Tag: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

Elk Under Quarantine Released from West Virginia Holding Pen

A group of elk transported from Arizona to West Virginia in March have been set free from their holding pen.

News outlets report the Division of Natural Resources released 46 elk on Tuesday in Logan County.

The elk had undergone a quarantine mandated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The quarantine ended on June 1 but the elk weren’t set free until the results from the final round of disease testing were known.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice had said three elk died of stress from summer heat, prolonged confinement and the testing procedure. Two of the three were pregnant. Three other recently born calves also died while awaiting release.

Justice said wild elk like the ones caught in Arizona are more susceptible to stress.

No Fishing License Needed this Weekend in West Virginia

Casting a line won’t cost anything in West Virginia this weekend.

The state Division of Natural Resources is holding its annual free fishing weekend for both residents and nonresidents. It’s part of National Fishing and Boating Week.

DNR Director Stephen McDaniel says people with licenses are being encouraged to introduce someone else to the fun of fishing.

There should be an ample amount of available fish. Recently the DNR stocked channel catfish in lakes at 11 state parks.

There will be fishing tournaments Saturday at the Bowden Hatchery near Elkins and at Little Beaver State Park near Beckley. The events are free but participants must register first.

Justice Administration Proposes Parkland Logging

Gov. Jim Justice’s administration has proposed opening West Virginia’s state parks to logging.

Legislation introduced by the Senate’s Republican and Democratic leaders at Justice’s request would authorize the Division of Natural Resources to implement “a sound silvicultural management plan.”

It calls for limits not exceeding “the average of four trees per acre per tract” and not to exceed half the sellable timber on an acre.

Trees would have to be at least 16 inches in diameter at chest height. Proceeds would help maintain state parks.

Conservation groups said lifting the 80-year ban on commercial logging of parklands is the wrong way to help them.

Jim Waggy of the Kanawha Forest Coalition said visitors come to West Virginia for the beauty of its forests, not to hear chain saws.

21 Organizations Get Water Quality Grants

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection says 21 organizations around the state are receiving grants to help protect the quality of the state’s rivers and streams.

A statement from the agency says $98,360 was divided among the organizations as part of the West Virginia Stream Partners Program, which is also supported by the Division of Natural Resources, the Conservation Agency and the West Virginia Division of Forestry.

The program was established by the Legislature to encourage groups to work with state agencies to keep waterways safe for swimming, fishing and other recreation and to keep an appropriate habitat for plant and animal life.

Awards for individual organizations ranged from $2,200 to $5,000.

Paintings Sought for 2019 W.Va. Wildlife Calendar

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is seeking paintings for its 2019 wildlife calendar.

The DNR says in a news release that the deadline for submitting original, color wildlife paintings is Feb. 19.

The statement says the paintings can depict game and fish species along with other wildlife, such as small mammals, bats, frogs, salamanders, snakes, songbirds, and turtles.

Artists can submit multiple entries. Paintings not chosen in previous years can be resubmitted. Each entry should include a high-quality electronic image that is 14.5-by-11.5 inches, although a print will be accepted. Electronic images can be emailed to Elizabeth.N.Akins@wv.gov.

A $200 prize will be awarded for each chosen painting, and the artist whose work is picked for the cover will get an additional $500.

Partnership to Protect 32,000 Acres for West Virginia Elk

A new partnership between West Virginia and a nonprofit group will protect about 32,000 acres of forest as habitat for the state’s new elk population.

The Herald-Dispatch reports the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and The Conservation Fund used $12 million from the Wildlife Conservation Fund to protect the land. The Conservation Fund purchased the land in 2016 and then transferred it to the Division of Natural Resources.

The project was completed in advance of about 60 elk from Arizona that will be added to West Virginia’s elk population in early 2018.

Additional funding came from the West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund, Walmart, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Acres for America program, the Knobloch Family Foundation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

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