West Virginia State Wildlife Center
Encyclopedia
The West Virginia State Wildlife Center is a zoological park in French Creek
, West Virginia. Operated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
, the Wildlife Center displays many of West Virginia's wildlife
, including both native
and introduced species
. A few of the animals at the Wildlife Center were once found naturally in West Virginia, but were extirpated by the early 1900s.
Today, the Wildlife Center comprises 338 acres (136.8 ha) and currently displays 29 different species
of West Virginia mammals, birds, and reptiles, which are located along a 1.25 miles (2 km) long trail
through a mature hardwood forest. The animal exhibits are spacious chain-link enclosures within an actual West Virginian forest, which allows the animals to interract with the environment
and behave in more natural ways than one would see in most other zoos that attempt to recreate the environment. The Wildlife Center receives about 50,000 visitors per year.
were either extirpated or hunted
dangerously close to extirpation. By 1911, many of the state's most common large mammals, such as elk, bison, wolves, and mountain lions, had been completely eradicated. Even animals that are common in the state today, such as the white-tailed deer and wild turkey, were nearly wiped out by uncontrolled hunting. Growing concerns for West Virginia's wildlife led the state's government to create the French Creek Game Farm in 1923, where native West Virginian wildlife could be bred
and reintroduced back into the wild. Eventually, ecologists learned that animals bred in captivity
lack the instincts that are necessary to survive in the wild, so the reintroduction projects were discontinued, but the Game Farm remained open as a popular tourist attraction. The Game Farm was so popular because it allowed people to see animals that no longer existed in the state, and also because many of the animals displayed at the Game Farm are too elusive to be commonly seen in the wild, even though several of the species are commonly found near people's houses.
In 1986, the French Creek Game Farm was renamed the West Virginia State Wildlife Center. Today, the Wildlife Center serves to educate visitors about West Virginia's wildlife of the past
and present and about the history of wildlife conservation
. In addition to animal exhibits, the Wildlife Center also possesses a gift shop
; an additional trail through the forest; picnic areas with grills and picnic tables; and a large fishing pond that is stocked with trout
, bass
, catfish
, and bluegill
. Future projects include an educational center, an auditorium
, a nocturnal animal exhibit, reptile exhibits, aquatic mammal exhibits, an aviary
, and an aquarium
.
French Creek, West Virginia
French Creek is an unincorporated community in Upshur County, West Virginia, USA.French Creek is 9½ miles south of the county seat, Buckhannon, West Virginia, on West Virginia Route 20. It is home to the West Virginia State Wildlife Center — formerly the "French Creek Game Farm" — a zoological park...
, West Virginia. Operated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of West Virginia. While formerly known as the cabinet-level Department of Natural Resources, it is now part of the West Virginia Department of Commerce...
, the Wildlife Center displays many of West Virginia's wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
, including both native
Indigenous (ecology)
In biogeography, a species is defined as native to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention. Every natural organism has its own natural range of distribution in which it is regarded as native...
and introduced species
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
. A few of the animals at the Wildlife Center were once found naturally in West Virginia, but were extirpated by the early 1900s.
Today, the Wildlife Center comprises 338 acres (136.8 ha) and currently displays 29 different species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of West Virginia mammals, birds, and reptiles, which are located along a 1.25 miles (2 km) long trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
through a mature hardwood forest. The animal exhibits are spacious chain-link enclosures within an actual West Virginian forest, which allows the animals to interract with the environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
and behave in more natural ways than one would see in most other zoos that attempt to recreate the environment. The Wildlife Center receives about 50,000 visitors per year.
History
By the early 1900s, many of West Virginia's major faunaFauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
were either extirpated or hunted
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
dangerously close to extirpation. By 1911, many of the state's most common large mammals, such as elk, bison, wolves, and mountain lions, had been completely eradicated. Even animals that are common in the state today, such as the white-tailed deer and wild turkey, were nearly wiped out by uncontrolled hunting. Growing concerns for West Virginia's wildlife led the state's government to create the French Creek Game Farm in 1923, where native West Virginian wildlife could be bred
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
and reintroduced back into the wild. Eventually, ecologists learned that animals bred in captivity
Captivity (animal)
Animals that live under human care are in captivity. Captivity can be used as a generalizing term to describe the keeping of either domesticated animals or wild animals. This may include for example farms, private homes and zoos...
lack the instincts that are necessary to survive in the wild, so the reintroduction projects were discontinued, but the Game Farm remained open as a popular tourist attraction. The Game Farm was so popular because it allowed people to see animals that no longer existed in the state, and also because many of the animals displayed at the Game Farm are too elusive to be commonly seen in the wild, even though several of the species are commonly found near people's houses.
In 1986, the French Creek Game Farm was renamed the West Virginia State Wildlife Center. Today, the Wildlife Center serves to educate visitors about West Virginia's wildlife of the past
Past
Most generally, the past is a term used to indicate the totality of events which occurred before a given point in time. The past is contrasted with and defined by the present and the future. The concept of the past is derived from the linear fashion in which human observers experience time, and is...
and present and about the history of wildlife conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
. In addition to animal exhibits, the Wildlife Center also possesses a gift shop
Gift shop
A gift shop is a store primarily selling souvenirs relating to a particular topic or theme. The items sold often include coffee mugs, stuffed animals, t-shirts, postcards, handmade collections and other souvenirs....
; an additional trail through the forest; picnic areas with grills and picnic tables; and a large fishing pond that is stocked with trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
, bass
Bass (fish)
Bass is a name shared by many different species of popular gamefish. The term encompasses both freshwater and marine species. All belong to the large order Perciformes, or perch-like fishes, and in fact the word bass comes from Middle English bars, meaning "perch."-Types of basses:*The temperate...
, catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
, and bluegill
Bluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
. Future projects include an educational center, an auditorium
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
, a nocturnal animal exhibit, reptile exhibits, aquatic mammal exhibits, an aviary
Aviary
An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages...
, and an aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
.
Animals on display
- Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
- Groundhog (Marmota monax)
- Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
- Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
- Coyote (Canis latrans)
- Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) (Extirpated)
- Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
- Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
- Mink (Neovison vison)
- Fisher (Martes pennanti) (Reintroduced)
- River Otter (Lontra canadensis) (Reintroduced)
- Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
- Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
- Mountain Lion (Puma concolor) (Extirpated)
- Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) (Introduced)
- Elk (Cervus canadensis) (Extirpated)
- White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
- Bison (Bison bison) (Extirpated)
- Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
- Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
- Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
- Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
- Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
- Ring-Necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) (Introduced)
- Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
- Screech Owl (Megascops asio)
- Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
- Barred Owl (Strix varia)
- Black Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta)
- Northern CopperheadAgkistrodon contortrixAgkistrodon contortrix is a species of venomous snake found in North America, a member of the Crotalinae subfamily. The more common name for the species is "copperhead". The behavior of Agkistrodon contortrix may lead to accidental encounters with humans...
(Agkistrodon contortrix) - Timber RattlesnakeCrotalus horridusCrotalus horridus, the timber rattlesnake, is a species of venomous pitviper found in the eastern United States. This is the only rattlesnake species in most of the populous northeastern United States. No subspecies are currently recognized....
(Crotalus horridus)