The west virginia division of natural resources, wildlife resources section (WRS) is responsible for the management and conservation of our states wildlife resources and for providing wildlife…

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 5 awarded $520,748 to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) on August 1, 2025, with a completion date of July 31, 2030. This formula grant supports the WVDNR's ongoing elk reintroduction program in West Virginia, which began in December 2016 with the release of 22 elk into the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area in Logan and Mingo Counties. The grant funds the long-term monitoring and management of the reintroduced elk population, which has grown to an estimated 140–150 animals through releases in 2016, 2018, and 2024 from source populations in Kentucky and Arizona. Key deliverables include annual GPS transmitter deployment on 50–60 elk to track population dynamics and spatial ecology.

The WVDNR is conducting this research in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey West Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at West Virginia University (UEI: MNL4D3VQUWA5), which serves as the primary sub-awardee. A doctoral student will lead the evaluation of all spatial ecology aspects of the reintroduced herd and develop long-term population monitoring strategies. The research outcomes will provide habitat and population management recommendations critical to the sustainable success of the reintroduction program, directly supporting the Wildlife Restoration Act's mandate to conserve and manage wild mammals and their habitats across the state.

The west virginia division of natural resources, wildlife resources section (WRS) is responsible for the management and conservation of our states wildlife resources and for providing wildlife associated recreation for the citizens of our state. ELK (cervus elaphus) were once common throughout west virginia but were extirpated from the state in the late 1800S because of unregulated harvest and habitat alterations. Following the success of ELK reintroduction efforts in other states in the eastern united states in the late 1990S, the west virginia division of natural resources (wvdnr) began a reintroduction feasibility study to assess habitat suitability and social acceptance in order to identify potential reintroduction areas. ELK reintroductions began in december 2016, with 22 ELK from land between the lakes national recreation area in kentucky released into tomblin wildlife management area in logan and mingo counties. Additional releases occurred in 2018 and 2024, with ELK released from both kentucky and arizona. The population is considered to be growing with the current estimate to be around 140-150 ELK. Approximately 50-60 ELK have been equipped annually with GPS transmitters to monitor this reintroduction program. This project will be done in conjunction with the USGS WV cooperative fish wildlife research unit at west virginia university using a PH.d. Student. The student will evaluate all aspects of spatial ecology and provide long-term population monitoring strategies. The results of this study will have habitat and population management implications that will be beneficial to the long-term success of this reintroduction program.