In 2021, a decision support tool (DST) using geospatial data was developed by the westvirginia division of natural resources (wvdnr) geographic information system (GIS) unit toserve as a spatial…

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $312,408 Formula Grant under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WV DNR) for the period of January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026.

The grant will fund three key activities: 1) completing the installation of remaining Motus wildlife tracking system stations based on a geospatial blueprint developed in 2021, 2) maintaining and upgrading existing stations to improve detection performance, and 3) conducting a new geospatial analysis to guide the placement of stations for the next phase of the Motus program from 2027-2031 with a focus on private lands. The expanded Motus network on public lands will increase geographic coverage for tracking radio-tagged wildlife species moving within and across state borders, benefiting WV DNR and its research partners. The grant will also provide new conservation education and interpretation opportunities for the public.

In 2021, a decision support tool (DST) using geospatial data was developed by the westvirginia division of natural resources (wvdnr) geographic information system (GIS) unit toserve as a spatial blueprint or roadmap to guide future motus wildlife tracking system(hereafter motus) efforts following a four-year plan (2022-2026). This grant would propose to 1)finish remaining station installations of the phase 1 blueprint 2) maintain and upgrade (asneeded) pre-existing stations to improve detection performance and 3) conduct a newgeospatial analysis for phase 2 of blueprint (2027-2031) focused on private lands based onowner type, cave entrances, and consideration of target bird and BAT species of greatestconservation need (sgcns). Placing remaining receiving stations on the landscape wouldincrease geographic coverage on public lands for radio-tagged species being track within andout of state. The wvdnr, partnering agencies, and research institutions would continue to bebeneficiaries of any data collected by our receiving stations and from those elsewhere in thenetwork. Deployment on public lands and opportunistic private lands will bring new conservationeducational and interpretation opportunities.