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Virginia Conservation Projects

SEARCHING FOR BLACK BEAR ANSWERS

Biologists in Virginia recently completed a six-year study to help manage the state’s black bear population thanks to support from Wildlife Forever. Biologists trapped black bears in northwestern and southwestern Virginia. The bears were outfitted with radio transmitters, which enabled biologists to monitor travel patterns and preferred habitat types. By examining bear scat in these regions, they were able to determine preferred food sources. Researchers were also able to find winter den sites. At the dens, biologists gathered data on birth rates, litter sizes and cub survival. At least 50 bears in each of the two regions of Virginia were studied. This data is helping biologists utilize both managed hunting seasons and habitat management to stabilize Virginia’s black bear population.

INFORMATION BENEFITS ANGLERS AND FISH

The upper South Fork of the Holston River in the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area is a major tributary of the entire Tennessee Valley Drainage. For its first 30 to 35 miles, the South Fork is a high-quality trout stream. To this end, the U.S. Forest Service designated slightly more than two miles of the best portion of this stream as “Artificial Single Hook Lures Only” and established a daily creel limit of two fish of 16 inches or longer. To encourage compliance with this new regulation, the Forest Service, with help from Wildlife Forever, erected a large interpretive sign telling people about wild trout, how to observe them, and the value of catch-and-release fishing.