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West Virginia is an exceptional destination for wildlife interaction and viewing, offering visitors and residents the chance to connect with nature in a state that proudly values its rich biodiversity and strong cultural affinity for wildlife conservation. From spotting white-tailed deer, black bears, and wild turkeys in lush forests to watching migrating birds and rare species in protected areas like Canaan Valley and Dolly Sods, West Virginia provides countless opportunities for unforgettable wildlife experiences. Scenic trails, state parks, and wildlife refuges allow nature lovers and photographers to observe animals in their natural habitats while supporting local conservation efforts. For new residents drawn by the remote-work revolution and a love for the outdoors, West Virginia’s abundant wildlife and community respect for nature make it the perfect place to live, explore, and appreciate the Mountain State’s wild beauty year-round.

Close-up photograph of a small warbler held gently in a bird bander's hand, showing its yellow throat and distinctive facial markings.
Wildlife / Conservancy

Dozens of birdwatchers thought they’d found one of America’s rarest birds in West Virginia

by Clyde Craig

DANIELS, W.Va. — In the spring of 1975, two women visiting Little Beaver State Park in Raleigh County spotted an unusual songbird that would soon convince dozens of experienced birdwatchers they had rediscovered one of North America’s rarest birds. The bird appeared to be Sutton’s Warbler, first discovered in West Virginia’s eastern panhandle in 1939 … Read more

A white-tailed deer stands in the middle of a snow-covered rural road in November, surrounded by trees as light snow falls.
Wildlife / Conservancy

West Virginia leads nation in animal collisions as deer season raises danger

by Clyde Craig

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia motorists face the nation’s highest risk of striking an animal while driving, according to new insurance data released as the state enters its most dangerous deer-collision season. “Driving through West Virginia this time of year is like driving through a petting zoo,” said David Sibray, publisher of West Virginia Explorer. “I drive … Read more

Turkey Shooting, by 19th-century American artist Charles Deas, depicts the pursuit of wild turkeys in early America. The bird later became the subject of one of the nation's most successful wildlife restoration efforts. (Public domain/Wikimedia Commons)
Wildlife / Conservancy

America’s wild turkey hunting tradition returns to West Virginia forests

by Will Reedy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — One of America’s oldest hunting traditions returns to Appalachian forests Saturday, Oct. 10, when West Virginia opens its fall wild turkey season in all 55 counties, continuing a pursuit that has survived centuries of settlement, deforestation, and the bird’s near-disappearance. Long before European colonists arrived in North America, Indigenous peoples hunted wild … Read more

A river otter pauses along a grassy riverbank log before slipping back into the water. A new collaborative study by WVU and WVDNR used high-tech GPS trackers to reveal that West Virginia otters can log up to 30 miles in a single night.
Wildlife / Conservancy

GPS trackers in new study reveal W.Va. otters traveling up to 30 miles a night

by David Sibray

NEWBERRY, W.Va. — A collaborative study led by state wildlife officials, federal scientists, and West Virginia University researchers in Morgantown is shedding light on the secret lives of West Virginia’s river otters and directly shaping state management policy for years to come. The research, conducted in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey and W.Va. Division … Read more

Two unbanded peregrine falcons have been confirmed at the New River Gorge Bridge, continuing a conservation story that began decades ago. The inset shows one of the peregrines recently observed at the bridge. (Inset photo by Larry Massey)
Wildlife / Conservancy

Two unbanded peregrine falcons confirmed at New River Gorge Bridge

by David Sibray

LANSING, W.Va. — Two unbanded peregrine falcons have been confirmed at the New River Gorge Bridge, an encouraging development nearly two decades after conservationists began an ambitious effort to restore the species to the central Appalachians. Bridge Walk guides, who lead tours along the catwalk beneath the landmark span, observed the two birds together Monday … Read more

A bull elk stands in the southern West Virginia coalfields, where the state's restored elk population is beginning to roam farther from its established range. (Photo: W.Va. Dept. of Commerce)
Wildlife / Conservancy

West Virginia elk are roaming farther as restored herd grows

by Will Reedy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s restored elk are beginning to roam farther from the southern coalfields where they were reintroduced, even as the state prepares to welcome visitors for another season of guided elk-viewing tours. The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources announced Sunday that tickets are available for its 2026 Elk Management Tours, which begin Sept. … Read more

Hikers document an apparently ill white-tailed deer they encounter along a wooded West Virginia trail, illustrating the kind of observation that can now be reported through the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources' new online Wildlife Disease and Mortality Reporting Tool.
Wildlife / Conservancy

West Virginia launches online tool for reporting sick and dead wildlife

by Will Reedy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia wildlife officials have launched a new online reporting system that allows residents and visitors to quickly report sick, injured or dead wild animals, giving state biologists another tool to detect disease outbreaks before they become widespread. The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources announced Wednesday that it has begun using a … Read more