This page is a hub for sharing photos and information concerning West Virginia's diverse wildlife. The state has more than 300 types of birds and more than 100 species of fish. Many common insects of the Eastern United States can be found in West Virginia; 15 species of beetles, more than 70 species of Odonate, 12 species of stonefly, and about 17 moth species. Other invertebrates include some 18
species of spider and a little over seven dozen species of cave-dwellers. Deep in the heart of the state's mountains is a unique natural botanical treasure. Along with very rare boreal plants, several species of orchids and carnivorous plants are found at Cranberry Glades Botanical Area. It provides a chance for the public to see mink, beavers, snowshoe hare, black bear with its unique flora and other fauna. Cranberry Glades is the southern-most breeding pocket for some northern breeding species of birds like the purple finch and the northern waterthrush. West Virginia's western valley contrasts the mountains with another natural treasure, the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge. These islands serves as a habitat for great blue heron, wood ducks, cormorants, Canada geese, migrating loons, and tundra swans. The Allegheny and Cumberland Plateaus of West Virginia are predominantly covered by hardwood forests, but along the Ohio River and its principal tributaries, the valuable timber has been removed and considerable areas have been wholly cleared over the centuries for farming and pasture lands. Among the most prevalent trees of this region are the chestnut oaks, the walnut, the yellow poplar, and the cherry. Southern West Virginia contains the largest reserve supply of timber.
- Wikipedia.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_West_Virginia
http://www.wvdnr.gov/wildlife/wdpintro.shtm
