Discover the 10 Official State Animals of Ohio

From the Great Lakes to forests, prairies, farmland, and wetlands, Ohio has exceptionally rich ecosystems that support a wide array of native species. To celebrate the state’s diverse wildlife, foster education, and promote conservation efforts, Ohio has designated 10 animals as official representatives of the Buckeye State. Continue reading to take a closer look at the 10 official state animals of Ohio and learn how each one represents the state.  

State Bird: Cardinal

Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) were not very common in Ohio when Europeans arrived in the late 1600s. Back then, nearly 95% of the state was covered in forests, which were too dense for these birds to inhabit. However, as the new European settlers began to clear away trees and establish more open spaces, cardinals became a much more common sight. In 1933, the cardinal became the official state bird of Ohio. Today, these beautiful red birds can be seen throughout the state. 

Cardinals have a melodious and recognizable call, which can often be heard emanating from the tallest trees in their habitats. The male cardinal is an iconic and striking bird, with vibrant red plumage, black facial markings, and a bold crest. While the female cardinal has the same crest, her colors are generally more muted. A female’s plumage features shades of brown, red, or gray, and only her wings, tail, and crest are red.

State Insect: Seven-spotted Ladybug

The seven-spotted ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata), also known as the ladybird beetle, has been Ohio’s official state insect since 1975. Many say that the seven-spotted ladybug is symbolic of the people of Ohio: they are friendly, proud, hardworking, hardy, and can live under adverse conditions, while remaining beautiful and charming.

The idea of choosing the seven-spotted ladybug as Ohio’s state insect originated in an elementary school classroom, when second- and third-grade students came up with the idea. They liked the ladybug because its color matches two of Ohio’s official state symbols: the cardinal and the red carnation. They also appreciated that ladybugs eat pests like aphids, making them very helpful for gardens.

State Groundhog: Buckeye Chuck

Hailing from the city of Marion, Ohio, Buckeye Chuck is Ohio’s official state groundhog. Since 1970, Buckeye Chuck has had the unique honor of predicting the arrival of spring each year on Groundhog Day (February 2nd). In 1979, the Ohio General Assembly designated Buckeye Chuck as Ohio’s official state groundhog.

Buckeye Chuck got his name from Charles Evers, a radio host in Marion. Evers was often visited by a groundhog from the woods near the radio station, so he asked his listeners to vote on a name for it. Thus, the groundhog became officially known as Buckeye Chuck.

State Invertebrate Fossil: Giant Ordovician Trilobite

Elementary school students petitioned state representatives to make the giant Ordovician trilobite (Isotelus) the state invertebrate fossil of Ohio. After visiting the Dayton Museum of Natural History, elementary school students petitioned state representatives to make Isotelus the state fossil of Ohio. Their efforts were successful, and in 1985, Isotelus was officially designated as the state fossil. Isotelus is a genus of giant, predatory marine trilobite that lived during the Late Ordovician Period, 451 to 443 million years ago. They swam in shallow, warm North American seas that likely covered present-day Ohio.

State Mammal: White-Tailed Deer

The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) became the official state mammal of Ohio in 1988. Deer have lived in the state since the end of the last Ice Age.

White-tailed deer played an important role in Ohio’s natural and cultural history. Many Native American’s hunted deer for several purposes. They used the meat for food, the hides to make clothing, and the antlers and bones to make tools. Deer were also honored and celebrated in spiritual ceremonies dating back thousands of years. Artwork from the prehistoric Hopewell culture of Ohio commonly depicted deer, as well as shaman figures who wore deer antlers. 

When European colonists began arriving in Ohio, they also found great value in the state’s white-tailed deer population, and commonly used buckskins and deerskins for trading. However, as the colonists continued to cut down the forests and develop the land, deer populations diminished. By 1904, there were no longer any white-tailed deer in Ohio. Restocking efforts, in combination with hunting restrictions and the migration of deer from other states, helped rejuvenate Ohio’s deer population. Today, the white-tailed deer population is widespread across all of Ohio’s 88 counties, having rebounded significantly from near extirpation in the early 1900s. 

State Reptile: Black Racer Snake

The Ohio state legislature declared the black racer snake (Coluber constrictor constrictor) the official state reptile in 1995. The black racer is slender with dark black coloring across its back, sides, and belly. In some instances, there may be faint white markings on the chin and throat as well. These snakes are named for their speed. They can move across the ground at around eight to 10 miles per hour. Although they may look frightening, black racers are nonvenomous and pose no threat to humans.

Black racers live in the Eastern and Southern regions of Ohio, on rocky ledges and in fields, pastures, and woodlands. They eat small animals such as mice, frogs, insects, lizards, and even other snakes. Black racers are very beneficial to farmers because they eat rodents and other pests that can damage crops. 

State Amphibian: Spotted Salamander

In 2010, Ohio designated the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) as the official state amphibian. Spotted salamanders are not easy to spot in Ohio. They are nocturnal and spend most of their time in underground tunnels or under logs and rocks. However, spotted salamanders do live all over Ohio, usually in moist woodland regions that are adjacent to creeks, ponds, or swamps. They are most commonly seen in early spring when they migrate to ponds and seasonal pools for breeding.

The spotted salamander is around 7 inches long with a thick, bluish-black body and two distinctive rows of bright yellow or golden spots down its sides. Spotted salamanders are poisonous, and their brightly colored spots act as a warning sign for any potential predators that might be looking for a salamander-sized snack. 

State Frog: American Bullfrog

Ohio promoted another amphibian to official status in 2010: the American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), Ohio’s official state frog. Bullfrogs are the biggest frogs in all of North America and grow around 3.5 to 6 inches long.

Male American bullfrogs love to show off their voices with amazing acoustical displays, and a group of male bullfrogs is called a chorus. They have deep, resonating calls that can be heard up to a mile away! American bullfrogs live in marshes, ponds, and large streams with slow-moving water. 

State Pet: The Shelter Pet

Ohio made a unique and inspiring choice when it designated the state’s official pet. In 2019, the shelter pet became the official state pet of Ohio.

The Ohio General Assembly hopes this will help raise public awareness about the millions of neglected animals in the state and give them a chance to find loving homes. By giving shelter pets a highly visible platform, Ohio is also making a statement about the value it places on animal welfare.

State Fossil Fish: Dunkleosteus terrelli 

Dunkleosteus terrelli, commonly referred to as the Dunk, is a massive armored fish from the Devonian period (approx. 360 million years ago). The Dunk was designated Ohio’s official state fossil fish through Senate Bill 123, which became effective on March 24, 2021.

The Dunk was chosen as the official fossil fish of Ohio because most Dunk fossils are found in Cleveland shale, a black, fissile sedimentary rock composed of organic-rich mud deposited in a shallow sea about 360 million years ago.

The Dunk was a massive, armor-plated apex predator, reaching lengths of 13 to 33 feet and weighing up to 4 tons.