How Many of Louisiana’s 9 State Animals Do You Know?

When the words on your car tags say Sportsman’s Paradise as they do in Louisiana then you better know a thing or two about wildlife. Of course, there was a time in Louisiana’s past when our car tags said World’s Fair 1984, and it was pretty obvious we didn’t know squat about putting on a World’s Fair. But I like to think the people of Louisiana are better with animals than we are at stealing, allegedly, from taxpayers.  

Like a lot of things in life we, the human animal, like to make our choices and announcements official. That’s why no couple is really dating unless it’s Facebook official. And no potted meat can be purchased at an LSU game unless it’s “official”. So, it’s not surprising that the people of Louisiana and the lawmakers elected to represent them have decided to anoint certain animal species with an “official” tag.  

I am pretty sure the animals don’t really care about the designation but maybe it helps to keep them safe from all the sportsmen who are roaming the pastures, prairies, bayous, swamps, marshes, and wetlands of our state looking to do those creature's harm. And I guess it aids in the marketing of the state too. Because when you look at some of the selections for Louisiana’s various official animals it’s pretty easy to see why they were chosen.  

Just to be clear the “official" designation usually doesn’t usually come with legally binding state protections unless stipulated specifically in the laws of the state in question. As you peruse the list of official Louisiana animals you will see there are several on the list that have recipes associated with them. This is a pretty strong indication that the species is “officially” on its own when it comes to not winding up served over rice.  

Are you ready to meet Louisiana’s nine official state animals? Here they are in “no particular order” of importance or culinary adaptation.