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Legislator attempts to cast Iowa Darter as State Fish

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January 26th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

Iowa is one of three states that does not have an official state fish. A northwest Iowa legislator’s proposal could change that. State Representative John Wills of Spirit Lake says the nomination came from a constituent who told Wills the Iowa Darter is the only fish that has Iowa in its name and that would make it a great state fish. Wills expects to hear other names floated for state fish, like the blue gill or the channel cat, but he is casting his lot with his constituent. The Iowa Darter is small — under four inches — and its scales and fins are covered in rainbow colors. Iowa has just a handful of state symbols. The last one was done in 1967 when the legislature declared the geode (JEE-ohd) as the state rock.