have lived in the region for generations, the coastal groups are often observed feeding cooperatively, driving schools of fish onto mud banks in what’s known as “strand feeding.”
Missouri, Missouri Mule
Missouri designated the Missouri Mule as its state animal in 1995. Mules are the sterile offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, combining the donkey’s surefootedness and endurance with the horse’s size and strength. Missouri became the mule capital of the US in the early 1800s thanks to George Washington’s original breeding programme (Washington received two Spanish donkeys from King Charles III of Spain in 1785, kickstarting American mule breeding). By the early 1900s Missouri produced over 300,000 mules a year, used as pack animals across the US military, agriculture, and westward expansion.
Montana, Grizzly Bear
Montana designated the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) as its state animal in 1983 after a schoolchildren’s campaign. Montana is one of only four lower-48 states where wild grizzlies still survive, about 2,000 live across the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems, though the species was nearly extirpated from the state in the mid-20th century. Grizzlies are classified as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Montana grizzlies weigh 135-315 kg, eat a mixed diet of roots, berries, salmon (in some populations) and occasional elk calves, and can run at up to 55 km/h despite their bulk.
Nebraska, White-tailed Deer
Nebraska designated the white-tailed deer as state mammal in 1981. Nebraska’s white-tailed population has expanded dramatically over the past century as shelterbelts, abandoned homesteads and reverting farmland have created ideal deer habitat across the formerly open plains. Nebraska is also one of only a handful of states where mule deer and white-tailed deer overlap significantly; the two species often co-occur along the state’s central rivers. Nebraska’s Platte River corridor is a critical migration route for a range of large-mammal species.
Nevada, Desert Bighorn Sheep
Nevada designated the desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) as its state animal in 1973. Desert bighorns are the smaller, lighter-coloured cousins of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain bighorns, adapted to the arid mountain ranges of the American Southwest. They can go for days without drinking and extract most of their water from the plants they eat. Nevada holds the largest desert bighorn population in the US, roughly 10,000 animals across the state’s basin and range terrain, thanks to aggressive translocation programmes that have restored the species to mountain ranges where it had been extirpated.
New Hampshire, White-tailed Deer & Bobcat
New Hampshire designated the white-tailed deer as its state animal in 1983 and added the bobcat (Lynx rufus) as state wildcat in 2015. Bobcats are North America’s most widespread wild cat, present in every New Hampshire county. They’re medium-sized (8-15 kg), solitary, and famously difficult to spot despite being common, a single bobcat typically occupies a territory of 10-30 km² and moves through it entirely by stealth. New Hampshire’s bobcat population has recovered significantly in recent decades as abandoned farmland has reverted to woodland.
New Jersey, Horse
New Jersey designated the horse (Equus ferus caballus) as its state animal in 1977, without specifying a particular breed. The choice honours New Jersey’s extensive horse industry, which remains one of the largest in the eastern US by hectares of horse farms. New Jersey was historically important for American Standardbred harness racing and Thoroughbred breeding, with major stud farms in Monmouth and Somerset counties. The designation came from a state-wide schoolchildren’s vote, with horse beating out shore birds and the eastern gray squirrel.
New Mexico, American Black Bear
New Mexico designated the American black bear as its state animal in 1963. The choice was made partly in response to the famous case of Smokey Bear, a real American black bear cub rescued from a 1950 wildfire in New Mexico’s Capitan Mountains, who became the living embodiment of the US Forest Service’s Smokey Bear fire-prevention mascot. Smokey lived at the National Zoo in Washington, DC from 1950 until his death in 1976 and is buried in Capitan, NM. New Mexico’s wild black bear population remains healthy across the state’s mountain ranges.
New York, American Beaver
New York designated the American beaver (Castor canadensis) as state animal in 1975. Beavers had been extirpated from most of New York by 1900 due to trapping for the fur trade; a handful of survivors in the Adirondacks and reintroductions from Canada allowed the population to recover. Beavers are the largest rodent in North America (15-40 kg), and the second-largest rodent in the world after the capybara. Their dams and lodges reshape watersheds at a landscape scale, creating wetland habitat used by hundreds of other species.
North Carolina, Gray Squirrel & Virginia Opossum
North Carolina designated the eastern gray squirrel as state mammal in 1969 and added the Virginia opossum as state marsupial in 2013. Opossums are the only marsupials native to North America, their closest living relatives are the kangaroos of Australia. Despite their reputation for looking slow and clumsy, they’re remarkably adaptable; they’re resistant to most snake venoms, rarely contract rabies, and eat thousands of ticks per month, making them important natural tick control. North Carolina is one of only two US states (the other is Tennessee) that has specifically honoured the opossum.
Ohio, White-tailed Deer
Ohio designated the white-tailed deer as its state animal in 1988. Deer had been extirpated from Ohio by the 1890s, but careful management starting in the 1920s has restored them to every Ohio county. Ohio now has about 700,000 deer statewide, supporting an annual hunting season that generates roughly $300 million for the state economy. Ohio’s deer population has grown so substantially that deer-vehicle collisions are now among the most common causes of suburban car accidents in the state’s more rural counties.
Oklahoma, American Bison & Raccoon
Oklahoma designated the American bison as state animal in 1972 and the raccoon (Procyon lotor) as state furbearer animal in 1989. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Oklahoma holds one of the US’s oldest and most genetically important bison herds, descended from animals translocated from the Bronx Zoo in 1907 as part of a desperate last-ditch effort to save the species from extinction. Raccoons are Oklahoma’s most hunted and trapped fur-bearer; the species has shown remarkable adaptability to Oklahoma’s mix of urban, agricultural and forested landscapes.
Oregon, American Beaver
Oregon designated the American beaver as state animal in 1969, solidifying a connection that predates statehood, Oregon’s nickname is “The Beaver State,” and the beaver appears on the reverse of the state flag. Oregon’s beaver populations were decimated by the Hudson’s Bay Company’s 19th-century fur-trapping campaigns, which were explicitly designed to create a “fur desert” across the Pacific Northwest to deter American settlement. Beavers are now recovering in Oregon watersheds, and state agencies increasingly encourage beaver reintroduction as a low-cost tool for restoring damaged riparian ecosystems.
Pennsylvania, White-tailed Deer
Pennsylvania designated the white-tailed deer as state animal in 1959, making it one of the earliest deer designations. Pennsylvania has one of the longest-running and most intensive deer management programmes in the US; the state’s deer hunt is a cultural institution, with opening day of rifle season historically being a school holiday in many Pennsylvania counties. Pennsylvania’s deer population reached an unsustainable peak of around 1.5 million in the 1990s before modern management reduced it to roughly 1 million today, still enough to make the state one of the deer-densest in the country.
South Carolina, White-tailed Deer, Bottlenose Dolphin & Marsh Tacky
South Carolina has three mammal designations: white-tailed deer as state wildlife animal (1972), bottlenose dolphin as state migratory marine mammal (2009), and the Marsh Tacky as state heritage horse (2010). The Marsh Tacky is a rare Colonial Spanish horse breed that evolved from animals brought to the Carolina Lowcountry by 16th-century Spanish explorers; the breed became essential to Gullah and Geechee communities along the coast, used for transport, hunting and work. Fewer than 400 Marsh Tackies survive, making them one of the rarest horse breeds in the world.
South Dakota, Coyote
South Dakota designated the coyote (Canis latrans) as state animal in 1949, making it the first US state mammal designation, predating California’s grizzly by four years. Coyotes are one of the great ecological success stories of 20th-century North America: they’ve actively expanded their range eastward as wolves were extirpated, reaching every US state except Hawaii and colonising major cities including Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. South Dakota coyotes are opportunistic omnivores, eating everything from voles and rabbits to windfall fruit and road-killed deer.
Tennessee, Raccoon & Tennessee Walking Horse
Tennessee designated the raccoon as state wild animal in 1971 and the Tennessee Walking Horse as state horse in 2000. Raccoons are iconic across the American South for their intelligence, dexterity (their front paws have nearly as many tactile receptors as human hands) and their fondness for raiding campsites and trash bins. The Tennessee Walking Horse is a breed developed in middle Tennessee in the 19th century, prized for its distinctive “running walk”, a smooth four-beat gait that allows riders to cover ground quickly without bouncing in the saddle. The breed is central to Tennessee’s equestrian and horse-show culture.
Texas, Armadillo, Longhorn & Mexican Free-tailed Bat
Texas designated three state mammals in 1995: the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) as state small mammal, the Texas Longhorn (Bos taurus) as state large mammal, and the Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) as state flying mammal. Austin’s Congress Avenue Bridge shelters the largest urban bat colony in the world, with roughly 1.5 million Mexican free-tails roosting under the bridge each summer; their nightly emergence at dusk is a major Austin tourist attraction. The Texas Longhorn descends from Spanish cattle brought to the Americas in the 15th century. Armadillos are Texas’s most distinctive small mammal, expanding their range northward into Oklahoma, Arkansas and beyond.
Utah, Rocky Mountain Elk
Utah designated the Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) as its state animal in 1971. Utah’s elk population has grown from near-extirpation in the early 20th century to around 80,000 animals today, making it one of the most important US elk populations. Rocky Mountain elk are the largest elk subspecies in North America, mature bulls weigh up to 500 kg and carry antlers that can span 1.5 metres. The autumn bugle of a rutting bull elk is one of the iconic sounds of the Rocky Mountains and a key feature of Utah’s late-September tourism season.
Vermont, Morgan Horse
Vermont designated the Morgan horse as state animal in 1961. The breed is entirely native to Vermont, traced to a single stallion named Figure (later called Justin Morgan after his owner) born around 1789. Morgans are compact, muscular and remarkably versatile, used for riding, driving, packing, farm work and cavalry. Justin Morgan the horse was small (14 hands) but stronger than much larger horses, winning weight-pulling contests against teams of draft horses in the 1790s-1800s. Vermont’s UVM Morgan Horse Farm in Weybridge is the historic breeding centre for the breed and remains open to visitors.
Washington, Olympic Marmot & Orca
Washington designated the Olympic marmot (Marmota olympus) as state endemic mammal in 2009 and the orca (Orcinus orca) as state marine mammal in 2005. The Olympic marmot lives only in the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, one of the most geographically restricted mammals in the US. It’s a large ground squirrel (up to 8 kg) that hibernates for eight months of the year, emerging briefly in summer to graze alpine meadows. Washington’s orcas, particularly the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales of Puget Sound, are among the most studied cetaceans in the world. Fewer than 75 Southern Residents survive, with the population struggling against shrinking Chinook salmon runs.
West Virginia, Black Bear
West Virginia designated the American black bear as state animal in 1973. West Virginia has one of the densest black bear populations in the eastern US, roughly 12,000-14,000 animals across the state’s Appalachian forests. Black bears recovered in West Virginia from near-extirpation in the 1930s, and the state now has year-round breeding populations in every county. The West Virginia University Mountaineers use “mountaineer” imagery, but black bears are the state’s true mammal emblem and appear on state tourism branding, Department of Natural Resources materials and many local school mascots.
Wisconsin, Badger, White-tailed Deer & Dairy Cow
Wisconsin has three mammal designations: the American badger (Taxidea taxus) as state animal (1957), the white-tailed deer as state wildlife animal (1957), and the dairy cow as state domestic animal (1971). Wisconsin’s nickname is “The Badger State,” but the name originally referred to early 19th-century Wisconsin lead miners who dug into hillsides like badgers, not to the badger itself, which is relatively uncommon in the state. The dairy cow designation reflects Wisconsin’s position as “America’s Dairyland”, the state produces more cheese than any other US state by volume.
Wyoming, American Bison
Wyoming designated the American bison as state mammal in 1985. Wyoming hosts Yellowstone National Park, which holds the only continuously-existing wild bison herd in the US, animals that have lived in place since the 19th-century slaughter years rather than being reintroduced. Yellowstone’s bison population today is roughly 4,500-5,000, and the herd is genetically one of the most important in the world because of its lack of cattle gene introgression. Wyoming’s designation came in the same year that bison populations had fully recovered from their 1890s low of fewer than 1,000 animals.
US states without a state mammal
Six states and DC have no official state mammal of any kind: Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Virginia has a state bat (Virginia Big-Eared Bat, 2005) but no broader mammal designation. Minnesota has considered multiple mammal designations, most recently the Eastern Timber Wolf and the White-tailed Deer, but has never passed one. Indiana designates a state insect, bird, reptile and tree, but its legislature has deadlocked on mammal bills in multiple sessions. These states will likely eventually pick one, but the pattern shows that mammal choices are among the harder state symbol bills to pass.
Notable firsts and quirky facts about US state mammals
- First US state mammal: South Dakota’s coyote, 1949.
- Most recent: Delaware’s gray fox, 2010.
- Only state whose state animal is extinct in the state: California (grizzly bear).
- Most state mammal designations: Texas (3, small mammal, large mammal, flying mammal), Wisconsin (3, state animal, state wildlife animal, state domestic animal).
- Longest-lived state mammal: Alaska’s bowhead whale (over 200 years documented).
- Smallest state mammal: Mexican free-tailed bat (Texas), weighing just 11-14 grams.
- Largest state mammal by weight: sperm whale (Connecticut) at 57 tonnes.
- Fastest state mammal: Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Colorado), which can cross vertical cliff faces as if horizontal.
- Only state mammal that inspired a toy: Louisiana’s black bear (the original “teddy bear”).
- Only state mammal that inspired a fire safety mascot: New Mexico’s black bear (Smokey Bear).
- Only state mammal that sleeps 8 months a year: Washington’s Olympic marmot.
- Only state mammal that can float for months as a hibernator: Alaska’s bowhead whale (actually doesn’t hibernate, but can remain under Arctic ice for hours at a time).
Frequently asked questions about US state mammals
How many US states have a state mammal?
44 US states have designated an official state mammal or state animal that is a mammal. Six jurisdictions have none: Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Several states have multiple mammal designations (state mammal, state marine mammal, state horse, state cat, etc.), so the total number of designated mammal symbols exceeds 50.
Which state was first to pick a state mammal?
South Dakota was the first, designating the coyote as state animal in 1949. California (grizzly bear, 1953) and Kansas (American bison, 1955) followed in the next few years. Most state mammal designations came in the 1970s and 1980s.
What is the most common US state mammal?
The white-tailed deer is the most common US state mammal, designated by at least 11 states (Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Wisconsin) as either state mammal, state animal, or state wildlife/game animal. The black bear is the most commonly chosen bear, picked by four states.
What is the most recent US state mammal designation?
Delaware’s gray fox, designated as state wildlife animal in 2010, is the most recent. Before that, Washington’s Olympic marmot (2009) and Hawaii’s Hawaiian monk seal (2008) were the most recent.
Which US states don’t have a state mammal?
Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Virginia and the District of Columbia have no state mammal. Virginia has a state bat (Virginia Big-Eared Bat, 2005) but no broader mammal designation. Each of these jurisdictions has seen mammal bills considered in the legislature, but none have passed.
Is California’s state grizzly bear really extinct?
Yes. California’s state animal, the California grizzly bear (Ursus arctos californicus), has been extinct in California since 1922, when the last confirmed individual was killed in Tulare County. The species was hunted to extinction through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The California state flag, adopted in 1911, still features a grizzly, and the bear was formally designated state animal in 1953, 31 years after the last California grizzly was shot.
Which state has the most state mammal designations?
Texas has three specifically mammal designations, state small mammal (armadillo), state large mammal (Texas Longhorn), and state flying mammal (Mexican free-tailed bat), all designated in 1995. Wisconsin also has three mammal-related designations: state animal (badger), state wildlife animal (white-tailed deer) and state domestic animal (dairy cow).
What is the US national mammal?
The American bison (Bison bison) was designated the national mammal of the United States in 2016 by an act of Congress (the National Bison Legacy Act), signed by President Obama on May 9, 2016. Bison are also the state mammal of Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming. The US national bird is the bald eagle, but before 2016 there was no national mammal.
Which state mammals are endangered?
Several state mammals are listed as threatened or endangered under the US Endangered Species Act: Florida’s panther (endangered), Hawaii’s monk seal (endangered), Georgia and Massachusetts’s North Atlantic right whale (critically endangered), Florida’s manatee (threatened), Washington’s orca (the Southern Resident population is endangered). California’s grizzly bear is extinct in California, though the subspecies classification is debated.
Can a US state have multiple state mammals?
Yes. Many states have more than one mammal designation across different categories, typically combining a state mammal or state animal with a state marine mammal, state horse, state cat, or similar subcategory. Texas (3 specific mammal designations), Wisconsin (3), Alaska (2), Florida (2), Hawaii (2), Massachusetts (2), Oklahoma (2), South Carolina (3), and others have multiple mammal-related designations.
Explore more US state symbols: state birds · state reptiles · state dog breeds · state insects. Or explore the wider mammals hub for detailed species guides., state marine mammals, state fish, state butterflies, state horses, state amphibians, state fossils