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Wildlife Featured in this article
- Elk
17 elk added to WV herd
The translocations bring the state’s herd to 127
West Virginia’s elk population has just grown by 17. The new elk were translocated from the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in western Kentucky, bringing West Virginia’s herd to 127. They are the first of 40 new elk the state plans to introduce this year.
The 17 elk were released in the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area in Logan County.
West Virginia began restoring elk to the state in 2016 when biologists released 24 elk from Land Between the Lakes. It was the first time elk have roamed the state in over 140 years. Officials say the herd remains too small to allow hunting.
Header Image: West Virginia’s elk population has grown to 127. Credit: West Virginia Department of Natural Resources