Each state in America boasts its own culture, history, and natural beauty. To represent such diversity, people from these states have chosen their own set of symbols and customs. Specific flags, songs, mottos, flowers, and even fruits commemorate the uniqueness of individual states. Some of these symbols border on the bizarre: Texas, for example, has made the Dutch oven its official state cooking pot. Other symbols are more universal, like state birds.
Many people remember learning about their states' history back in elementary school. But can you still remember your state bird? How about your state flower? To test your state knowledge, Stacker compiled a list of symbols in Idaho.
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Clue: Not only was this fish a critical staple for early settlers in the state of Idaho, but its sensitivity to changes in the ecosystem make it a crucial barometer for environmental health. It's immediately identifiable by the reddish-orange slash under its chin.
Answer: Cutthroat trout
Idaho has no state mammal, but here’s one they should consider: The state is home to a native North American ungulate that is the second fastest land mammal on Earth. They’ve also got stamina: They can maintain a fast speed for longer than a cheetah, and some herds make a yearly migration of 300 miles round trip.
- State mammal: None
- Proposed: Pronghorn antelope
The music to the state song of Idaho, which stands out as the only state in America with an official seal designed by a woman, was written by Sallie Hume-Douglas. Craig Chernos arranged the piece.
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- Answer: "Here We Have Idaho"
This species is one of the most familiar and easily recognizable of its kind in North America. Their popularity is so large that humans are increasingly breeding populations in captivity.
- State insect: Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
Idaho’s state tree is an evergreen which primarily grows in the northern Rockies and other West Coast mountain regions. The tree was once a prominent player in Idaho’s forests, but has been decimated in the past several decades by a rust disease introduced from ornamental shrubs, as well as predatory beetles and human harvesting. Conservation efforts, including genetic study of trees that can resist the rust, are underway.
Answer: Western white pine (Pinus monticola)
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This sturdy little bird was made for harsh environments, though you wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at its delicately beautiful plumage. The species likes to make its home in the hollows of trees, but will happily settle for dirt banks or holes in the sides of cliffs.
Answer: Mountain bluebird
This wildflower has a snowy white color, turning Idaho hillsides white during the spring. Its species name of “lewisii” is named after Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark expedition, as Lewis wrote about the flower during his travels. With four to five waxy petals, this state flower has a sweet and strong fragrance to it.
