Discover the 9 Official State Animals of New York

Each state in the United States has its own official animal symbols. These animals become officially recognized symbols of the state through legislative action. Lawmakers choose animals to represent their state based on how the animal reflects the state’s history, economy, geography, and culture. New York lawmakers have designated nine animals as official symbols of the state. Continue reading to discover the animals New York has selected, and how these animals symbolize the Empire State.

State Bird: Eastern Bluebird

The Eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) was adopted as the state bird of New York in 1970. New Yorkers love this bird because it is one of the first birds to return to New York each spring. When you hear this bird’s warbling song, it’s a sure sign that another cold New York winter is coming to an end.

The Eastern bluebird is a gorgeous songbird that lives throughout the Eastern United States. It is about seven inches long with a 10-to-12-inch wingspan. The male features a bright blue back, a rusty-orange breast, and a white belly. Females are slightly larger but less vibrantly colored than males.

The Eastern bluebird’s numbers were declining, but the bird has made an impressive comeback. One reason for the rebound is the ban on Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), an agricultural pesticide in 1972. The widespread use of DDT in the mid-20th century had a deleterious effect on Eastern bluebird populations, reducing their food supply and causing direct reproductive issues.

As insectivores, bluebirds saw their prey reduced, while simultaneously suffering from eggshell thinning, elevated stress hormones, and thyroid issues due to accumulating the pesticide. Insects make up the majority of the Eastern bluebird’s diet. This pesticide had a crushing impact on the bird population. The chemical also had a devastating impact on many other U.S. birds, including the bald eagle, the national bird of the United States.

State Mammal: North American Beaver

The North American beaver (Castor canadensis) was designated as the official state mammal of New York in 1975.

The beaver played a significant role in the history of New York. Beaver pelts were in high demand in Europe in the 1600s. The pelts were used in hats and as trim on coats and garments.

To provide these sought-after beaver pelts to European markets, fur traders settled near the present capital of Albany to trade with Native Americans. Hunters and trappers also came, sensing there was much money to be made. The European attraction to beaver pelts was one of the main motivations for establishing Dutch and English trading posts in what would become New York.

Overhunting, coupled with habitat destruction, decimated the beaver population. Beaver numbers dropped from an estimated 60 million to virtually zero. But the beaver was not to be counted out.

The reintroduction of the beaver in the Adirondacks, along with strict bans on trapping, led to a remarkable comeback. The beaver is thriving in New York once again.

The beaver is the largest rodent in North America. Adult beavers can measure four feet long and weigh 40-70 pounds. These semi-aquatic mammals engineer dams that provide a home and give them shelter from predators. It has been said that, aside from humans, no other species has a greater impact on the landscape than the beaver.

State Freshwater Fish: Brook Trout

The brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was chosen as the official freshwater fish of New York State in 1975. These fish are around 10 to 12 inches long and weigh 1 to 2 pounds.

The brook trout was selected for multiple reasons. The fish thrives in the lakes and cool streams in New York. Brook trout, considered an epicurean delight, is one of the tastiest freshwater fish. It is also one of the most popular sport fish in New York. New York’s state economy benefits significantly from this fish. Because brook trout need exceptionally clean water to thrive, the official designation of the brook trout symbolizes a commitment to the conservation of New York’s hundreds of lakes, streams, and waterways.

State Fossil: Eurypterid 

The eurypterid (Eurypterus remipes) was a prehistoric sea scorpion that lived over 400 million years ago during the Silurian Age. It was an ancestor of the modern sea scorpion, horseshoe crab, and king crab. This prehistoric creature lived in the shallow sea that covered much of the land that we know today as New York State.

The eurypterid is a rare fossil worldwide. New York State is one of the few places in the world where eurypterids are found, and one of the largest concentrations of Eurypterid fossils ever discovered was near Buffalo, New York.

In 1983, New York legislators chose to honor this prehistoric animal that dwelled in the region long before humans did, naming the eurypterid the official fossil of New York.

State Insect: Nine-Spotted Ladybug

There are around 450 species of ladybugs in the United States. These insects, sometimes known as ladybird beetles, are more than just lovely-looking insects. They serve a vital ecological role that farmers and gardeners rely on.

Because of its importance to farms and gardens throughout the state, the nine-spotted ladybug (Coccinella novemnotata) was selected as the official state insect of New York in 1989.

Ladybugs feed on common pests that can destroy plants and crops; one ladybug can eat up to 75 aphids per day. They also feed on scale, mealybugs, mites, and other destructive insects.

While other ladybug species are thriving, the nine-spotted ladybug has severely declined in number. The reasons behind their decline are not clear, but it may be due to the introduction of non-native ladybug species. These species were introduced as a means of aphid control, but the introduction of these non-native insects may have forced the nine-spotted ladybug out of its native habitat.

State Saltwater Fish: Striped Bass

In 2006, due to its ecological and economic importance, the striped bass (Morone saxatilis) was chosen as New York’s official saltwater fish. Lawmakers designated the striped bass as the official saltwater (marine) fish of the state.

Commonly known as stripers, striped bass are silver with seven to eight black stripes. They are anadromous fish, meaning striped bass move from saltwater to freshwater to spawn. This seasonal migration brings striped bass into the tidal portion of the Hudson River and the coastal waters around Long Island.

State Reptile: Common Snapping Turtle

The common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) was the winner in an election among children in New York’s elementary schools. In a remarkably close vote, the common snapping turtle won, but only beat the painted turtle by 43 votes statewide.

After the children cast their votes, state legislators did the same. They voted on and passed the official legislation, declaring the common snapping turtle the official state reptile of New York in 2006.

Snapping turtles are found throughout New York. They are instantly recognizable with their large heads, long saw-toothed tails, and stocky legs equipped with large claws. Common snappers normally live in ponds, lakes, rivers, creeks, and marshes.

Summer is the best time to see the common snapping turtle in New York. During the winter, the turtles dig into the muddy bottom of their aquatic home. They are rarely seen in New York from November to late March.

Their range is extensive, stretching from southeast Canada throughout the eastern and central United States, reaching all the way to Florida.

State Butterfly: Red Spotted Purple or White Admiral Butterfly 

The Red-spotted purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) and white admiral (Limenitis arthemis arthemis) are two distinct subspecies of Limenitis arthemis. These two subspecies were designated the official state butterflies of New York in 2008. A statewide poll of elementary school students selected these specific butterflies. After the schoolchildren made their wishes known, state legislators made the designation official.

The red-spotted purple and white admiral butterflies were once considered two separate species. However, in the 1980s, scientific consensus shifted to recognize them as interbreeding subspecies of a single species, with distinct but intergrading forms.

The hybrid forms of these two distinct subspecies have different physical characteristics. Sometimes called red-spotted admirals, hybrids display a mix of traits, blending the dark, iridescent blue-green of the red-spotted purple with the white-banded pattern of the white admiral. They often retain the red-orange spots on the underside of the wings, similar to both parent forms.

State Dog: Working Dog

In 2015, New York lawmakers designated the working dog (Canis lupus familiaris) as the official state dog. 

When Matthew Titone introduced the bill, he noted how inspired he was by all of the dogs working at Ground Zero following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. In his proposal to name the working dog as the official state dog, Titone said,  “It just sends a very loud and clear signal to the world that New York State honors and pays tribute to and acknowledges the hard work of dogs who are working dogs.”

The New York State Senate defined working dog in its official legislation: “Working dog” shall mean: (a) a guide dog, a police work dog, a war dog, a hearing dog, a service dog, a working search dog, a therapy dog, or a detection dog as those terms are defined by section one hundred eight of the agriculture and markets law or any dog that has met such definition during its life; or (b) any dog that is trained to herd and/or protect livestock or control bird and/or wildlife populations and is actually or has been used for such purposes.”