New Hampshire State Mammal
White-tailed Deer (common name) Odocoileus virginianus (scientific name) Overview The white-tailed deer is native to the United States and a common sight in all but a few states. It is the most popular choice in the country as a state animal, having been designated as such by New Hampshire in 1983, Arkansas in 1993, Illinois in 1980, Nebraska in 1981, Ohio in 1988, Pennsylvania in 1959, and South Carolina in 1972. Michigan (1997) and Mississippi (1974) also include it among their designated state animals. The whitetail is a medium-sized, brown deer that was an important source of food and leather for the indigenous peoples of the country. It remains the country’s most important game animal and is prized for its meat (called "venison") and the challenge of hunting it, especially with a bow and arrow. Whitetails are larger in the northern part of its range and the smallest sub-species can be found in the southernmost part of the US in the Florida Keys. Close-up STATUS Official State Animal ALSO KNOWN AS Virginia deer, Columbian white-tailed deer, Southern white-tailed deer, whitetail PHYSICAL DETAILS Reddish brown in summer and grayish brown in winter. A small population of white (not albino) deer is found in upstate New York. Males shed their antlers from late December to February and re-grow them every year in late spring when they are covered with a fuzzy tissue known as "velvet."    Males Females Size length 4–8 ft (120-240 cm); shoulder height 32–42 in (80-106 cm) length 62–87 in (160-220 cm); shoulder height 32–40 in (80-100 cm) Weight 130–300 lbs (60 kg–130 kg); average 250 lbs (114 kg); largest 500 lbs (230 kg) 90–200 lbs (40–90 kg); average 150 lbs (68 kg) LIFESPAN Up to 15 years; average of 2–3 years in the wild HABITAT Range: Southern Canada to Peru; absent from California, Nevada, and Utah; introduced to parts of Europe and New Zealand. Conservation: Least Concern (LC). Deer were severely depleted throughout their range in the U.S. by the late 1800s and early 1900s. Hunting restrictions brought populations back to historic levels, but then the elimination of the animal’s natural predators led to an overpopulation of whitetail deer over much of its range. BEHAVIOR Whitetails will stay completely still when they sense danger and then will raise their tail in a flash of white and run away at great speed. They are athletic animals that can jump 8-foot (2.5-m) fences and swim at 13 mph (21 kph). Male deer ("bucks") grow antlers they use for marking trees in their territory and sparring with other males to determine the hierarchy within the herd. Bucks rarely eat or rest during the mating season (the "rut") when they will attempt to mate with as many females as possible. Whitetail females ("does") will tenaciously defend their fawns, up to the point of risking their own lives. Top land speed recorded: 40 mph (64 kph) DIET Plant shoots, twigs, buds, leaves, pine needles, cactus, grasses, acorns, wild apples, plums, corn, mushrooms, sumac, hay, and grains. OFFSPRING Breeding interval: Annual Birthing period: May–June Average litter size: 1–3 fawns Size at birth: 3–14 lbs (1.4–6.3 kg); average 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) for females and 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg) for males TRIVIA The white-tailed deer is an iconic symbol of the American wilderness. Davy Crockett and his buckskin attire symbolized how Americans adapted to their environment and conquered the vast wilderness. Whitetail-related stories like The Yearling and Bambi are a part of the national culture. Deer hunting is also an extremely popular sport and an important source of income in many rural areas. Many collegiate and professional sports teams are named after the whitetail, including the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team. A profile of a whitetail buck’s head appears on the state flag and the coat of arms of the state of Vermont.
	Click to enlarge an image White-tailed Buck White-tailed Doe and Fawn Young Fawn New Antlers on White-tailed Deer CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Cervidae Subfamily: Capreolinae Genus: Odocoileus Species: O. virginianus
	Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Trade Press

New Hampshire State Mammal
Chinook (common name) Canis lupus familiaris (scientific name) Overview The Chinook is a rare breed of dog, originally developed as a working sled dog. The breed was developed in early 20th-century New Hampshire by Arthur Treadwell Walden, lead driver and sled dog trainer for Admiral Richard Byrd’s first Antarctic expedition in 1928–1930. Chinook (1917–1929) was Walden’s lead dog, and the offspring of a Greenland husky and a Mastiff-like dog from the Peary North Pole expedition. Chinook is the father of the breed, and he was bred with Belgian and German Shepherds. Chinook is an Inuit word for "warm winter winds." The United Kennel Club recognized the Chinook breed in March 1991. The American Kennel Club (AKC) began allowing Chinooks to compete in AKC events in 2003, but has not yet recognized Chinooks as a regular status breed. On June 9, 2009, thanks to the efforts of seventh graders at Lurgio Middle School in Bedford, New Hampshire, the state legislature designated the Chinook the official state dog. It is the only breed that originated in New Hampshire. Close-up STATUS Official State Dog PHYSICAL DETAILS The Chinook is a large, muscular dog with a broad head. It is light honey to reddish-gold in color, and may have dark tawny to black markings around the eyes, ears, and muzzle. It has a thin but dense double coat of medium length. Size: Male: 23–27 in (53–69 cm) high Female: 21–25 in (53–64 cm) high at the shoulder at the shoulder Weight: Male: 65–90 lb (29–41 kg) Female: 50–65 lb (25–29 kg) LIFESPAN 10–15 years HABITAT Only about 800 Chinooks are currently registered with the United Kennel Club, and 600 are listed with the American Kennel Club. Approximately 100 puppies are born each year worldwide. Chinook breeders exist in the United States only. Although Chinooks were bred to be working dogs, most are now pets. Some are used for dog sledding, skijoring, search and rescue, and dog sports. BEHAVIOR Developed to be a working sled dog, the Chinook is capable of pulling heavy loads. This breed was also bred to be non-aggressive, so Chinooks are generally calm, gentle, and friendly. With proper training, they get along well with children and other pets. Since they are gentle and tend to be reserved around strangers, Chinooks do not make good guard dogs. Chinooks need regular exercise and human interaction to be happy. They are intelligent but mature slowly. DIET Dogs are omnivores, requiring protein in their diet for optimal health. Grains and vegetables can also make up large portions of a dog’s diet. Dogs are natural scavengers, but a pet’s diet normally consists of food supplied by their owner. OFFSPRING Breeding interval: Biannually Birthing period: Approximately 63 days Average litter size: 5–9 puppies TRIVIA The New England Sled Dog Club was founded in 1924 to promote dog-sled racing. In 1925, Arthur Walden’s Chinook dog-sled team became the first to summit Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, the highest point in the northeastern United States. Chinook, the father of this breed, died in 1929, during the Byrd Antarctic expedition. In 1965, the Guinness Book of World Records named the Chinook the most rare dog in the world; only 125 members of the breed were alive at that time. Guinness listed the Chinook as the most rare dog two more times until fans of the breed decided to save it from extinction.
	Click to enlarge an image Chinook CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae Genus: Canus Species: C. lupus Subspecies: C. l. familiaris