New York recognized the beaver as its state animal in 1975 due to its historical importance in attracting explorers. Beavers can grow up to 50 pounds and are known to reconfigure habitats, creating both positive and negative consequences. The beaver skin trade nearly led to their extinction, but they were reintroduced and protected. New York also has other official state symbols, including the bluebird, brook trout, ladybug, and scallop.
Since 1975, New York has recognized the beaver as the state animal of New York. The New York State Animal’s importance to the region stems from the history the area played in attracting explorers to the New World. Although it was nearly extinct in the region at one point, the state was able to reintroduce the beaver and offer it protection from future commercial crops.
Beavers can grow to a considerable size, averaging about 40 pounds (about 18 kg) in weight. Larger beavers can exceed that weight and approach a weight of 50 pounds (about 22.5 kg). Beavers are typically three to four feet long and are considered a rodent.
The beaver has the ability to reconfigure the surrounding habitat and influence the local ecological balance. Their constant desire for a water-filled environment can lead to both negative and positive consequences on their surroundings. These consequences have a knock-on effect in both the animal and human worlds.
The consequences of popular beaver activity in dam building include the formation of new water bodies and changes to water flow resulting in localized flooding. The creation of dams, however, creates additional habitats for fish and various mammals, such as deer. This may provide new water sources and breeding grounds for these members of the animal kingdom.
The beaver skin trade stimulated the development of the area of the New World now known as New York. Explorers came to the area to exploit the opportunities for trade and wealth. English and Dutch trading posts sprang up around the region connecting Native Americans with fur traders looking to purchase the pelts of the future New York state animal. These traders would later sell the skins to Europe where they were used to make hats and other clothing.
Thanks to beaver harvesting, the New York state animal has nearly become extinct in the area. It has been estimated that beavers numbered more than 60 million at one point before harvesting and commercial interests reduced the numbers. Eventually, beavers found a home again in the Adirondacks and were protected by commercial crops. This protection has helped the number of beavers to increase again in New York.
In addition to the beaver as New York’s state animal, the state also has other official state symbols. This includes a state bird, the bluebird, and a state fish, the brook trout, a popular fish with anglers. Other New York state symbols include the ladybug as the state bug and the scallop as the state shellfish.
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