Animal Icongoraphy

Many animals have become iconic in American culture, even as mascots for Americans, or something evocative of the American outdoorsman. There's the Bald Eagle, the Bison, the Puma, the Rattlesnake, as well as critters that can be found throughout the world but still scream "Americana", like deer, wolves, bears (though specifically the Grizzly)

Sometimes an animal becomes part of American iconography despite not being native at all. This is especially true with most livestock, especially horses and cows (though it didn't take long for horses to become an indelible part of American culture.). Some old world creatures however, are exotic even to the European descended, but are, if not as American as apple pie, certainly don't evoke "beast from the other side of the world" like they did to Europeans in the Middle Ages.

The popularity of elephants is pretty easy to understand. Their are very, very distinct looking, and