Elk are present in West Virginia due to dedicated reintroduction efforts. Once native, these large mammals disappeared over a century ago. Their return marks a significant wildlife restoration achievement.
Elk’s Historical Journey
Elk were once a common sight across West Virginia, especially in the state’s high mountain regions. However, their numbers began to decline significantly throughout the 1800s as European settlers expanded across the area. Factors such as subsistence and market hunting, widespread timbering, and the disruptions of the US Civil War contributed to their extirpation from the state. The last known native elk records in West Virginia date back to around 1875.
Interest in reintroducing elk emerged decades later, with a 1972 feasibility study. In 2005, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR), with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, began habitat and social feasibility studies. This research led to 2015 legislation authorizing an active elk restoration program.
The initial reintroduction occurred in December 2016, with 24 elk from Kentucky. Subsequent 2018 releases brought additional elk from Kentucky and Arizona. Early efforts faced challenges, particularly with some Arizona elk experiencing high mortality from capture stress and a parasitic brain worm.
Current Elk Populations
Elk populations in West Virginia are primarily established and thriving within the southwestern coalfield area. This region includes counties such as Logan, Mingo, Boone, McDowell, Wyoming, southern Lincoln, and southern Wayne. The Tomblin Wildlife Management Area, spanning over 25,000 acres in Logan and Mingo counties, serves as the main release site and a core area for the growing herd. These areas, often former mountaintop removal sites, offer suitable open, grassy habitats that support the elk’s grazing needs.
As of early 2024, the state’s elk population is estimated at 140 to 150 animals, following additional translocations. The WVDNR has recorded around 60 native elk calf births since the 2016 restoration project began, indicating successful reproduction. Ongoing genetic studies monitor population diversity, including Manitoban and Rocky Mountain elk subspecies, to ensure herd health.
Conservation and Management
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) leads ongoing efforts to conserve and manage the state’s growing elk population. They collaborate with partners like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, The Conservation Fund, and West Virginia University researchers. These partnerships support activities such as monitoring elk health and movement using GPS telemetry, and conducting genetic studies.
Habitat management is a continuous focus within the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area, using techniques like controlled burns, mowing, and herbicide application to maintain open areas beneficial for elk. The WVDNR plans to introduce 40 new elk from Kentucky in 2024 to bolster the herd. While no elk hunting season exists currently, the long-term objective is a stable, self-sustaining population that could eventually support a limited harvest. Public engagement is encouraged through Elk Management Tours at Tomblin WMA, and a visitor center and observation tower are under construction for public viewing.