The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) is an agency of the government of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

West Virginia West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...

. While formerly known as the cabinet-level Department of Natural Resources, it is now part of the West Virginia Department of Commerce. The WVDNR is responsible for wildlife management, hunting and fishing regulations, and boater safety and also oversees state parks and resorts. It also operates the West Virginia State Wildlife Center, a zoo in French Creek that exhibits West Virginian wildlife.

Sections

Law Enforcement Section

The Law Enforcement Section, known as the "West Virginia Natural Resources Police", is the oldest statewide law enforcement agency in West Virginia, established in February 1897. The Section is primarily responsible for the enforcement of the game and fish laws and rules. Officers in the section carry on a continuing program of Hunter Education and Boating Safety Education, as well as enforce laws relating to

litter Litter consists of waste products that have been discarded incorrectly, without consent, at an unsuitable location. The waste is objects, often man-made, such as aluminum cans, paper cups, food wrappers, cardboard boxes or plastic bottles, but ...

ing, forestry, state parks, environmental/solid waste, pleasure boating, and whitewater rafting. They also respond to emergencies, including floods and other natural disasters, as well as provide assistance to the West Virginia State Police where necessary. The Natural Resources Police are maintained under Chapter 20, article 7 of the West Virginia Code.

Parks and Recreation Section

The Parks and Recreation Section is responsible for the operation of West Virginia's network of state parks, as well as recreation facilities located in some

state forests A state forest or national forest is a forest that is administered or protected by a sovereign or federated state, or territory. Background State forests are forests that are administered or protected by some agency of a sovereign or federate ...

and wildlife management areas.

Wildlife Resources Section

Wildlife management areas

Wildlife Management Areas are managed by the WVDNR Wildlife Resources Section. These facilities are intended to provide opportunities for hunting and fishing within the state.

State Wildlife Center

The Wildlife Resources Section also operates the West Virginia State Wildlife Center at French Creek, which is a zoological park exhibiting a variety of animals native to West Virginia.

Fish hatcheries

West Virginia began stocking fish in state waterways in the 1880s and has been operating its own fish hatcheries since 1930. Today, the Wildlife Resources Section operates a network of seven trout hatcheries and two warmwater fish hatcheries. * Apple Grove Fish Hatchery (warm water)WVDNR Warmwater Hatchery Program, accessed April 12, 2008.
/ref> * Bowden Fish Hatchery (trout) * Edray Fish Hatchery (trout) * Palestine Fish Hatchery (warm water) * Petersburg Fish Hatchery (trout) * Reeds Creek Fish Hatchery (trout) * Ridge Fish Hatchery (trout) * Spring Run Fish Hatchery (trout) * Tate Lohr Fish Hatchery (trout)

References

External links

Official site
{{authority control State agencies of West Virginia State environmental protection agencies of the United States Natural resources agencies in the United States