llinois State Animal Showdown: White-tailed Deer vs. Monarch Butterfly

Welcome to the Illinois state animal showdown. Head to head, these two animals will duke it out to find out which one best represents the state of Illinois. In one corner, we have the white-tailed deer, hardy and adaptable, found all throughout the state of Illinois. In the other corner, literally floating like a butterfly, the monarch butterfly. Gracing the state of Illinois in the summer months before migration, this species of butterfly faces hardship throughout all phases of its lifecycle, heavily relying on the community. The question is, who will come out on top? Does the white-tailed deer or the monarch butterfly better champion the ideals of the state of Illinois? Read on to find out.

The Battle Ground, Illinois

Illinois is not the easiest place to live. With winters dropping well below freezing for months, and a growing population with cities sprawling into new land and animal habitats, Illinois is made for hardy species. Animals and insects that call this state home need to be able to adapt and adjust to challenges. To make matters worse, there can be very short fluctuations between different types of weather. Just when an animal has adapted to cold weather, suddenly it warms up. Not only that, but Illinois is home to different kinds of natural disasters, such as floods and tornadoes, as the state sits on the Northeast edge of tornado alley. As far as the landscape goes, Illinois is about as diverse as possible. From the rolling hills and valleys of the North, to flatter land in the central region used for cities or farmland, and then rugged forest areas in the South. Illinois is a proud state represented by the state animal and insect of the white-tail deer and the monarch butterfly, but when it comes down to it, which one champions the state best?

The Heavy Weight, The White-Tail Deer

The white-tail deer has been the Illinois state animal since 1980. The General Assembly and Illinois State Museum put together a list of mammals native to Illinois and let school children vote on which to be the official state animal. The white-tail deer, the only deer native to Illinois, won by a landslide over animals like a raccoon and different species of ground squirrels. Since then, the white-tail deer has represented the state of Illinois. Not only is this species native to the state, but it also describes what it means to live in Illinois, as white-tail deer are extremely adaptable.

Though Illinois has a wide range of landscapes, white-tail deer can be found throughout the state. From forested areas to farmland, the white-tail deer is adaptable enough to make its home anywhere. Primarily, white-tail deer, being herbivores, eat grass, shrubs, twigs, mushrooms, weeds, and a variety of other plants found throughout the state. Despite the loss of habitat, white-tail deer have adapted and can be found eating through a buffet of neighborhood gardens, crops, or even getting into bird feeders.

During the cold winter months, white-tail deer have developed physical and behavioral changes to adapt and thrive in the cold. They grow a thicker, darker coat to keep warm, as this dark coat absorbs as much heat from the sun as possible. Behaviorally, white-tail deer adapt by reducing activity in the winter to conserve energy. In the winter, it is more likely to spot white-tail deer closer together because staying close together helps to conserve heat.

Despite challenges like habitat loss or harsh winters, white-tail deer have adapted physically and behaviorally to have what it takes to thrive in Illinois.

The Light Weight, The Monarch Butterfly

Meet the state insect of Illinois since 1975, the monarch butterfly. Like the white-tail deer, the monarch butterfly became the state insect due to students' passion for the beautiful butterfly. Known for its vibrant, easily identifiable, orange and black wings, the monarch can be spotted throughout Illinois from May through October. Sadly, due to pesticides and climate change eliminating food sources along with general habitat loss, the population of the monarch butterfly has been steadily declining for years. As of 2022, the species was listed as endangered.

The monarch butterfly is not built for cold temperatures. Staying in Illinois for the winter months would give the species no chance of survival. To combat this, monarch butterflies migrate to Northwest Mexico. When day length decreases and food sources become scarce in the colder months, the butterflies sense it is time to begin migration. When they are in Illinois, they are essential pollinators for native wildflowers and bring a welcome flash of orange color to the state. In the winter, however, they are nowhere to be seen in Illinois.

During those warmer months, monarchs can be found throughout the state, often in open fields or near marshes, as these are places where milkweed grows. Milkweed is the sole food source for monarch caterpillars and, therefore, essential for their survival. Having limited food options poses a challenge, as habitat loss and pesticides kill the one food monarchs need to survive. Luckily, just as monarch butterflies live and travel together, Illinois is a state built on community. The Route 66 Monarch Flyway is a community initiative along Highway 66 that aims to restore habitat and food sources for the species. The project also aims to get everyone involved by hosting events where free milkweed stems are available for community member to plant in their neighborhoods.

Though the monarch butterfly is not in Illinois year-round, this species represents the community spirit that runs through the state.

The Champion

The state mammal versus the state insect, white-tail deer versus monarch butterfly. It was a close match. Both species selected by school children over forty years ago have called the state of Illinois home for much longer and represent different parts of what makes Illinois special. The white-tail deer shows what it means to overcome obstacles and adapt to the various landscapes and weather of Illinois. The monarch butterfly, on the other hand, represents the community spirit of the state. Though both animals are beloved by and play a different part in the state of Illinois, when the gloves are off, the white-tail deer comes out victorious over the monarch butterfly. This is because, being in the state year-round, the white-tail deer better embodies what it means to live in Illinois. Hardy and adaptable, the white-tail deer is the Illinois state animal showdown champion.