Thousands of bobwhite quail will be stocked in W.Va. to help restore species
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — More than 20,000 bobwhite quail will be stocked at wildlife management areas across West Virginia to help restore a species that reached its peak in the 1920s but has declined sharply the last several decades.
“I've missed these little rascals, and lots of people have," Gov. Jim Justice said in a news release. "It's a bird that has been here forever, and it’s wildlife we need to protect and bring back.”
The statewide initiative by the Division of Natural Resources was announced Wednesday during a news conference at the Claudia L. Workman Wildlife Education Center in Alum Creek.
Officials said the DNR has already stocked more than 12,000 bobwhite quail, and will continue stocking from August through October, weather and habitat conditions permitting.
Transmitters have been placed on some of the quail to monitor survival and habitat use. Game cameras have also been placed at several locations to monitor through video and pictures.
A native species, the northern bobwhite quail was once found across West Virginia, but the population was devasted during the winters of 1977, 1978 and 1979.
Bobwhite quail have been stocked at the following locations:
- Burnsville Lake Wildlife Management Area
- Cross Creek Wildlife Management Area
- Frozen Camp Wildlife Management Area
- Greenbrier State Forest
- Huttonsville State Farm Wildlife Management Area
- Laurel Lake Wildlife Management Area
- Pleasant Creek Wildlife Management Area