The gray fox is one of Georgia’s most common — but seldom-seen — animals. It seemed destined for fame a few weeks ago: A measure (House Bill 70) introduced into the current General Assembly would have made the gray fox Georgia’s official state mammal.
However, officials with Georgia’s Wildlife Resources Division asked the bill’s sponsors to amend the measure and instead nominate the white-tailed deer — a more widely known, more frequently seen creature across the state. It is also a popular game animal that contributes greatly to the state’s economy.
So, it now looks like the white-tailed deer will become Georgia’s newest state symbol. It would become part of a distinguished group that includes the gopher tortoise (state reptile), green treefrog (state amphibian), brown thrasher (state bird), bobwhite quail (state game bird), Southern live oak (state tree), Cherokee rose (state flower), honeybee (state insect), right whale (state marine mammal), Eastern tiger swallowtail (state butterfly), largemouth bass (state fish), shark tooth (state fossil), quartz (state gem) and staurolite (state mineral).
The effort to name a state mammal began last fall with students at the Reese Road Leadership Academy, an elementary school in Columbus. A fourth-grade student doing a Cub Scout project on the state’s symbols realized that Georgia was one of three states that did not have an official state mammal.
When other students, including several first-graders, learned about it, they were eager to nominate an animal to fill that gap. They considered many mammals, including gray squirrel, deer, bobcat and coyote, but the gray fox won by majority vote.
They then asked for help from Rep. Carolyn Hugley of Columbus, who promised to take up their cause. The result was HB 70. The students, she said, were “quite OK” with switching to the white-tailed deer. They even visited the Capitol Feb. 11 to support the bill before the House Special Rules Committee. The measure is expected to pass.
In the sky: The moon will be first-quarter Wednesday night, said David Dundee, Tellus Science Museum astronomer. Just after dark Saturday, the moon, Venus and Mars will appear close together. The planets will set in the west a few hours later. Mercury is low in the east just before dawn. Jupiter rises out of the east at dusk and is visible all night. Saturn rises out of the southeast a few hours after midnight.
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