What’s the largest land animal in each US state? Before answering this question, let’s disqualify non-native species kept as pets or in zoos. That eliminates elephants, hippos, rhinos, giraffes and the like. Additionally, this list focuses solely on animals still living in the state. So there are no dinosaurs, woolly mammoths, or giant sloths. Those might be interesting for a future map.
No Humans
Finally, I’m not going to count humans. I know that may sound trivial, but it’s not. Even if I exclude the six-sigma cases from exploitive TV shows featuring 600 lb people striving to lose weight, there’s at least one state where humans would be the largest land animal. Indiana’s largest animal is the white-tailed deer. With a listed weight of 300 pounds, there are likely thousands of Indianans who weigh more. While it’s not a scientific measure, there are six football players on the Indianapolis Colts above 300 pounds. With several large university football programs in the state there must be dozens more. Even ignoring football players, power-lifters, and other mega-sized athletes, studies estimate that 1.5-2.5% of Americans weigh more than 300 lbs. Quick math puts that total between 5 and 7 million. Assuming they’re distributed evenly, Indiana’s share is ~125,000.
Featured Map
This map is derived from one created by Malcolm Tunnell using data from iNaturalist, Wikipedia, and US/State Fish & Wildlife services.
Points of Interest and Possible Quibbles
Several things about this map surprised me. First, I didn’t realize there were native populations of American Bison across so many states. Western states make sense, but Illinois and Florida strike me as particularly odd. Second, I guess the elk populations in the east must be concentrated in the Appalachian mountain areas. That would help explain why there aren’t any in Ohio and Indiana. Some may quibble with the classification of seals as land animals. They spend a majority of their time in the water, but they sleep and reproduce (including breeding, birthing and nursing) on land. To me that’s enough to place them in the land column, but I respect those who disagree. If they were disqualified, I suspect their replacements outside of Hawaii, are likely among the other listed animals. For reference, here’s a complete list of animals with their weights.
Weight List
Northern Elephan Seal – 5,100 Lbs
American Bison – 2,599 Lbs
Moose – 1543 Lbs
Elk – 1,096 Lbs
American Alligator – 770 Lbs
Gray Seal – 680 Lbs
Hawaiian Monk Seal – 600 Lbs
Black Bear – 551 Lbs
White-Tailed Deer – 300 Lbs
As always thanks for reading.
Armen
Note to pay the bills
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