Thursday, October 23, 2025
51.7 F
Beckley
More

    Arizona elk to be released in Logan County, W.Va.

    An elk and her calf will be released in the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area. Photo courtesy W.Va. Dept. of Commerce.

    Fifty-one elk completed their journey from Arizona and were released into a holding facility in Logan County earlier this month, the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources announced today.

    The elk, which are part of West Virginia’s elk restoration project, were captured in late January and held near Flagstaff, Arizona for disease testing. The elk arrived at the holding facility near Holden, West Virginia, late on March 4.

    “It has been a wonderful experience working with the wildlife professionals in Arizona and all of the private supporters who are helping make West Virginia’s elk restoration project possible,” said division director Stephen McDaniel.

    Staff from the division's Law Enforcement and Wildlife Resources department transported the elk through a partnership with EQT Corporation and Energy Transportation of Bridgeport.

    David Alvarez, owner of Energy Transportation, and Greg Hoyer, of EQT, donated use of their company’s trucks and expenses from transporting the elk to West Virginia. The trip took 31 hours.

    This group of elk will join more than three dozen elk previously brought in from Kentucky over the past two years.

    Advertisement

    The elk will be quarantined until they are released onto the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area in Logan County, as directed by the United States Department of Agriculture.

    Each elk is equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS) radio transmitter to monitor its movements. All GPS transmitters were purchased and donated by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

    Read more about the WVDNR’s Elk Management Plan at .


    Sign up to receive a FREE copy of West Virginia Explorer Magazine in your email weekly. Sign me up!
    Will Reedy
    Will Reedyhttp://wvexplorer.com
    A consummate outdoorsman, Will Reedy has been hunting and fishing West Virginia since he was first able to wield rod and gun. He has been an outdoors writer for West Virginia Explorer since 2001.

    LEAVE A REPLY

    Please enter your comment!
    Please enter your name here

    Hot this week

    Fayetteville Creates turns town into a living arts studio for the New River Gorge

    FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — This winter, the small mountain town...

    The legend of the Vegetable Man: How a bloodsucking alien left its mark on West Virginia

    FAIRMONT, W.Va. — A lesser-known encounter with an extraordinary...

    Professors at WVU trace Halloween through ancient, cross-cultural traditions

    MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — From cauldrons to candy corn, favorite...

    Account claims lost Swift silver mine delved near Big Sandy River in West Virginia

    HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — One of the most appealing of...

    Eight ghost towns in southern West Virginia worth visiting

    THURMOND, W.Va. — One of the richest aspects of...

    Topics

    Fayetteville Creates turns town into a living arts studio for the New River Gorge

    FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — This winter, the small mountain town...

    The legend of the Vegetable Man: How a bloodsucking alien left its mark on West Virginia

    FAIRMONT, W.Va. — A lesser-known encounter with an extraordinary...

    Professors at WVU trace Halloween through ancient, cross-cultural traditions

    MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — From cauldrons to candy corn, favorite...

    Eight ghost towns in southern West Virginia worth visiting

    THURMOND, W.Va. — One of the richest aspects of...

    Three West Virginia resorts ranked among best in U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler

    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Top travel destinations in West Virginia...

    Related Articles

    Popular Categories