California’s list of official state symbols could grow even further as two bills aimed at designating a state slug and crab continue advancing in the legislature.
Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D-Santa Cruz) introduced AB 1850 to designate the banana slug as the official state slug.
Banana slugs can be found throughout the state, primarily in redwood forests. They are known to have a symbiotic relationship with redwood trees. The slugs eat the plants, competing with the redwood tree’s seedlings for light, water, and nutrients. In return, the trees provide cool, moist habitats the slugs need to survive, Pellerin’s office shared in a news release.
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In addition to the banana slug, California may also make the Dungeness crab the official state crustacean.