The official California state animal is actually extinct. A bear appeared on the first California flag, but the California grizzly bear (Ursus californicus) didn't become the official California state animal until 1953. These large, powerful carnivores were once common in California, but early settlers couldn't find a way to coexist with them and by 1922, the last California grizzly was killed in Tulare County.
The picture above was taken is Grizzly Peak at the Disney California Adventure theme park. According to their website, the idea for it comes from "an ancient legend, the peak was once a giant bear named Oo-soo'-ma-te, whom A-ha-le the Coyote transformed into stone to watch over and protect the land."
