These Pennsylvania animals have fans far beyond the state’s borders.
Animals have always lived alongside us, from the pets in our homes to the wildlife just outside our doors. They can mesmerize us, shape local traditions, improve our mental health, and provide a welcome distraction in the form of cute videos or fascinating stories.
We’ve put together a list of some of the animals in Pennsylvania that have proven particularly skilled at capturing public attention. Read on to meet the commonwealth’s famous (and quirky) pets, its iconic wildlife, and of course, everyone’s favorite groundhog.
Kodiak the Steller’s sea eagle – Pittsburgh
Kodiak, a Steller’s sea eagle, has lived at Pittsburgh’s National Aviary for roughly 20 years, but in 2021, the eagle made headlines when he took a brief vacation. Kodiak, nicknamed Kody, escaped from his outdoor enclosure, triggering a citywide search. Pittsburgh residents called in sightings of Kody, and the aviary closed to focus its efforts on finding the massive bird, whose wingspan reaches six feet.
After a little over a week, aviary wildlife specialists rushed to the site of the latest Kody spotting, a residential neighborhood in Pine Township, and used falconry techniques to successfully capture him and bring him home.
Following Kody’s return, the aviary renovated the Steller’s sea eagle enclosure and also rescued a female Steller’s sea eagle, Aurora, as a potential mate for Kody.
Nora the Piano Cat – Philadelphia
One of Pennsylvania’s earliest internet-famous animals, Nora the Piano Cat, became known for her feline musicality when footage of her playing the piano went viral in 2007.
Nora, a gray tabby cat, was originally from South Jersey but was rescued from the Camden streets by a local animal shelter and adopted by a Philadelphia musician couple. It wasn’t long before she was jamming on the piano, charming people and news outlets around the world.
After a long and full life, Nora passed away in February 2024 at the age of 19.
Punxsutawney Phil – Punxsutawney (Jefferson County)
You already know Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog and media darling that predicts the weather each February in Jefferson County’s Punxsutawney. According to the story told by the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club’s “Inner Circle,” Phil has been emerging from his burrow to tell us whether we can expect an early spring every year since 1887. He’s lived so long thanks to “groundhog punch,” an elixir he sips at his annual picnic each September. A groundhog can live up to 14 years in captivity, so that must be some powerful punch! The club also insists that any incorrect predictions over the past 139 years can be blamed on the Inner Circle president misunderstanding Phil.
In addition to Groundhog Day, the Inner Circle cares for Phil year-round.
Kevin Bacon the pig – Gettysburg (Adams County)
A 200-pound pig named Kevin Bacon captured the attention of people across the country—including that of the human (and Philadelphia native) Kevin Bacon—when he escaped from his home in a rural area just outside Gettysburg in 2023.
Kevin Bacon the pig was on the lam in dense forest for nearly three weeks, with people throughout the community joining what would soon become a viral search. Actor Kevin Bacon even shared the story online, hoping to help bring Kevin Bacon home. Ultimately, sticky buns infused with Benadryl lured the runaway pig back to the barn.
Today, Kevin Bacon has a thriving social media presence on TikTok, and his owners hope he can one day become a therapy pig for people with special needs.
The Pennsylvania elk herd – Pennsylvania Wilds
Once native to Pennsylvania and found across the state, eastern elk were hunted to extinction by the late 1800s. But not long after, the commonwealth launched a program to release Rocky Mountain elk into the former elk range, transporting more than 100 elk by train from Yellowstone National Park to the forests of northern Pennsylvania.
Today, the Pennsylvania elk herd numbers more than 1,400—and the animals have become bona fide internet stars. Footage of bugling bulls regularly goes viral, drawing visitors to the Pennsylvania Wilds each year during the late-summer and early-fall rut, the best time to catch a glimpse of the majestic creatures. Want to see the Pennsylvania elk herd for yourself? Winslow Hill in Elk County’s Benezette is the most popular elk viewing site in the state.
Fireflies at the Pennsylvania Firefly Festival – Tionesta (Forest County)
Stay with me, here! Insects are animals, OK? And the firefly is not only the state insect of Pennsylvania, but also the honoree at a state festival that has only gotten more popular over the years.
The Pennsylvania Firefly Festival attracts worldwide interest each summer with the opportunity—at least for the lucky lottery winners who get to attend the main festival program—to see rare fireflies light up the western Pennsylvania night. While Pennsylvania is home to more than 30 species of fireflies, one of the most anticipated firefly appearances is that of the species Photinus carolinas, whose male mating displays involve synchronous light shows that dazzle onlookers.
