Tag: Wildlife

Wildlife Education Center Opens With Guided Hikes, Exhibits

Guided hikes, exhibits and interactive programming will greet guests during the grand opening of the Claudia L. Workman Wildlife Education Center, officials said.

Guided hikes, exhibits and interactive programming will greet guests during the grand opening of the Claudia L. Workman Wildlife Education Center, officials said.

The event on June 4 is being hosted by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and the Forks of Coal State Natural Area Foundation. Those who attend the free event in Alum Creek can tour the 9,500-square-foot (883-square-meter) building, explore the 102-acre (41-hectare) property and attend shows presented by the West Virginia Raptor Rehab Center, the the Division of Natural Resources said in a statement.

“We’re looking forward to having everyone come out and experience all that we have to offer, including ‘Touch a Snake’ and ‘Bird ID’ activities,” said Ashley Anderson, the agency’s park activities coordinator.

The opening fulfills the vision of the center’s namesake, Claudia Workman, whose husband donated the land in 2015 so a nature-based education center could be built.

The center has five main areas that include an introduction to Forks of Coal State Natural Area, an aquarium and reptile exhibit, a wildlife manage area, a habitat management area and a wildlife observation area. It will be open Tuesday through Saturday beginning on June 7.

West Virginia Wildlife Paintings Sought For Calendar

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources will soon be selecting paintings for its annual wildlife calendar and is accepting submissions.

The deadline to send artwork is Feb. 18.

The division chooses 12 paintings each year for the calendar. All artists, especially those from West Virginia, are encouraged to send in submissions, the agency said in a news release.

Artists whose work is chosen receive $200, and the artist whose work is chosen for the cover receives an additional $500.

Paintings must depict game and fish species or other wildlife found in the state.

To submit artwork, see instructions online at WVdnr.gov/wildlifecalendar.

West Virginia Grants Available for Land Protection

The West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund says it’s accepting grant applications for land-protection projects with up to $1.2 million that may be awarded.

According to the fund, projects can include wildlife habitats, working forests and farmlands, as well as hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation areas.

The fund has an 11-member board of trustees from the state divisions of forestry and natural resources, land trusts, outdoor recreation and sportsmen’s groups, and professionals in biology, ecology, forestry and public health.

Grant application forms are available online at www.wvcommerce.org/resources/conservation/ohcf/default.aspx.

West Virginia Updates Hunting, Fishing Online Map

West Virginia wildlife officials say an online interactive map with information about hunting and fishing around the state has been updated.

Division of Natural Resources Director Stephen McDaniel says the map at www.wvdnr.gov can be useful for hikers and boaters as well.

Instructions are on the division’s website at mapwv.gov/huntfish/ where the division says hunters can find the location of license agents, check stations, public shooting ranges, wildlife management areas, Class Q hunter access roads and hiking trails.

A search option lets users focus on one county, wildlife management area, state forest or area surrounding a city or state park.

It can also show fishing and boating access sites, trout-stocked streams, public fishing lakes and float trips.

State Wildlife Officials to Relax Some Hunting Regulations

West Virginia wildlife officials are seeking looser hunting regulations for deer and bears.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports Division of Natural Resources officials proposed a list of changes at the state Natural Resources Commission’s meeting Sunday.

Gary Foster, the DNR’s assistant wildlife chief, says the majority of the counties will have the same regulations as 2016. However, in some counties the bag limits or season structures will become more liberal. For example, antlerless-deer regulations will become more liberal in 18 counties or parts of counties.

All of the DNR’s bear-hunting proposals are liberalizations of existing regulations.

DNR officials will take input from the public on the regulation proposals in 12 public hearings in mid-March. The proposals will be up for a final vote April 23.

State Agency Soliciting Wildlife Art for Calendar

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources has requested original color wildlife paintings for the 2018 edition of its wildlife calendar.

According to the division, paintings may depict popular fish or game or West Virginia’s other wildlife, such as snakes, frogs, turtles, salamanders, bats, songbirds and small mammals.

Prizes of $100 are awarded for each painting chosen, with $500 going to the artist whose work is picked for the cover.

The deadline is Feb. 17. Artists are asked to submit an electronic image of each entry that can be shown at 14.5-by-11.5 inches at 300 dots per inch.

High-quality prints are acceptable. Artists may submit multiple entries.

Paintings that were not chosen in previous years may be resubmitted.

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