More Ohio Symbols!

While we have shared some native plants that serve as Ohio Symbols, there are still more!  You probably already know some of them, even if you don’t realize it. Has anyone ever called you a “Buckeye”? That term is a reference to the State Tree of Ohio, the buckeye tree featured in our last blog. Let’s take a look at a few more of our state’s symbols!

The Ohio State Bird: Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) adopted in 1933. In 1803 when the state of Ohio was formed, there weren’t as many Cardinals as there are today. The heavily wooded young state wasn’t the best habitat for cardinals! By 1903 much of the state had been cleared of deep forests thus opening up more desirable habits for the cardinals. Cardinals do not migrate so we can find them year-round. They prefer woodland edges and prairie with shrubbery to hide and nest in. By 1933 when the state bird was chosen the Cardinal was found in all 88 counties in the state. Six other states have the Cardinal as their state bird!

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The Ohio State Gemstone: Ohio Flint was adopted in 1965. Flint is plentiful in Ohio, especially in central and eastern Ohio. Flint comes in many colors including red, pink, green, blue, yellow, grey, white and black. Flint is a type of quartz which means it’s very hard, can be highly polished and honed to a sharp point.  Prehistoric and historic Native Americans used flint for many different types of tools, weapons and ceremonial items. Flint from Flint Ridge in Licking and Muskingum counties were often traded by the Hopewell Indians. Points made of Ohio Flint have been found from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico. Flint can be made into beautiful jewelry.

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The Ohio State Fruit: Tomato adopted in 2009. The tomato as the state fruit was selected for the same reasons Tomato Juice was named the state beverage. Ohio farmers played a huge role in the popularity of the tomato. Ohio is the third largest producer of tomatoes!


The Ohio State Beverage: Tomato Juice was adopted in 1965. That year Ohio was second largest producer of tomato juice in the US. The adoption of Tomato juice as the state beverage was in coordination with the Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival in Reynoldsburg, OH. This festival celebrates Alexander Livingston who in 1870 began to grow tomatoes commercially. It wasn’t until the 1840s that tomatoes began to be grown for consumption. Before that it was commonly thought that tomatoes were poisonous. North West Ohio is known for its production of tomatoes.

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The Ohio State Frog: the American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) Adopted in 2010. In 2002 students in Mr. Kaeser’s classes at Grizzell Middle School in Dublin, Ohio started to petition for the American Bullfrog to be the state frog. Eight years later their dream was realized! The American Bullfrog is a long-lived animal. As a tadpole it can take 1 – 3 years to become an adult. As an adult a bullfrog can live 7-9 years! They can also get very big. An adult can weigh over one pound! Bullfrogs are carnivores and eat a wide variety of insects, mice, crayfish, other frogs and even mice and small birds! Bullfrogs live in large permanent bodies of water. Bullfrogs can be found in swamps, lakes, and ponds. Bullfrogs are found in all of Ohio’s state parks and in all 88 counties. Two other states have identified bullfrogs as their state frog!

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The Ohio State Fossil: The Isotelus (a type of trilobite) adopted in 1985. A trilobite is an invertebrate marine animal with a hard outer shell. It lived 430-480 million years ago in an ocean that covered Ohio. The Isotelus is the largest trilobite which could grow up to 2 feet across! Two other states have identified trilobites and their state fossil!

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The Ohio State Mammal: The White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) adopted in 1988. The white-tailed deer has been in the State of Ohio since the end of the last ice age. The deer have been important to all prehistoric and historic populations. Native Americans used all parts of the deer for food, shelter, clothing and tools. The deer products were important to trade. The term “buck” for a dollar was used during the time Ohioans used buck skins for trade. With the depletion of the forest habitats due to increased population in the state, the population of deer shrunk. By 1904 there no longer any white-tailed deer in Ohio. During the 1920s and 1930s a restocking program began. By 1956 white tailed deer were once again found in all 88 counties in Ohio. The white-tailed deer population in Ohio today is estimated at 600,000. A white-tailed deer can run up to 40 MPH, jump up to 9 feet and swim up to 12 MPH! Eleven other states have selected white tailed deer to be their state’s mammal too!

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The Ohio State Reptile: Black Racer Snake (coluber constrictor) adopted in 1995. The black racer is found in a variety of habitats including rocky ledges, pastures, overgrown fields, dry or moist woodlands and backyards. They are non-venomous. They feed on any smaller animal they can catch! Prey includes lizards, insects, moles, birds, eggs, rodents, smaller snakes, tads and frogs. The average 20-56 inches long.

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Ohio State Amphibian: The Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) adopted in 2010. The Spotted Salamander can be found throughout Ohio in low lying moist woodlands near vernal ponds. Spotted Salamanders are nocturnal and considered Fossorial meaning it spends most of its life underground. Spotted Salamanders come up from underground in the early spring to travel to vernal ponds to reproduce. The salamanders use vernal ponds because they lack fish which will eat the eggs and larva of the salamanders. Spotted salamander adults eat insects, worms, slugs, spiders, and millipedes. Adults can range from 6 – 10 inches long. One other state has a spotted salamander as their state amphibian!