Discover The 5 Official State Animals Of Utah

Every state finds it enjoyable. There is supposedly “something for everyone” in every state. There aren’t all that many states with almost four unique geographic regions, five national parks, 46 state parks, five national historic sites & trails, and 12 national monuments & recreation areas. 

It’s safe to say that Utah is an outdoor lover’s paradise. In addition to having stunning landscapes, the wildlife there is equally as thrilling. Today we’re going to be looking at the recognized state animals that represent the beautiful state of Utah. 

State Animal: Elk 

After Governor Calvin L. Rampton approved Senate Bill 18 on February 1, 1971, the elk (Cervus canadensis) became the recognized state animal. Elks are one-hoofed mammals with antlers that fall off annually. 

The females lack antlers and are smaller than the males. Elk originally roamed freely, but they now spend most of the summers in the mountains and spend the winters in the valleys where they feed on grass, leaves, and branches. 

The bull elk can weigh up to 750 pounds and is typically six feet tall and nine feet long. The elk have short hair and a faint mane in the summer. They have a light brown tint with a deep brown head and limbs and a beige-colored rear.

Up until early autumn of its first year, an elk calf’s color is mostly brown with light markings.

State Fish: Rainbow Trout

Governor Calvin L. Rampton signed an additional bill on the same day as the one for elk in relation to a new state fish. Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) was designated as the state fish. The rainbow trout is a significant game fish that is endemic to waters that flow into the Pacific Ocean from Alaska to northern Mexico. 

It is not native to Utah. In Utah, rainbow trout average two pounds but typically weigh between one and four pounds. While larger rainbow trout eat small fish, the smaller rainbow trout mostly eat insects. 

The rainbow trout has a top that ranges from olive to greenish-blue, and a bottom that is silver. It has a pronounced red or pink stripe along each side, as well as recognizable black or brown markings.

Lakes and streams with rainbow trout do well below 7,000 feet. Rainbow trout are supplied on a put-and-take basis in Utah, as they are in other regions of the country. In other words, the fish that are stocked are the ones that the fishermen catch, not their offspring. 

The capability of the hatcheries, the amount of money available, and the amount of fishing pressure that the rainbow trout are subjected to all affect how many are there in a stream.

State Bird: California Seagull

By popular consensus, the California gull is recognized as the official bird of Utah. This is likely in remembrance of the gulls’ role in saving Utahns by consuming swarms of crickets that were destroying the state’s crops in 1848.

The California Gull has a round head and is a medium-sized gull. In comparison to other gull species, the bill is thin. The wings are broad and pointed when in flight. Adult California Gulls that are in breeding plumage have a white head, a moderate grey back, yellow legs, and dark eyes. 

Adults who don’t reproduce have brown head striping. Adults have a red mark on the lower jaw, which is brighter on breeding gulls, and a yellow bill with a thin black ring. Once Gov. Spencer Cox approved S.B. 116 in March 2022, the golden eagle became the state bird of Utah.

One of North America’s biggest, swiftest, and most agile raptors is the golden eagle. Shiny gold feathers cover its head and neck. Its beak and talons are strong indicators of its strength in the hunt.

State Insect: Honey Bee

When Governor Scott M. Matheson approved Senate Bill 216 on March 16, 1983, the honey bee (Apis mellifera) became the state insect of Utah. Due to the impressive efforts of the fifth-grade students at Ridgecrest Elementary School in Salt Lake County, Senator Fred W. Finlinson of that county introduced the measure. 

As part of a class assignment on the bug and how the government operates, the lobbying attempt was carried out. The name “Provisional State of Deseret,” which derives from a term from the Book of Mormon that means “honey bee,” was given to Utah by its early Mormon immigrants. 

The bug has remained revered for its ability to make honey as well as as a representation of industry and teamwork. Honeybees have a top speed of 15 miles per hour. In her lifespan, a honey bee worker only produces 1/12 of a teaspoon on average. 

A bee could travel the globe on one ounce of honey. A pound of honey is produced by two million visits to flowers.

State Reptile: Gila Monster

One of the few venomous reptiles is the Gila monster. Gilas have larger teeth with grooves in their lower jaws instead of hollow fangs like poisonous snakes, which would be used to inject venom. 

When they strike, the venom is chewed in by their strong jaws through capillary action along these teeth’s grooves. Gila monsters are desert creatures that inhabit semiarid rocky areas with desert shrubs or grasslands, close to washes and creek crossings. 

Also, it appears that Gila monsters avoid open plains and agricultural areas and favor rocky hillsides. They can survive up to 5,000 feet above sea level. Gila monsters most frequently raid nests to eat eggs and tiny birds. They are able to consume up to one-third of their body weight in one sitting.