Discover the 12 Official State Animals of New Hampshire

Official state animals are a long-standing tradition in the United States. Each of the 50 states has its own collection of animal representatives that uniquely reflect the state’s culture, geography, ecological diversity, and history. New Hampshire has adopted a dozen animals as official symbols. Continue reading to discover the 12 animals chosen to represent the Granite State.

State Bird: Purple Finch

The purple finch (Haemorhous purpureus) became the first official animal of New Hampshire when it was named the state bird in 1957.

Purple finches, colloquially known as American rosefinches, can be found in New Hampshire throughout the spring, summer, and fall. In winter, they migrate south to escape the cold and snow.

When the purple finch was proposed as the state bird, the bill faced some opposition. Some legislators preferred the crow or blue jay, birds that remain in the state year-round. There was also a proposal to name the New Hampshire hen as the state bird. Ultimately, the purple finch garnered enough support, and state lawmakers passed the bill naming it the official avian symbol of the state.

The female purple finch is brown and white.

The purple finch is a small bird, measuring around six inches in length and weighing less than one ounce. Contrary to its name, the purple finch isn’t actually purple. Instead, the male is a red wine color while the female has a brown backside and a white breast with brown stripes. The vocalizations of the purple finch are a variety of loud, cheery warbles and songs.

New Hampshire is the only state to recognize the purple finch as its state bird.

State Insect: Seven-spotted Ladybug

A group of fifth-grade students from Broken Ground grammar school in Concord, New Hampshire, petitioned state legislators to name the seven-spotted ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata) the official state insect of New Hampshire in 1977. After a surprising amount of procedural wrangling, the bill was approved.

The seven-spotted ladybug is a dome-shaped beetle with orange-red wing covers (elytra) adorned with seven distinct black spots.

Seven-spotted ladybugs are vital to farmers and gardeners because they eat many destructive pests. The ladybug’s preferred prey is aphids. An aphid infestation can quickly destroy a plant. However, one ladybug can eat up to 50 aphids per day. They also feed on scale, mealybugs, mites, and other destructive insects.

State Animal: White-Tailed Deer

The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was named the official state animal of New Hampshire in 1983.

In their adoption of the white-tailed deer as their state animal, New Hampshire legislators recognized the importance of the deer to both indigenous peoples and early European colonists. The deer was a vital food source, and its hide was used in a variety of applications. The deer continues to provide revenue to the state through the annual deer hunting season, as well.

There are an estimated 100,000 white-tailed deer in the state today.

State Amphibian: Red-Spotted Newt

The red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) is the official state amphibian of New Hampshire. A group of high school students advocated for this official recognition for over two years. New Hampshire legislators listened and named the red-spotted newt the official state amphibian in 1985.

The United States has the highest salamander diversity in the world. Seven of the eight salamander families are found within its borders. The Eastern U.S., specifically, is home to more native salamanders than anywhere else on earth.

The red-spotted newt is one of the most common salamanders in New Hampshire and one of the most widely distributed salamander species in the United States. This newt is found around permanent bodies of water such as marshes, ponds, and shallow lakes.

State Butterfly: Karner Blue Butterfly

The Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) was named the official state butterfly of New Hampshire in 1992 to call attention to the plight of this lovely butterfly. This was the same year the Karner blue butterfly, sometimes called the Melissa blue butterfly, was classified as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. 

This small butterfly once ranged from Wisconsin to the Atlantic coast. Today, populations are only found in small pockets in Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Wild blue lupine (Lupinus perennis) is the only plant Karner blue larvae eat. As the plant is removed from the butterfly’s native habitat, the Karner Blue population declines. The Karner blue butterfly was thought to be extirpated in New Hampshire in 1999. 

Conservation efforts have since brought the butterfly back to the Granite State, albeit in much smaller numbers than its historic populations. New Hampshire Fish and Game enforce legal protections for the butterfly in the state. Prescribed burns are conducted in the state to reduce leaf litter and to kill non-native plants. This allows openings for native pine barren vegetation to grow, including the wild blue lupine needed for the Karner blue butterfly larvae. It’s all part of the greater effort to bring the state butterfly back to its native New Hampshire.

State Freshwater Game Fish: Brook Trout

The brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was designated the official freshwater game fish of New Hampshire in 1994. While other non-native species have been introduced into New Hampshire waters, such as brown and rainbow trout, the brook trout is the only trout species native to the state. 

Brook trout typically grow around 10-12 inches long and weigh 1-2 pounds. The record catch of a New Hampshire brook trout is the longest-standing fishing record in the state. On May 8, 1911, A. Val Woodruff landed a huge brook trout weighing nine pounds and measuring 25.5 inches long! It’s no surprise the record has stood so long. Many wonder if it will ever be broken.

Brook trout thrive in New Hampshire’s climate. The cold winters and temperate summers help the brook trout’s watery habitat remain cold. It is rare to find a brook trout in water that exceeds 70°F.

Brook trout require exceptionally clean water, making these trout excellent symbols of conservation for the waterways of New Hampshire.

State Game Fish (Saltwater): Striped Bass

Lawmakers chose the striped bass (Morone saxatilis) as the official saltwater game fish of New Hampshire in 1994.

Striped bass, or stripers, are named for the black stripes that run along their sides. These fish are the most sought-after coastal sport fish by New Hampshire anglers.

Striped bass normally grow to 20-34 inches long and weigh 20-40 pounds. The state record striper in New Hampshire was caught on June 26, 1980, when Robert A. Lindholm landed a 60-pound striper measuring 51 inches long.

Although the striped bass is the state’s official saltwater game fish, the fish is actually anadromous, meaning it spends the majority of its life in saltwater, moving to freshwater to spawn.

This migratory fish can normally be found in Great Bay from May through October. Striped bass migrate south during the colder months.

State Dog: Chinook

The Chinook (Canis lupus) was recognized as the official state dog of New Hampshire in 2009. The idea for the state dog originated with a group of seventh graders at the Ross A. Lurgio Middle School in Bedford, New Hampshire.

The Chinook is the only dog breed that originated in New Hampshire. In the early 20th century, a polar explorer from New Hampshire named Arthur Treadwell Walden bred the Chinook to serve as a sled dog.

Chinooks are working dogs that are highly intelligent, loyal, and calm. They are friendly and sociable both with people and other dogs. 

The Chinook is a rare breed. In fact, the  Guinness Book of World Records listed the Chinook as the world’s rarest dog breed in 1965. By 1981, only 28 Chinooks remained and many were either senior dogs or had been neutered. Only 11 were still suitable for breeding. Three breeders took charge of those 11 dogs and brought the breed back from the brink of extinction. The number of Chinooks has steadily increased ever since, although the breed is still quite rare compared to many other dog breeds.

State Poultry: New Hampshire Red Chicken

The New Hampshire Red chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) was named the state poultry of New Hampshire in 2018. A group of fourth-grade students from Canaan Elementary School in Canaan, New Hampshire, advocated for the designation. Those students were present when then-Governor Chris Sununu signed the bill into law. There were also two New Hampshire Red chickens named Peachy and Rusty that were present at the signing.

The New Hampshire Red chicken was bred to withstand the harsh winters in New Hampshire. The breed emerged from the Rhode Island Red chicken in the 1930s. The focus was on breeding a chicken that would mature and feather quickly, as well as one that would produce larger amounts of eggs and meat.

State Wildcat: Bobcat

Teacher Audrey Carrel and a group of fourth- and fifth-grade students from Well School in Peterborough, New Hampshire, championed the bobcat for official state recognition. Their efforts proved fruitful, and legislation was enacted in 2015, making the bobcat (Lynx rufus) the official state wildcat.

The bobcat has the largest range of all North American felines, stretching from Southern Canada to Southern Mexico. The cat thrives in a variety of habitats, including forests, mountain woodlands, swamps, deserts, and suburban areas. However, even with such a large and varied range, this medium-sized cat is elusive and seldom seen by humans. 

It is closely related to the Canada lynx but is smaller in size and darker in color. The bobcat also has a shorter “bobbed” tail, which gives the cat its name.

Bobcats prey on small mammals such as rabbits and rodents, as well as birds and reptiles. They have even been known to take down deer.

Bobcats are found in all of New Hampshire’s ten counties. Called the Wildcats, the bobcat is the mascot of the University of New Hampshire.

State Raptor: Red-Tailed Hawk

The red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) was designated the official state raptor of New Hampshire in 2019. The proposal for the red-tailed hawk’s official status in New Hampshire originated with a group of fourth-grade students from Lincoln Akerman School in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, in 2015. Many believed the legislation would be a slam dunk. It was anything but that. With the fourth-grade students in attendance, the bill was killed by a vote of 133-160.

The students unexpectedly learned a lesson in tenacity. Four years later, they were at the State House again. Now in eighth grade, the students were wearing t-shirts emblazoned with the words, Our Second Try to Live Free & Fly, along with a picture of a red-tailed hawk.

This time the bill easily passed in the House by a vote of 333-11. It was also approved by the Senate. Then-Governor Sununu signed the bill into law on June 14, 2019. The students, as well as a red-tailed hawk, were present at the signing.

State Spider: Daring Jumping Spider

The daring jumping spider (Phidippus audax) was designated as the state spider of New Hampshire in 2021.

The daring jumping spider, also known as the bold jumping spider, was proposed for official state designation by Tara Happy and her third-grade class at Hollis Primary School in Hollis, New Hampshire. The class researched different spiders before choosing the daring jumping spider. They then lobbied New Hampshire lawmakers to adopt the arachnid as the official state spider.

In their presentation to lawmakers, the students noted that the arachnid is hardy enough to endure New Hampshire’s harsh winters. They also emphasized that this jumping spider creates a parachute to fly to a new home. The children pointed out that the spider seems to embody New Hampshire’s motto, Live Free or Die.

The bill making the daring jumping spider the official state spider passed unanimously. Then-Governor Sununu signed the legislation on June 11, 2021.

This spider features a round cephalothorax and an ovoid abdomen. It is normally black with a white triangle on its back with two spots beneath it. The daring jumping spider has extraordinary eyesight and leaping abilities, which it uses to target prey or to locate a potential mate.