kids encyclopedia robot

List of West Virginia wildlife management areas facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

West Virginia is home to many special places called Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). These areas are like big outdoor classrooms and playgrounds! They are managed by the state to protect different kinds of animals and plants. They also give people fun places to enjoy nature, like going hiking, fishing, or watching wildlife. Think of them as natural parks where animals are the main focus, and people can visit to learn and explore.

What are Wildlife Management Areas?

Wildlife Management Areas are lands and waters set aside for wildlife. They help make sure that animals have safe homes to live and grow. These areas also help manage animal populations, which means making sure there are enough animals but not too many. This balance keeps the environment healthy.

Why are WMAs important?

WMAs are super important for a few reasons:

  • Protecting Animals: They provide safe habitats for many different types of wildlife, from deer and bears to birds and fish.
  • Saving Nature: They help protect important natural areas, like forests, wetlands, and lakes.
  • Outdoor Fun: They offer places for people to enjoy outdoor activities in nature.

Exploring West Virginia's Wild Places

West Virginia has many Wildlife Management Areas spread across the state. Some are small, like the Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area at just 48 acres. Others are huge, like the East Lynn Lake Wildlife Management Area and Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area, both over 22,000 acres! That's a lot of space for nature!

These areas offer different things to do:

  • Lakes and Fishing: Many WMAs have beautiful lakes where you can go fishing. Places like Anawalt Lake, Bear Rock Lakes, and Moncove Lake are great for this. You might even see people boating or kayaking.
  • Camping: Some WMAs have places where you can set up a tent and camp overnight. Berwind Lake and Panther WMAs have cabins, and places like Bluestone Lake and Plum Orchard Lake offer camping spots.
  • Target Practice: If you're interested in learning about safe shooting, some WMAs have special areas called shooting ranges. These are safe places where people can practice shooting targets. You can find these at places like Beech Fork Lake and Lewis Wetzel WMAs.
  • Hiking and Wildlife Watching: All WMAs are great for exploring. You can hike on trails, watch for birds, or try to spot deer and other animals. Every WMA offers a chance to connect with nature.

Each WMA is unique and offers different experiences. They are all managed to keep West Virginia's natural beauty and wildlife thriving for everyone to enjoy.

Former West Virginia Wildlife Management Areas

Sometimes, areas that were once WMAs are closed or change their purpose. Here are a few that are no longer active:

  • Briery Mountain Wildlife Management Area – This area closed in 2011.
  • Fork Creek Wildlife Management Area – This area closed in 2008.
  • Springfield Wildlife Management Area – This area closed in 2004.

See also

Images for kids

  • HometownWVPark-square

    Thumbnail image of Hometown Park in Amherst-Plymouth WMA

  • Anawalt Lake-square

    Thumbnail image of Anawalt Lake in Anawalt Lake WMA

  • Bear Rock Lakes WMA - Bear Lake-square

    Thumbnail image of Bear Lake in Bear Rock Lakes WMA

  • Beech Fork State Park Lake-square

    Thumbnail image of Beech Fork Lake and picnic area at Beech Fork Lake WMA

  • Berwind Lake WMA-square

    Thumbnail image of Berwind Lake

  • Big Ditch WMA - Big Ditch Lake-square

    Thumbnail image of Big Ditch Lake

  • Bluestone Wildlife Management Area - Sign-square

    Thumbnail image of Bluestone Lake WMA entrance sign

  • Burches Run WMA - Sign-square

    Thumbnail image of sign for Burches Run WMA

  • Falls Mill (Burnsville Lake)-square

    Thumbnail image of Falls Mill at Burnsville Lake

  • Castleman Run Lake WMA-square

    Thumbnail image of Castleman Run Lake in Castleman Run Lake WMA

  • Cecil H Underwood WMA - Sign-square

    Thumbnail image of sign for Cecil H. Underwood WMA

  • Center Branch Wildlife Management Area - Wetlands in Winter-square

    Thumbnail image of Lewis Wetzel WMA entrance sign

  • Dunkard Fork WMA - Dunkard Fork Lake-square

    Thumbnail image of Dunkard Fork Lake

  • East Lynn Lake - View from Dam-square

    Thumbnail image of view from East Lynn Lake dam

  • Edwards Run at Edwards Run WMA

    Thumbnail image of Edwards Run at Edwards Run Wildlife Management Area

  • Fort Mill Ridge Civil War Trenches Romney WV 2008 10 30 09-square

    Thumbnail image of Civil War trenches in Fort Mill Ridge WMA

  • Green Bottom WMA - Sign-square

    Thumbnail image of sign for Green Bottom WMA

  • Huttonsville State Farm WMA - Sign-square

    Thumbnail image of Huttonsville State Farm WMA entrance sign

  • Lantz Farm-square

    Thumbnail image of Lantz Farm and Nature Preserve WMA

  • Laurel Lake WMA - Laurel Lake-square

    Thumbnail image of Laurel Lake in Laurel Lake WMA

  • Lewis Wetzel WMA - Sign-square

    Thumbnail image of Lewis Wetzel WMA entrance sign

  • Little Indian Creek WMA - Wooded Area-square

    Thumbnail image of wooded area in Little Indian Creek WMA

  • Moncove Lake-square

    Thumbnail image of Moncove Lake

  • Panther State Forest-square

    Thumbnail image of Panther Creek in Panther Wildlife Management Areas

  • Pedlar WMA-Mason Lake-square

    Thumbnail image of Mason Lake at Pedlar WMA

  • Tygart Lake - Winter-square

    Thumbnail image of Tygart Lake in winter

  • R.D. Bailey Lake - Intake Tower-square

    Thumbnail image of intake tower at R.D. Bailey Lake

  • Snake Hill WMA-square

    Thumbnail image of Cheat Canyon in Snake Hill WMA

  • Stonecoal Lake-square

    Thumbnail image of Stonecoal Lake

  • Stonewall Jackson Lake-square

    Thumbnail image of Stonewall Jackson Lake

  • Summersville Lake-27527-square

    Thumbnail image of Summersville Lake

  • Teter Creek Lake WMA-square

    Thumbnail image of Teter Creek Lake WMA

  • Upper Deckers Creek WMA-square

    Thumbnail image of Upper Deckers Creek WMA

  • Wallback WMA-square

    Thumbnail image of Lewis Wetzel WMA entrance sign

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
List of West Virginia wildlife management areas Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.