Minnesota does not have an official state animal, despite attempts to recognize the white-tailed deer or timber wolf. The state has an unofficial nickname, “The Gopher State,” but the gopher is not the state animal. Minnesota has an official state bird, insect, and fish. Other states have official state animals, but this designation is usually symbolic and does not confer special privileges or protections.
Minnesota is quite unique among the 50 United States in that it does not have an official state animal, either terrestrial or marine. While some coastal states have an official marine animal but no land animals — and some have both — few states have neither. Minnesota has attempted many times to pass legislation to recognize an official state animal, but has repeatedly failed to do so. Most of the proposals have centered on the white-tailed deer or the wood wolf, both native to Minnesota forests and familiar to most residents. Additionally, there is no official state nickname, although an unofficial one is “The Gopher State,” leading some to believe, albeit erroneously, that the gopher is the state animal. Still, Minnesota has a bird, a bug, and a fish state.
Understand state animals in general
Many states have declared certain animals as “official state animals,” although this designation is usually more of a formality than a truly meaningful statement. The symbols and insignia of most states are proposed by citizens, often in homage to something that is native to the land or loved by large percentages of the population; that proposal is then passed on to the legislature, who vote to make the item an “official” state symbol. Animals that are “state animals” do not usually get any special privileges or protections, although this can vary by location.
White Tailed Deer
There have been several attempts to declare Minnesota a state animal, none of which have been approved. It can be a little difficult to identify a precise reason for this failure, but indecision may be at the heart of it. Minnesota is home to many animals and there is often public support for more than one at the same time. In busy legislative sessions, it can also sometimes be difficult to get lawmakers to vote on bills that seem trivial or frivolous. Of the many banknotes on offer, however, the white-tailed deer tends to be one of the more popular options. This particular deer is commonly hunted in the state and is native to the entire state, living in every county.
Timber wolf
The Timber Wolf is another commonly suggested option. This wolf is also known as the gray wolf, and is what is known as a “threatened species” in the United States. Its numbers are dwindling, often due to human expansion and construction projects in areas that were once pristine woodland. Minnesota is one of the few US states where this wolf still has active population groups.
citello
Minnesota has a number of unofficial state nicknames, one of the best known of which is “The Gopher State.” This has led many people to the erroneous assumption that the gopher is the state animal. In fact, the nickname originated due to a political cartoon created in the mid-1800s. The Gopher State moniker has remained prominent despite some efforts to refer to Minnesota as The Beaver State due to the animal’s large population there. Also popular are the nicknames Land of 10,000 Lakes and The North Star State, a name derived from the state motto, a French phrase meaning “Star of the North.”
Continued legislative efforts and informal polls
Over the years, there have been several attempts to hold polls and contests to see what residents thought the Minnesota state animal, as well as many other symbols, should be. Citizens typically participate in large numbers and often make firm choices. However, no law was ever passed as a result.
Birds, insects and fish
Those who get tired of waiting for a Minnesota state animal or mammal to be named have a few official options in related categories. For example, the official state bird is the common loon, a water bird that inhabits the state’s many lakes and streams. The state has also named an official insect, which is the monarch butterfly, and a state fish, walleye.
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