Wildlife / Conservancy

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Much of West Virginia enjoys about 85 percent as much sunlight as Miami, Florida, which means it’s ideally suited to solar energy use, says the founder and CEO of West Virginia-based Solar Holler. Thanks to technological advances, Dan Conant says solar energy is now an affordable and viable option for many residents … Read more

PINEVILLE, W.Va. — If it’s May or June in West Virginia and you’ve noticed an uptick in bear encounters on social media and in person, don’t be surprised. Young black bears are venturing out on their own in late spring and early summer, and male and female adults are searching for food and mating opportunities. … Read more

MARLINTON, W.Va. — When spring is in the air in West Virginia, black bears emerge from hibernation and begin a desperate search for food. Because bears become more active during this time of year, the chances of an outdoor encounter increase, says Colin Carpenter, black bear project leader for the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources. … Read more

CRANBERRY, W.Va. — Wolves in North America typically run in packs of around eight, according to most sources, though packs as large as 30 have been documented. However, packs far larger may have hunted in the mountains of West Virginia. A settler in the wilderness of the southern state tells the chilling tale of a … Read more

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In West Virginia, nature has provided an unmatched setting for wildlife portraiture. With a plentiful population of critters and dramatic and diverse scenery, it’s a cornucopia for artists who strive to capture wildlife in paint and pigment. Artists who wish to share their work with a perpetually appreciative audience are invited to … Read more

WEST JEFFERSON, N.C. — “Stella the Salamander” has been chosen as the mascot for the New River Conservancy, the organization established in 1991 to protect the New River in central Appalachia, and there’s an environmentally significant reason why. Amphibians like frogs and salamanders are heralds of a healthy environment, and the ecology of the New … Read more

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Two West Virginia University biologists are scouring the mountains for signs of rabbit and hare life. Amy Welsh and Chris Rota with the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Design are studying the habits and habitats of two West Virginia lagomorphs—the Appalachian cottontail and the snowshoe hare. Their research team, which also includes WVU alumni Mack Frantz and Holly Morris, biologists with the West Virginia … Read more

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Outdoor Heritage Conservation Fund is accepting applications through April 28 for large and small grants for projects that conserve unique and vital wildlife habitats, natural areas, forest lands, farmlands, and lands for hunting, fishing, and recreation. Applications will be accepted for large grants that are more than $25,000. During … Read more

FRENCH CREEK, W.Va. — Get ready for an early spring, West Virginia! French Creek Freddie called for warmer temperatures during his annual Groundhog Day celebration at the West Virginia State Wildlife Center in Upshur County. Trevor Moore, a wildlife biologist for the center, says he’d bank on Freddie, whose predictions are right half the time. “When … Read more

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — To learn more about the distribution of odd-looking hellbenders and mudpuppies, the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources has launched a citizen science project to track sightings of these important but declining salamanders around the state. The project, which will take two years to complete, gives anglers, science enthusiasts and public members … Read more