Discover the 5 Official State Animals of Michigan

Michigan is a unique and beautiful state with a wide variety of natural wonders. From its crystal-clear lakes to its rustic forests, there are a variety of suitable habitats for numerous animal species. Among the most iconic and beloved of the state’s wildlife are the four official state animals of Michigan. Michigan has kept its collection of official state symbols notably strict. All proposals require approval from both the legislative process and the current governor. Michigan has designated 17 official state symbols, five of which are animals. Continue reading to learn more about the four animals that have made the cut.

State Bird: American Robin

The American robin (Turdus migratorius) was designated Michigan’s state bird in 1931. Two years prior, the Michigan Audubon Society held a contest, with the finalists being the American robin and the black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus). Ultimately, the robin won, but today, some continue to lobby for the black-capped chickadee, as this bird is found in the Upper Peninsula year-round. American robins can be found year-round in both the Lower and Upper Peninsulas, although their numbers may fluctuate with the seasons.

Of the seven American robin subspecies, Eastern American robins (T. m. migratorius) are the most common in Michigan. They measure 8 to 11 inches long, have a wingspan of 12 to 16 inches, and weigh 2.7 to 3 ounces. Their tarsus measures 1.1 to 1.3 inches long, and their bills measure 0.71 to 0.87 inches.

State Fish: Brook Trout

In 1965, the brook trout was designated as the official state fish of Michigan. Then, for the next two decades, people debated exactly which trout species. In 1988, the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was specified as the official state fish of Michigan. Brook trout are native to Michigan, where they are found in streams, lakes, and rivers with cool, clear water. They are often seen swimming along rocky outcroppings, beneath logs, and under bank overhangs.

In the spring and summer, brook trout typically migrate upstream to find colder water in the tributary headwaters. They are native to the Great Lakes region and are found throughout Michigan’s Northern Lower Peninsula and all of its Upper Peninsula. Brook trout are blue-gray, olive, or black with brown, yellow, and green mottling. They measure 6 to 10 inches in streams or 21 to 26 inches in lakes, and weigh 1 to 5 pounds. Large specimens have measured up to 34 inches long and weighed up to 14 pounds, 9 ounces.

State Reptile: Painted Turtle 

The painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) was made the official state reptile of Michigan in 1995. Of its four subspecies, Michigan is home to two. Midland painted turtles (C. p. marginata) are found in both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas, and the Upper Peninsula is also home to Western painted turtles (C. p. bellii). Midland painted turtles measure 4 to 7 inches long, while Western painted turtles can measure up to 10 inches. They have dark olive to black skin, covered in red and yellow markings that look painted on. Their carapaces are olive to black, and their plastrons are yellow, sometimes red or with markings like the skin.

Painted turtles live in freshwater with soft beds and plenty of vegetation. Midland painted turtles are typically found in the quiet waters of shores and coves, primarily in the shallows where vegetation is dense. Western painted turtles live in streams and lakes, as well as ponds and roadside pools. They are omnivores that primarily feed on aquatic insects and vegetation.

State Game Animal: White-Tailed Deer

The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was designated the official state game mammal in 1997. These majestic animals can run 35 to 40 miles per hour, jump over 9-foot fences, and swim 13 miles per hour. They live in fields, forests, and even urban neighborhoods, where their ability to jump over fences helps them navigate these environments.

Although they have excellent eyesight, white-tailed deer are partially colorblind. When a white-tailed deer is in danger, it waves its small tail, exposing the white fur as a warning to other deer and animals in the area. Deer eat a wide variety of plants, fruits, and nuts, and give birth to fawns in May and June.

In 1997, a class of fourth-grade students in Zeeland, Michigan, successfully campaigned to have the white-tailed deer named Michigan’s official state game mammal. Through a civics project, the students discovered Michigan lacked a state mammal. The class wrote letters to legislators, followed the bill’s progress, and watched lawmakers approve the designation.

Fossil: Mastodon

The most recent animal to gain recognition as a state symbol of Michigan is ironically extinct. In 2002, Michigan appointed the Mastodon its official state fossil. The American mastodon (Mammut americanum) is the specific species to hold the title. Mastodons existed during the late Miocene epoch to the early Holocene epoch.

Mastodon remains are abundant across the state, and thanks to a massive lobbying campaign led by students at Slauson Middle School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to promote interest in Michigan’s prehistoric past.