State BirdState Bird CardinalCardinal

Cardinals, sometimes Cardinals, sometimes known as Redbirds or known as Redbirds or Northern Cardinals, do not Northern Cardinals, do not relocate, and have adapted relocate, and have adapted easily to both city and easily to both city and suburban environments.  In suburban environments.  In fact, both their numbers fact, both their numbers and their habitat range and their habitat range have grown as population have grown as population pressures on other species, pressures on other species, and the number of and the number of backyard birdfeeders, have backyard birdfeeders, have increased. increased.

State MammalState MammalGray SquirrelGray Squirrel

As an abundant game As an abundant game animal it provided a animal it provided a much needed food much needed food source, and some source, and some early ways for hunters early ways for hunters and training ground and training ground for the citizen-soldiers for the citizen-soldiers who fought in the who fought in the American Revolution American Revolution and the War of 1812.  and the War of 1812.  

State DogState DogPlott HoundPlott Hound

Back in the mid- to late Back in the mid- to late 1800s, people from as far 1800s, people from as far away as Georgia traveled away as Georgia traveled regularly to Haywood County regularly to Haywood County to get puppies from the to get puppies from the Plott’s family. They would Plott’s family. They would arrive with sacks on the arrive with sacks on the backs of their horses to carry backs of their horses to carry home the prized dogs. The home the prized dogs. The Plott’s raised hardworking, Plott’s raised hardworking, dogs that would hunt bear dogs that would hunt bear and wild animals with and wild animals with courage.courage.

http://ncpedia.org/http://ncpedia.org/symbols/dogsymbols/dog

State InsectState InsectHoneybeesHoneybees

Honeybees play an Honeybees play an important role for important role for our state as our state as pollinators of pollinators of several major cash several major cash crops such as crops such as cotton, fruits and cotton, fruits and vegetables. We vegetables. We also use their also use their honey and wax. honey and wax.

State Reptile: TurtleState Reptile: TurtleEastern Box TurtleEastern Box Turtle

19791979 The turtle is The turtle is

adopted as the adopted as the official State reptile official State reptile of the State of of the State of North Carolina, and North Carolina, and the eastern box the eastern box turtle is turtle is representing the representing the turtles inhabiting turtles inhabiting North Carolina.North Carolina.

State FishState FishFreshwater TroutFreshwater Trout

The General Assembly The General Assembly of 2005 named the of 2005 named the Southern Appalachian Southern Appalachian Brook Trout as the Brook Trout as the official Freshwater official Freshwater Trout for the State of Trout for the State of North Carolina.North Carolina.

The brook trout is the The brook trout is the only trout native to only trout native to western North western North Carolina.Carolina.

State TreeState TreePinePine

Pine is perhaps the most Pine is perhaps the most important type of wood important type of wood in the construction in the construction industry, providing up to industry, providing up to half of lumber and wood half of lumber and wood products required by the products required by the industry.industry.

Being both fast growing Being both fast growing and well adapted to and well adapted to sandy regions, the pine sandy regions, the pine has become abounded has become abounded throughout the state.throughout the state.

FlowerFlowerDogwoodDogwood

19411941

This dogwood This dogwood grows in thickets in grows in thickets in damp meadows in damp meadows in the mountains of the mountains of the northwestern the northwestern corner of North corner of North Carolina. Carolina.

State GemState GemEmeraldEmerald

A greater variety of A greater variety of minerals, more than minerals, more than 300, have been 300, have been found in North found in North Carolina than in any Carolina than in any other state.other state.

These minerals These minerals include some of the include some of the most unique gems most unique gems on Earth!on Earth!

http://www.northcarolinaemeralds.info/http://www.northcarolinaemeralds.info/index.htmindex.htm

State FlagState Flag

The flag of North The flag of North Carolina shall consist Carolina shall consist of a blue union, of a blue union, containing in the containing in the center thereof a center thereof a white star with the white star with the letter "N" on the left letter "N" on the left and the letter "C“ on and the letter "C“ on the right of said star, the right of said star, the circle containing the circle containing the same to be one the same to be one third of the union. third of the union.