Pennsylvania, like most other states, has selected “official” symbols to represent our state. It is not surprising, that Pennsylvania, one of the most forested states in the country, has selected fauna and flora that best represents our heritage.

Our state bird is the ruffed grouse. Once found in almost all counties, it is sad to report that it is rapidly losing ground. With many of the forests maturing, housing developments and warehouse constructions, and now West Nile virus, our state bird’s numbers are shrinking. I am now lucky to see or hear one once a year. It was selected officially in 1931.

Many states have shared the same bird as their state bird, but only Pennsylvania has selected the grouse. The bird chosen by the most states as their state bird is the cardinal (seven states). Not too surprising, since much of the Midwest is grasslands, is the second most chosen state bird, the Western meadowlark (six states). Close behind is the mockingbird chosen by five states.

Our state tree, the Eastern hemlock, was chosen in 1931. It too is under duress. The woolly adelgid is the culprit. I will discuss this scourge in a later issue. The damage to our hemlock-covered mountainsides is having an effect on the grouse and in some parts to our state, our state fish, the brook trout. Brook trout survive best in clean cold mountain streams. One of the reasons those streams remain cooler is because dense hemlock forests provide shade and thus keep the streams cooler. The brook trout was designated our state fish in 1970.

The firefly is our state insect. Many, as youngsters, and maybe even middle-aged youngsters, have waited until dusk in July, grabbed an empty jar, and loped around the yard catching “lightning bugs.” They are found throughout our state and certainly were a good choice in 1974 when they were given that designation. I bet though, that over the last 20 or more years you have been seeing fewer and fewer fireflies. They do have a number of obstacles to overcome, and in particular our overuse of pesticides.

Our Pennsylvania leaders made a great choice selecting our state flower. Mountain laurel, even though it does not bloom very long, is found throughout most of Pennsylvania’s counties, and is actually doing well. Our state flower hasn’t faced all the challenges that hemlocks, brook trout or fireflies are facing. Look for them gracing our roadsides, hillsides and forest clearings. They bloom a month or so before their “cousins” the rhododendrons.

Finally, found everywhere in Pennsylvania is our third-largest mammal, the white-tailed deer. Widely hunted, photographed and studied, it seems to be adapting so much better to human intrusions than I ever could have imagined. It was designated our state animal in 1959.

Whether you’re catching “lightning bugs” or hiking along a hemlock-covered hillside, just enjoy, enjoy.

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: True or False: Brown trout and brook trout are both native to Pennsylvania’s streams.

Last Week’s Trivia Answer: Raccoons don’t wet their food to help them swallow, but by wetting their feet, which are “heavily loaded” with nerve endings, they are aided in identifying the food they are going to eat.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.