Eight U.S. state flags in this article feature animals either as the main image or inside an official seal or coat of arms: California’s grizzly bear, Louisiana’s pelican, Wyoming’s bison, Oregon’s beaver, Michigan’s elk, moose, and bald eagle, Missouri’s bears, Maine’s moose, and Wisconsin’s badger. Some are obvious at a glance. Others reward a closer look.
This article counts animals that appear in the official flag design, including animals inside a seal or coat of arms shown on the flag. A state animal does not count unless it also appears in the flag.
On this page: California · Louisiana · Wyoming · Oregon · Animals in coats of arms · Why designs differ
California’s Grizzly Bear
California’s grizzly is more than a decorative animal: it preserves the image of the California grizzly, which no longer lives in the state. That choice connects the flag to the Bear Flag tradition and to the state’s continuing use of the bear as a symbol of independence and identity. The California State Capitol Museum’s flag history provides additional background on the design.
Louisiana’s Pelican
Louisiana state flag featuring a pelican feeding three chicks.
The pelican in her piety is a traditional emblem of care and self-sacrifice. Louisiana’s version makes that symbolism visible: the mother pelican bends toward three chicks, turning a familiar heraldic motif into a scene of protection. The Louisiana Secretary of State’s official flag and seal description provides the design details.
Wyoming’s Bison
Wyoming’s bison does double duty: it serves as the field for the Great Seal, so the flag places state-government symbols directly on an animal associated with the state. The state’s official facts and symbols page explains the connection to branding and identifies the bison as Wyoming’s state mammal.
Oregon’s Beaver
Oregon state flag showing the beaver on its reverse side.
Oregon’s beaver appears on the reverse, where the animal is the main image rather than a small detail inside a seal. That makes Oregon unusual twice over: the flag has two different sides, and its animal appears on a side devoted to a single emblem.
The Oregon Secretary of State’s Blue Book identifies the beaver on the reverse and notes that Oregon is the only state with different patterns on each side of its flag.
Animals Inside State Coats of Arms
These flags use official coats of arms or seals, where animals share space with mottos, people, tools, stars, and landscape scenes.
Michigan: elk, moose, and bald eagle
Michigan’s elk, moose, and bald eagle all have supporting roles around the shield rather than appearing as the main image. The moose is especially useful for comparison: here it stands outside the coat of arms as a supporter, unlike Maine’s moose, which rests inside the shield beneath a pine tree. Michigan’s state facts and symbols page confirms that the flag uses the coat of arms.
Missouri: bears
Missouri state flag featuring two grizzly bears beside the Great Seal.
Missouri’s two grizzly bears flank the Great Seal as heraldic supporters. That differs from California’s single walking grizzly, which is the main image on the flag rather than a pair framing a seal. The Missouri Secretary of State’s explanation of the Great Seal says the two supporters symbolize the state’s strength and the bravery of its citizens.
Maine: moose
Maine state flag featuring a moose beneath a pine tree in the coat of arms.
Maine places its moose inside the shield, beneath the pine tree, where it shares the scene with a farmer and seaman. That is a different visual role from Michigan’s moose, which stands outside the shield as one of the coat of arms’ supporters. The Maine Secretary of State’s description of the Great Seal specifies the moose at the foot of the pine tree.
Wisconsin: badger
Wisconsin state flag featuring a badger above the coat of arms.
Wisconsin’s flag carries a badger above the shield, an animal emblem separated from the coat-of-arms scene rather than embedded inside it. That placement reinforces the state’s “Badger State” identity while keeping the seal readable below. The Wisconsin state flag statute provides the official description of the flag.
Why the Designs Differ
These flags use animals in two ways. California, Louisiana, Wyoming, and Oregon make the animal easy to spot, while Michigan, Missouri, Maine, and Wisconsin place animals inside a seal or coat of arms. The comparisons are revealing: California and Missouri both use bears, but California makes one grizzly the central image while Missouri uses two as seal supporters. Maine and Michigan both use moose, but Maine places its moose within a landscape on the shield while Michigan uses it outside the shield as a supporter. For the wider history and design details of every state flag, continue to our 50-state flag guide.
Browse our State Flags A to Z collection to find the flags featured in this guide.