Spend the Day with Wolves at the West Virginia Wildlife Center In Upshur County

August 14, 2022

Mountaineer News

Community Events

All photos courtesy of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources / Facebook

FRENCH CREEK, WV - Are there wolves in West Virginia? Yes! And you can spend the day with them. But don’t expect to meet one on your next hiking trip through wild, wonderful West Virginia, because these days, grey wolves only exist here in captivity.

Grey wolves are native to the Mountain State, but wild ones haven't roamed here for more than a century; the last recorded wolf in West Virginia was killed in 1900.

The grey wolf is one of three mammals native to West Virginia that are no longer found here in the wild, the other two native species considered extinct being bison and mountain lion (a hotly debated claim!).

However, despite their extinct status, you can still spend the day with grey wolves in West Virginia thanks to the work being done by the Department of Natural Resources wildlife specialists at the West Virginia State Wildlife Center in French Creek, West Virginia.

In 2021, the West Virginia Wildlife Center in Upshur County welcomed three grey wolf pups to their facility.

Ever since arriving in their new home, these pups have been working hard on growing to full size (a whopping five feet long and three feet tall). Their playful antics as they carouse together in their enclosure delight visitors of all ages.

The West Virginia State Wildlife Center is open every single day of the year, including weekends and holidays, summers and winters. From April to October, the center charges a small admission fee to guests ages 6 years old and older. However, from November through March, entry is free for all visitors.

Courtesy of the West Virginia Department of Tourism and the West Virginia Department of Commerce

In addition to grey wolves, 30 other species of native West Virginia wildlife can be viewed along the 1.25 mile loop trail that winds through the center's grounds. The trail is wheel chair and stroller accessible.

To learn more about hours, admission prices, and on-site animals at the West Virginia State Wildlife Center, visit the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources on the web. Have you ever spent the day exploring this unique 327-acre wildlife park in West Virginia? It makes a great daytrip from Stonewall Resort.

Address: West Virginia State Wildlife Center, 163 Wildlife Rd, French Creek, WV 26218

Credit: Compiled by onlyinyourstate.com