Discover the 8 Official State Animals of Colorado

Official state symbols have long been a sign of pride and tradition in the United States. Each of the 50 states has its own unique collection of official symbols, such as a state flag, seal, flower, and song. Each state also has animals that have been chosen as official symbols of the state. Colorado legislators have chosen eight animals to represent their state. Let’s explore each one, along with how and why it was chosen to represent The Centennial State.

State Bird: Lark Bunting

The lark bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) was named the state bird of Colorado in 1931, making it the first official animal symbol of the state. 

Lark buntings are migratory birds. The flocks arrive in Colorado in April, signaling the arrival of spring. Historically, some Colorado farmers would wait to plant certain crops until they saw the return of the lark bunting. That was a sure sign that the spring planting season had arrived. 

The lark bunting’s vocalizations, a mix of whistles and trills, are a welcome sound to Coloradans. It reminds them that the cold days of winter are giving way to the warmth of spring.

These birds are normally found in the plains regions to elevations up to 8,000 feet. Lark buntings remain in Colorado until September, when they head south ahead of the cold, snowy winter.

Female lark buntings are brown with white streaks. Interestingly, non-breeding males feature plumage very similar in color to females. However, during mating season, the male lark bunting’s appearance changes dramatically. Its plumage changes to black with distinct white wing patches, making the male appear as if he is wearing a tuxedo to attract a mate.

While the lark bunting still proliferates in Colorado in the spring and summer, the population has significantly declined in recent decades. This is likely due to habitat loss. Pesticides have also caused a steep decline in insects such as grasshoppers, the primary food source for the lark bunting.

State Animal: Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

The Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) was adopted as the official state animal in 1961.

Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep range throughout the Rockies from Alberta and British Columbia down to Arizona and New Mexico. Ewes typically stand about 34 inches tall at the shoulder and weigh around 135 pounds. Rams are significantly larger, standing up to 42 inches at the shoulder and weighing up to 300 pounds, making the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep the largest wild sheep in North America.

Coyotes and mountain lions are among the primary predators of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. The Rocky Mountain bighorn’s main protection is their climbing ability. They can scale craggy cliffs so perilous that many predators will think twice about following them.

However, predation is not the biggest challenge facing Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Habitat loss due to human development is an issue, and bacterial pneumonia carried by domestic sheep began affecting wild sheep in the early 2010s. The disease can be fatal for Rocky Mountain bighorns, especially lambs. Non-native species, such as mountain goats, also carry pathogens that can be lethal to these wild sheep.

State Fossil: Stegosaurus

Oramel Lucas, a Colorado schoolteacher, was deer hunting in Garden Park when he stumbled across some fossilized bones. Lucas informed well-known paleontologists O.C. Cope and E.D. Marsh, who were scouring the American West for prehistoric fossils, of his discovery. Because Cope and Marsh were bitter rivals, they jockeyed for position and access to the fossils.

In the end, the dispute between Cope and Marsh brought social and financial ruin to both men. But, in the midst of their dispute, numerous fossils were unearthed, including Marsh’s discovery of the first Stegosaurus skeleton near Morrison, Colorado.

There are only six individual Stegosaurus skeletons on public display within the United States.

The Push for Official State Status

When they learned about the discovery of the Stegosaurus fossils found in Colorado, a group of fourth-graders launched a two-year campaign to name it the official state fossil. Then-Governor Richard D. Lamm signed an executive order on April 28, 1982, which did exactly that.

The Stegosaurus stood up to 14 feet tall and reached a length of up to 30 feet.. It’s believed the beast weighed upwards of 15,000 pounds. Despite its large size, the dinosaur had quite a small brain. Some have even labeled it the dumbest dinosaur ever, although that is probably incorrect.

State Fish: Greenback Cutthroat Trout

Colorado’s waterways once teemed with greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki stomias). The population of this native trout was decimated through pollution from mining operations and the introduction of non-native fish species. Though the greenback cutthroat trout was declared extinct in 1937, small populations were discovered in 1957, 1965, and 1970. Following these discoveries, an intensive conservation effort was launched, which included the designation of the greenback cutthroat trout as the official fish of the state in 1994.

However, in a cruel twist, it was later determined that these fish were not true greenback cutthroat trout at all but rather a similar-looking subspecies. A massive effort had inadvertently been launched to save the wrong fish. It seemed as if the greenback cutthroat trout, now Colorado’s official state fish, was gone for good.

Then came an astounding discovery in 2012. A population of true greenback cutthroat trout was found in a small tributary of the Arkansas River known as Bear Creek. The fish occupied a 3.5-mile run in this creek located west of Colorado Springs. Interestingly, the fish is not native to this stretch of water. It seems that J.C. Jones, a homesteader and entrepreneur, was planning to build a hotel near Bear Creek in the 1870s. He stocked ponds on his homestead with fish, including greenback cutthroat trout, to build up his hotel’s appeal to anglers. 

Some of these greenback cutthroat trout found their way from these ponds into Bear Creek. Thanks to impassable waterfalls, the fish were isolated and survived in these waters for over 140 years until they were discovered in 2012. Jones’ hotel never materialized, but he may have unwittingly saved this trout species from extinction.

After the discovery of this one remaining population of greenback cutthroat trout, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) launched an attempt to save the species. The fish were reintroduced into other Colorado streams, including those in Herman Gulch near Loveland. However, it remains to be seen whether these reintroductions would be successful.

An Encouraging Sign

In 2022, CPW officials announced that the greenback cutthroat trout were reproducing on their own in the wild. While the signs are certainly encouraging, biologists caution that it will be quite a few years before there are fully restored greenback cutthroat trout populations throughout the state. The fish still faces significant challenges, including competition with the aggressive and invasive brook trout for food and habitat.

State Insect: Colorado Hairstreak Butterfly

The Colorado hairstreak butterfly (Hypaurotis crysalus) is native to Colorado. This montane butterfly is typically found in the scrub oak ecosystems on both sides of the Continental Divide at elevations of 6,500-9,000 feet.

When the butterfly is at rest, it closes its wings. The underside of the wings is a dull gray with white stripes. When the wings are opened, though, the butterfly reveals its vivid purple color with black and orange edge coloring. 

Along with Colorado, this hairstreak butterfly is found in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and southern Wyoming.

The beauty of the insect and its native Colorado range prompted Melinda Terry’s fourth-grade class at Wheeling Elementary School in Aurora, Colorado, to lobby lawmakers to adopt the butterfly as the official state insect. There was a bit of debate, with some lawmakers preferring the honey bee over this hairstreak butterfly to represent the state. The Colorado hairstreak butterfly triumphed, and it was named the official state insect of Colorado on April 17, 1996.

State Reptile: Western Painted Turtle

The Western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii)was selected as the state reptile by two of Jay Baichi’s fourth-grade classes in 2007 and 2008.

The students learned that the state lacked an official reptile, so they began researching reptiles that were native to the state. They decided that the Western painted turtle was the best representative reptile of Colorado because it is a common sight in the state’s ponds and lakes. Their efforts were rewarded when Then-Governor Bill Ritter signed HB 08-1017 on March 18, 2008, naming the Western painted turtle the official state reptile of Colorado.

Western painted turtles eat small fish, aquatic insects, and vegetation. Males grow to about eight inches long, while females can grow up to one foot in length. Western painted turtles can live for several decades, with wild individuals typically reaching 20 to 30 years, though some in captivity have been reported to live longer.

State Amphibian: Western Tiger Salamander

The Western tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium) was designated as the official state amphibian of Colorado in 2012. The adoption of this salamander as the state amphibian came through the efforts of students from multiple schools across the state.

These students selected the Western tiger salamander, also known as the barred tiger salamander, as the candidate for Colorado’s state amphibian because it is found in all 64 counties in the state. 

When the legislation was debated in the Colorado House of Representatives, a second candidate was presented for consideration as the state’s official amphibian: the Northern leopard frog. The proposal was dismissed, however, because the frog is only found in 58 of Colorado’s 64 counties. The Western tiger salamander was approved by the House, then by the Senate. Then-Governor John Hickenlooper signed the bill recognizing the Western tiger as the state amphibian of Colorado on March 16, 2012.

A Night Hunter

While this salamander is found throughout the state, many Coloradans may rarely, if ever, see it due to its nocturnal nature. This salamander appears at night to hunt insects, frogs, snails, slugs, worms, fish, and other salamanders. It has even been known to cannibalize its own species if no other food source is available.

The Western tiger salamander is among the largest salamander species. While most salamanders grow to around six inches, the Western tiger salamander can reach lengths of up to 14 inches.

State Pet: Rescue Dogs and Cats

Rescue dogs and cats were named the official state pets of Colorado in 2013. 

Colorado school children lobbied for the designation, but the bill was not without controversy. Some legislators wished for a purebred dog to be named the official state pet.

However, the bill won enough support to pass and was signed into law by then-Governor Hickenlooper on May 13, 2013. At the signing, which took place at a Denver animal shelter, Skye, the governor’s adopted shelter dog, was in attendance.