By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chambers, and Delegates Farris, Beach,
Osborne, Calvert, Burke, McGraw, Fragale, Azinger, Blass,
Johnson, Compton, Kiss, Thompson, Hunt and Leach)
H. C. R. 17--"Designating Thursday, February 9, 1995, as
West Virginia Nongame Wildlife and Natural Heritage Day."
Whereas, Nongame wildlife and other aspects of our natural
heritage enrich the lives of over 600,000 West Virginia citizens
through such wildlife experiences as birdwatching, photography,
bird feeding and nature study; and
Whereas, Nongame wildlife and natural heritage experiences
by West Virginia residents contribute over 50 million dollars
annually to the State's economy through expenditures for travel
and equipment; and
Whereas, 267,000 nonresidents annually enjoy the State's
nongame wildlife and natural heritage resources generating 110
million in tourism dollars and spending 1.1 million visitor days;
and
Whereas, Nongame wildlife includes those species which are
not fished, hunted, or trapped and comprise 87 percent of all
West Virginia's wildlife, including 261 species of birds, 51
mammals, 43 amphibians, 42 reptiles, 130 fish, 2,308 vascular
plants and thousands of invertebrates; and
Whereas, Sixteen of the hundreds of animal species and five
plant species found in West Virginia are listed by the U. S. Fish
and Wildlife Service as either threatened or endangered, such as
the bald eagle, Cheat Mountain salamander, and running buffalo
clover; and
Whereas, The Natural Heritage Program conducts an ongoing
statewide ecological inventory of rare plant and animal species,
wetlands, and other biological communities necessary for public
and private agencies to satisfy legal or regulatory
responsibilities; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That Thursday, February 9, 1995, be designated Nongame
Wildlife and Natural Heritage Day for the purpose of increasing
public awareness of these important resources within West
Virginia.