By rssfeeds-admin 
State symbols highlight the unique characteristics of each state in the country. They’re chosen as a way to represent the culture, history and identity, with an emphasis on conservation and education.
Explore these fun trivia facts about Pennsylvania’s state symbols and share your favorite to impress your friends.
State Amphibian
Designated the state amphibian in 2019, the Eastern Hellbender is a large, aquatic salamander found in Pennsylvania streams and rivers. They spend most of their life sheltering under large rocks. Their diet consists of small fish, crayfish and hellgrammites.
Hellbenders breathe through their skin, which has folds to increase oxygen absorption, and can live up to fifty years in clean water conditions. They are often used to indicate the health of the waterways.
Other nicknames for hellbenders include mud devil, snot otter, devil dog and lasagna lizard.
State Ship
An Erie icon, the U.S. Brig Niagara, or Flagship Niagara, was designated as Pennsylvania’s state ship in 1988. Under Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the Brig Niagara played a pivotal role in the Battle of Lake Erie when American soldiers regained control of the upper Great Lakes from British hands during the War of 1812.
Visitors can experience life aboard the vessel through dockside tours, day sails or an extended voyage program. When away from its berth, the Brig Niagara visits ports throughout the Great Lakes.
State Beverage
Milk was designated the state’s beverage in 1982 to honor dairy farmers.
Pennsylvania is the fifth-largest producer of milk in the country, with dairy cows producing nearly 10 billion pounds of milk every year.
Fun fact: some farmers claim that milk can be used as an effective repellent to the white-tailed deer (spoiler alert: that’s Pennsylvania’s state animal) by spraying diluted milk on plants!
State Animal
With an estimated population of 1.5 million in Pennsylvania, it’s no surprise that the white-tailed deer was designated as the state’s animal in 1959.
They are the smallest members of the North American deer family and are highly adaptable, inhabiting a variety of ecosystems. Early Pennsylvanians and Native Americans relied on the deer for food and clothing.
The white-tailed deer get their name from the broad white tail they raise or “flag” when alarmed. Mother deer do this as a way for her fawns to be able to follow her. They can run up to 20 miles per hour.
The white-tailed deer are natural foragers, eating acorns, mushrooms, grass, fruit and broad-leaved plants. They also utilize agricultural fields, eating corn, soybeans and alfalfa.
State dog
Designated the state dog in 1965, the Great Dane is an intelligent and faithful dog.
Great Danes were vital in the Pennsylvania frontier, working as hunting dogs.
According to visitpa.com, when the Speaker of the House called for a vote on designating the Great Dane as the state dog, he was answered with yips, growls and barks from the assembly. This became known as the “Barking Dog Vote” in the annals of legislative history.
A portrait of William Penn and his Great Dane hangs in the Governor’s Reception Room in the state Capitol building.
State flower
Governor Gifford Pinchot designated the mountain laurel as Pennsylvania’s state flower in 1933. It was a favorite flower among the House and Senate. Blooming in the summer, the pink pastel flowers are a common and yet beautiful sight.
At the peak of the season, the shrub grows into a dense thicket. This creates the perfect shelter for wildlife, especially during the winter months, as it can provide a thermal refuge.
However, plant enthusiasts must beware because every part of the plant is toxic. According to the heritage conservation site, eating large amounts of honey made from the flowers of the mountain laurel can be fatal.
State fossil
A member of the commonwealth over 250 million years ago, the Eldredgeops rana, or Trilobite, was designated as the state fossil in 1988. A science class brought the invertebrate to the attention of the House of Representatives, campaigning for it to have state designation.
Its relatives include crabs, lobsters, shrimp and even spiders. The Eldredgeops rana has large frog-like eyes, a distinct feature that sets it apart from other trilobites.
State Bird
A vital source of the food supply for early Pennsylvania settlers, the Ruffed Grouse was designated the state bird in 1931.
Also called pheasants, they eat buds, leaves, berries, seeds and insects. Ruffed Grouse can also digest bitter, often toxic plants, and large volumes of fibrous vegetation.
Pennsylvania is a great state for Ruffed Grouse because they depend on snow to create their nests in the wintertime, burying themselves to provide an insulating cover.
Male pheasants are known for their signature drumming display, quickly rotating their wings forward and backward, creating a small vacuum that produces a deep thumping sound wave that can carry up to a quarter of a mile.
State insect
Whether you call them fireflies or lightning bugs, these little glowing bugs are Pennsylvania’s state insect, designated in 1974. A source of nostalgia for many, fireflies are known to brighten a comfortable summer night with their soft phosphorescent glow.
Students at Highland Park Elementary School campaigned to have the lightning bugs as the state insect, writing letters and circulating petitions before Governor Milton J. Shapp signed the act into law.
Their numbers are in decline due to loss of habitat, light pollution and the use of pesticides. Planting native flowers and vegetation is one of the ways to help the firefly population.
While their name suggests a relation to flies, they are actually beetles!
State fish
The only trout native to Pennsylvania, the Brook Trout was designated as the state fish in 1970. It lives in the clear, cold water streams.
The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources began deep-water projects to ensure that the habitat remains viable for the trout. They are also using forest buffer planting to cool stream temperatures and improve the quality of water.
State tree
Incredibly useful for the early settlers, the Eastern Hemlock provided them with sturdy wood for log cabins. In addition, the trees gave the settlers tannic acid for producing leather.
Hemlock provide a variety of ecological benefits, from habitat for wildlife to shading of trout streams.
The trees can grow up to 100 feet, with some having a record of over 174 feet tall. They can also live for over 500 years. The oldest recorded Eastern Hemlock was found in Tionesta, being at least 554 years old.
Discover more from RSS Feeds Cloud
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.