~

State symbols provide a snap- shot of what makes a state special. Each of ’s Wayne Trimm symbols pays tribute to a Castor canadensis product of great Year adopted: 1975 importance to the state. ew York’s state mammal, the beaver is tate symbols are the result of a our largest rodent. Adult beavers average concerted effort by citizens to 3-3½ feet long and 30-50 pounds. Active have a significant item recognized. at night, beavers build mud and stick To accomplish this, citizens, organiza- dams and lodges on waters across the state. tions or school children often research a Lodges are usually elaborate domed structures particular symbol and make a request for with the entrance below the waterline to provide a bill. If approved by the Legislature, the protection from predators. To keep the bill is enacted and there is a new state dry and snug, the living quarters are above the symbol. waterline. While beaver dams produce habitat for a wide variety of fish and wildlife, these dams Since 1955, New York has adopted 16 may also cause damaging flooding. official state symbols; 11 are depicted here. The other five are: apple (fruit); milk Beavers use their large front incisors to fell (beverage); lilac bush (bush); apple muffin trees for food and building. These teeth continue (muffin); and yogurt (snack). to grow throughout the ’s life, and so constant gnawing is important to keep the teeth State Motto: New York’s state motto is from growing too long. Beavers eat a wide vari- “Excelsior” which means “ever upward.” ety of plant material, such as soft, aquatic veg- State Flag: Adopted in 1778, New York’s etation and the twigs and bark of trees. Their state flag depicts the state . preferred foods are poplar, aspen, birch and wil- The figures represent Liberty low. Highly aquatic, beavers use their broad, flat and Justice. The three-masted, tails and webbed feet to propel them through the square-rigged ship and water. When disturbed they will slap their tail Hudson River sloop signify on the water’s surface. commerce. Beavers mate for life. In late March to early May, females generally give birth to four, one- pound babies, called kits. WYORK Department of Text by Eileen Stegemann TEOF I • Layout design by Frank Herec 01nuN1Tv Environmental 4 Conservation Brook Trout

Wayne Trimm Wayne Trimm Wayne Trimm Sialia sialis Year adopted: 1970 Acer saccharum Salvelinus fontinalis ew York’s state bird, the Eastern blue- Year adopted: 1956 Year adopted: 1975/2006 bird is one of the first birds to return north in the spring. Members of the irst adopted as the state fish in 1975, the thrush , bluebirds occur in open ew York’s state tree is the sugar N brook trout was re-adopted as the state’s areas, like fields, orchards and gardens, where maple. It is a magnificent forest tree freshwater fish in 2006. Symbolizing they dine on a variety of insects and occasion- that is abundant everywhere upstate. pure, cold water, brook trout are found in ally fruit. Male bluebirds are striking with The tree is best known for its “helicopter” hundreds of lakes and ponds in the Adirondack a rusty- breast and bright blue head, seeds, the sugar and syrup made from its and Catskill mountains and are scattered in cool, back, wings and tail. Females are duller. clear spring sap, and its brilliant red or yel- clear streams throughout the state. Also called Bluebirds nest in bird boxes and in holes in low-orange fall foliage. A mature sugar maple speckled trout, these New York natives are beau- trees made by other birds like woodpeckers. can be 60 to 80 feet tall and have a trunk tiful fish with pink or reddish spots inside blue Once considered rare, the Eastern bluebird is more than two feet in diameter. It makes an halos on their sides. more common today because of factors that excellent shade tree. Hatched in coldwater streams, brook trout include the ban of the pesticide DDT, protec- Maple sugar and syrup are made from the move downstream into larger stream sections tion of open spaces, and volunteer efforts to sweet sap that flows through the trunk of or coldwater lakes as they mature. In late sum- provide nesting boxes. Many people put up the sugar maple; something the northeast- mer and fall, adults move upstream to spawn special nesting boxes along fence rows for blue- ern Native Americans were making before in areas where waters flow through gravel and birds, to supplement natural nesting cavities. Europeans arrived. It takes 40 gallons of sap rubble. Females deposit eggs in nests (or redds). Along U.S. Route 20, there is a trail of bluebird to make one gallon of maple syrup! Tiny fry emerge in 50 to 100 days. boxes that stretches nearly 400 miles. In addition to syrup, the sugar maple is Brookies seldom live longer than five years. prized for its wood. It is hard, strong, close- Although some can weigh more than eight grained, and tough with a fine, satiny surface, pounds, fish weighing more than two pounds are and is in great demand for furniture, flooring, uncommon. Wary and scrappy, they are highly veneer, interior finish, and as a high-quality popular gamefish. fuel wood. ew York’s state gem, the garnet gets its name from the word for pomegranate, malum granatum, because of the gems resemblance to red pomegranate seeds. With hard, sharp edges, most garnet is used as an industrial abrasive for waterjet cutting, airblasting, polishing TV glass and filtering drinking water, but occasionally gem-quality stones are found. New York produces more garnet than any other state. Crystals up to three feet long have been found here, though most measure only five inches. Most garnet is red, but it can also be green, orange, brown, Year adopted: 1969 yellow and purple.

Wayne Trimm

Frank Herec Frank Herec Argopecten irradians Year adopted: 1988 Eurypterus remipes Morone saxatilis Year adopted: 1984 ew York’s state shell is the bay . Year adopted: 2006 Native to New York, bay may ew York’s state saltwater fish, striped ew York’s state is the . be found in the small embayments bass are important sport and com- A close relative of horseshoe , and tributaries of Long Island Sound, mercial fish. Their speed, power and and , the eurypterid lived as well as in the Peconic Bays. They occur Nsize make them a favorite of anglers. Nmore than 400 million years ago. Known in shallow water and in eelgrass beds. After Striped bass are big, ranging from 18 to 55 as water scorpions, are thought to be from eggs, bay scallops go through a inches in length and 3 to 70 pounds in weight. among the most fearsome swimming predators free-swimming stage before attaching them- Anadromous, they move from the sea to fresh- of the Paleozoic Era. They were found along the selves to submerged supports via secreted stems water to spawn. They generally occur around bottom of the shallow, brackish sea that extend- (byssal threads). They remain there until they rocky areas near jetties and drop-offs. Stripers ed from what is now Buffalo to Schenectady and reach one inch wide, at which time they change are migratory, seasonally entering New York’s south to Poughkeepsie. The are rare world- into free-roaming animals that move around tidal portion of the Hudson River and coastal wide, and only found in a few states in America. by rapidly opening and closing their shells. waters around Long Island. Smaller bass gener- In New York, they are locally abundant in dolo- Accompanied by a jet of water, these shell flaps ally travel in large schools; larger bass usually stone and shale that is 400 to 415 million years can move smaller scallops several feet. Bay move in small pods. Adult stripers are vora- old. Most eurypterid fossils measure 4 to 8 inches scallops feed on phytoplankton that they take in cious feeders, primarily eating fish and inverte- in length. with the water used for breathing. These scal- brates, especially crabs and squid. The Hudson lops are a favorite of seafood enthusiasts. River estuary is an important spawning ground for stripers. Coccinella novemnotata or Ladybird Beetle Year adopted: 1989

Jean Gawalt he nine-spotted ladybird beetle (or ladybug) is New York’s state insect. Wayne Trimm Chelydra serpentina Brightly colored, relatively small Year adopted: 2006 T beetles, they are generally a favorite of children. There are a number of different ew York’s state reptile, the snapping ladybug species, and as a group they are com- Rosa carolina turtle is the state’s largest freshwa- throughout much of the state. Adults Year adopted: 1955 ter turtle with some adult snappers live two to four months. Ladybugs are highly reaching 35 pounds in weight, and regarded because both larvae and adults feed he wild is New York’s state N having a shell length of 20 inches or more. on pest aphids. A single ladybug can eat 100 flower. There are a number of differ- Often seen in or near lakes, ponds, rivers, aphids a day. It is this fact that probably ent species that grow in various open streams and marshes, they are easily identi- accounts for the old superstition warning peo- T spaces across the state. Some grow fied by their distinct saw-toothed tails and ple that to kill a ladybug is unlucky, and to in wetlands, while others like the pasture jagged, saw-toothed rear edge of their shells. release one brings good luck. rose are found along dry roadsides and in hedgerows. All are characterized by having These turtles are known for their defensive Adult ladybugs frequently overwinter in five, usually pink, petals above five sharp, nature and if threatened, will attack on land, groups, sometimes indoors where they will green sepals. Most species are armed with but prefer to flee in water. Snappers often congregate at windows in spring and fall. sharp prickles which discourage browsing scavenge, but they also take live food ranging Because of their beneficial qualities, several by and . Preferring full sun, this from small to young waterfowl different species of ladybugs have been intro- flowering plant can grow in dense colonies or small fish. duced into New York as a method of aphid from roots and underground stems. As a low Between April and November, female control. Unfortunately, many native lady- shrub in windbreaks or hedgerows, the wild snapping turtles lay 20-40 Ping-Pong-ball- bugs (such as the nine-spotted) are now rare rose enhances both the landscape and wild- size eggs in a hole in sandy soil near water. because of these exotic introductions. life habitat. Its pink flowers bloom from May The eggs hatch in 80-90 days, and the quar- through August. ter-sized young immediately head for the Beginning in July, the wild rose produces safety of water. Snapping turtles can live hips (or fruits) which often remain through 30-40 years. the winter. Rose hips are high in vitamin C Reprinted from New York State Conservationist. To subscribe, call 1-800-678-6399 and are valuable as food for many species of or visit www.TheConservationist.org birds and small mammals.